Having a Baby and Raising that Baby for a Year: High School Student vs. College Student

April 24, 2008

These days, there is no telling what secrets are being hidden from parents. Parenting is hard and I do not think we give our parents enough credit for raising us and molding us into the fine young people we are today. However, the fact is many young people want children before they can even have a job. The Maury Show features many young girls who want kids at ages 12, 13, 14, 15 and up. But what happens when a student who is in high school has a child? Can they afford it? What about a college student? Many girls look at the perks and not the flaws. The flaw is the money that is paid to support a child; the money that many do not have. “76% of expectant parents say they feel financially prepared for having a baby – but 41% of new parents admit that, in hindsight, they were not as financially prepared as they thought.” (Pamela Paul, Redbook.)

Depending on what insurance a person has, costs of doctor’s visits, prenatal care, lab work, hospital care during pregnancy and delivery, and health care for your baby for at least one year after birth can be stressful on anyone. For a high school or college student who has no insurance can apply for Medicaid or The Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP) in order to save money. “Women and teens who live in New York State who are pregnant and meet certain income guidelines can receive complete medical care during pregnancy, delivery and for at least two months after delivery.” (New York State Department of Health.)

The price of having your baby in a hospital can fluctuate depending on the services needed. The costs to have a baby just paying for prenatal care, delivery, and post-delivery care are broken down like so: Prenatal Vitamins- $50-180 for about 8 months, maternity clothes (bras, pants, shirts, bigger shoes possibly) - $200-$1000, OB/GYN checkup appointments. (Prenatal) - $400 (co-pay with insurance) -$2000 (no insurance), Ultrasound - $300 for the scan then up to $100 for interpretation, Demerol - $50, Epidural - $100, Extra hospital days - $200-$400/day, Total For Hospital Bills (labor and immediately after) $6,000 to $8,000 for a normal vaginal delivery and $10,000 to $12,000 for cesarean (no complications or extra days in hospital). (Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital)

Granted, there are certain ways to get around paying for everything top dollar, and possibly save some money in the pocket of bank by doing some really simple things.

1. Breastfeed: You can save roughly $1,000 in formula costs alone in your baby's first year by breastfeeding.

2. Thrift Stores: High quality clothing and baby equipment generally doesn't wear out from just one child's use. Shop at thrift and consignment shops and online auctions. Some of the very best deals can be found at regional consignment sales. You can find not only clothing, toys and equipment there, but also look for cloth diapers. The modern cloth diapers are nothing like Grandma's. The nicer ones are made from high tech materials that wick moisture away from baby, and utilize snaps or Velcro to close instead of pins. They save you a lot of money especially if you save them and use them again for subsequent children.

3. Think about what you REALLY need to raise your baby. A lot of the expensive items sold in baby stores are completely unnecessary and some are even harmful. Most of the people raising children on the planet today do so without cribs, walkers (which Pediatricians recommend against anyway!), playpens, changing tables, swings, "educational" toys, etc.

As the price of minimum wage increases, so does the price of everyday things we want or need. A gallon of milk now can cost almost four dollars and that is more than half of minimum wage.

If a high school student and a college student both worked at McDonald’s on the same minimum wage in 2008 and maxed out the hours they could work by working every solitarily second made available, neither would still be able to afford the required amount of money that is needed to raise a baby for the first year.

Many kids now days want babies. They always want to have a baby just to have it. They never figure in the costs or emotional turmoil that comes with a precious bundle of joy.

There are many ways to receive coupons or help with buying what you need for your new little angel. Don’t let the high costs stop you from having a baby, but make sure you can afford some things. Granted, babies can be raised on any kind of budget. What babies need more than monetary objects are love, attention, and affection, which are all free. You don’t need a trust fund in place in order for you to afford to have a child, if you are emotionally ready to raise baby, then money shouldn’t stop you.

However, children need stability. They need to be raised under a roof that will continue to be there and not be taken away because there isn’t enough money to pay for it. The parents need to be parents and not kids. Babies, kids, children… whatever you call them, they all have needs that cost money.

Work Cited

Life in the Fast Lane. http://www.teenageparent.org/english/costofbaby2B.html

6 April 2008

New York State Department of Health. 6 April 2008

http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/pcap/index.htm

Paul, Pamela. “How much does it Really Cost to have a Baby?” Redbook 6 April 2008

http://www.redbookmag.com/home/money-baby-cost

Personal Interview: Financial Offices of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital

How much money does it cost to have a baby and raise it for year?

