Cost of baby - first few months.

[Gataloca]

Oh, and I was thinking about the heater for warming the room when you are bathing the baby.
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[carang]

after/during a bath, it is nice for a small heater... but not generally during sleep. you'll find that a heater really dries out the air if left on for extended periods of time (ie. night-time) and the baby may find it uncomfortable.

 

[newmother]

I only wrote down what I bought before the baby came. I hope it helps:

Changing Table: 1690
Cot: 700
Pram: 1000 (used)
Rocker, mattress, diapers, milkbags, soap, cot sheet: 