The following results are based upon how much a student makes while attending school full time. The amount earned per year is without taxes taken out. This is assuming that both the high school student and the college student have no other expenses except for the baby.

Keep in mind a high school student by law is only allowed to work 20 hours a week and be part-time. This is assuming that the high school student takes full advantage of 20 hours a week.	The college students schedule was set assuming they are a full time student taking 14 credit hours for a semester at BCC. This is also assuming that the student works 4 hours every Monday-Friday night and 8 hours every Saturday and Sunday.
How much does a high school student make if working at McDonald’s on minimum wage in 2008 for year?	How much does a college student make if working at McDonald’s on minimum wage in 2008 for year?
Minimum wage: $7.15 per hour	Minimum wage: $7.15 per hour
How much time at school: 8am-3pm/day (7hrs)	How much time at school: 29.5 hours/week
How much time at work: pt. 20 hours/week	How much time at work: 4hours*5days= 20hours 8hours*2days= 16 hours 20+16= 36 hours/week
Total hours per month at work: 20hours*4weeks= 80 hours/month	Total hours per month at work: 36hours*4weeks= 144 hours/month
Hours per year at work: 80hours*12months= 960 hours/year	Hours per year at work: 144hours*12months= 1,728 hours/year
Total amount of money earned per month: 80hours/month*$7.15= $572/month	Total amount of money earned per month: 144hours*$7.15= $1,029.60/month
Total amount of money earned per year: 960hours*$7.15= $6,864/year	Total amount of money earned per year: 1,728hours*$7.15= $12,355.20/year

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BABY BUDGET
How much does the first year cost?

Take this quiz and find out how much it costs to raise a baby for a year! Enter how many of each item you think you will need. Total it up. Are there other items you can think of that you will need in the baby's first year? Doctor visits, toys, etc.? Add this to your total.

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BEFORE BABY ARRIVES

1. You will need monthly check-ups with the doctor for pre-natal care. ($1,500.00) Enter 1 here for paying the doctor!

2. You will need to buy months worth of prenatal vitamins! ($15.00 for 1 months supply)

3. Don't forget about the hospital! Enter 1 here for paying the hospital! ($5,000.00)

4. You will need to buy an infant carseat to take the baby home from the hospital. (You can't leave without one!) ($45.00) Enter 1 here for buying a car seat!

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NURSERY ITEMS

5. You will need crib(s). ($100.00 each)

6. You will need crib mattress(es). ($45.00 each)

7. You will need crib sheets. ($10.00 each)

8. You will need crib blankets. ($10.00 each)

9. You will need crib mattress pad(s). ($7.76 each)

10. You will need receiving blanket(s). ($2.98 each)

11. You will need crib mobile(s). ($14.95 each)

12. You will need crib activity center(s). ($12.57 each)

13. You will need changing table(s). ($89.00 each)

14. You will need changing table pad(s). ($8.00 each)

15. You will need cradle(s) or bassinette(s). ($80.00 each)

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HEALTH /SAFETY ITEMS
(Remember, you are buying for a year!)

16. You will need hairbrush(es) and comb(s) for the baby. ($6.87 each)

17. You will need digital thermometer(s). ($10.27 each)

18. You will need humidifier(s)/vaporizer(s) ($35.42 each) for when the baby gets sick and you probably ought to pick up nasal aspirator(s) ($2.01 each) and medicine dropper(s) ($1.97 each) while you are at the store!

19. You will need toothbrush(es). ($ .89 each)

20. You will need baby monitor(s). So you can hear when the baby is crying. ($25.00 each)

21. Do you have stairs in your house? You will need stairway gate(s) to protect the baby from falling down the stairs. ($9.96 each)

22. You will need drawer latches ($ .13 each) and outlet plug covers ($ .09 each) so the baby doesn't get into things he/she shouldn't. ($ each)

23. You will need baby bathtub(s). ($14.39 each)

24. You will need baby washcloths. ($ .79 each) (Don't forget to get enough for when you haven't had time to do the laundry!)

25. You will need bathtub ring ($8.96 each) and faucet protector(s) ($2.00 each) so baby can be independent in the bath.

26. You will need hooded towel(s) to keep the baby warm after the bath. ($6.00 each)

27. You will need to buy : (Remember you are buying for a year!)
baby soap(s) ($2.77 each),
baby lotion(s) ($2.81 each),
baby powder(s) ($2.00 each),
baby oil(s) ($2.80 each),
diaper rash ointment(s). ($3.50 each)

28. You will need to buy boxes of laundry detergent for baby clothes! ($4.89 each) (Hint - About 2 a month!)

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DIAPERS
(Remember, you are buying for a year!)

29. You will need to buy disposable diapers. ($ .30 each) (Hint - you will use about 75 diapers a week and about 320 diapers a month)

30. Even if you are using disposables, cloth diapers come in handy as burp/spit towels!
You decide to buy

dozen to keep on hand. ($12.00 each)

31. You will need to buy boxes of baby wipes. ($2.97 each) (Hint - you will use about 2 a month).

32. You will need to buy diaper bag(s). ($15.00 each)

33. You will need to buy cloth diapers if you choose to use them instead of disposable. ($12.00 each) (Hint - You should have at least 3 dozen clean diapers on hand).

34. You will need to buy diaper pail(s). ($17.95 each)

35. You will need to buy diaper cover(s). ($1.59 each)

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FEEDING BABY
(Remember, you are buying for a year!)

If you plan on breast-feeding the Baby:

36. You will need to buy breast pump(s) if you plan on nursing while you are in school or working. ($24.98 each)

37. You will need to buy nursing pad(s). ($ .58 each) (Hint - about 3-4 a day)

38. You will need to buy nursing bra(s). ($14.00 each) (Hint - you will need extras because of how quickly they need to be laundered!)

39. You will need to buy pacifiers. ($1.34 each) (Better buy a few extra - for the ones that end up getting misplaced).

40. You will need to buy pacifier holders. ($1.76 each)

If you plan on using formula:

41. You will need to buy cans of formula. ($3.65 each) (Hint - you will use 7-8 a week and about 32 a month).

42. You will need to buy packages of wipes. ($2.97 each) (Hint - 2 a month).

43. You will need to buy 4 oz. bottles. ($ .99 each)

44. You will need to buy 8 oz bottles. Don't forget to get enough to allow for breakage and having a couple of spares. ($1.65 each)

45. You will need to buy bottle brush(es) to clean the bottles. ($2.00 each)

46. You will need to buy boxes of bottle inserts if you plan on using them. ($3.43 each) (Hint - about 4 a month).

47. You will need to buy nipple(s) for the bottles. These are in addition to your bottles! ($ .30 each)

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CONGRATULATIONS!
(Remember, you are buying for a year!)

The good news is your baby is getting bigger and more independent. The bad news is there are more expenses involved!

48. Your baby is growing - you now need a toddler car seat.
Enter 1 here to buy a toddler car seat. ($55.00)

49. You will need to buy jars of baby food. ($ .47 each) (Hint - Babies begin on solid foods at about 6 months.)

50. You will need high chair(s). ($47.00 each)

51. You will need to buy childproof plates and bowls. ($3.96 each)

52. You will need to buy infant spoons. ($ .94 each)

53. You will need to buy cloth bibs. ($2.75 each)

54. You will need to buy plastic bibs. ($1.96 each)

55. You will need to buy no-spill cups. ($1.73 each)

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CLOTHING
(Remember, you are buying for a year!)

56. You will need to buy sleepers. ($4.95 each)

57. You will need to buy hats. ($2.78 each)

58. You will need to buy booties. ($2.39 each)

59. You will need to buy gowns. ($6.00 each)

60. You will need to buy outfits. ($12.00 each)

61. You will need to buy socks. ($2.48 each)

62. You will need to buy coats. ($24.00 each)

63. You will need to buy warm suits. ($18.00 each)

64. You will need to buy shirts. ($6.45 each)

65. You will need to buy pants. ($9.18 each)

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ADDITIONAL ITEMS

Not necessary items, but they sure make life easier!

66. You decide to buy carrier(s). ($40.00 each)

67. You decide to buy stroller(s). ($48.00 each)

68. You decide to buy play yard. ($60.00)

69. You decide to buy extra diaper bag(s). ($15.00 each)

70. You decide to buy swing(s). ($80.00 each)

71. You decide to buy doorway jumper(s). ($20.00 each)

72. You decide to buy small toys. ($8.00 each)

73. You decide to buy books. ($3.00 each)

74. You decide to get set(s) of pictures taken. ($30.00 each)

75. You decide to buy yard toys. ($48.00 each)

All together it will cost

This is the amount using only the bare minimum of items. Such as the places that say “7” are only intended for one a day. Obviously, the child will need more clothing than just 7 outfits.

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This is a brief insight into the costs of having a baby. Bottom of Form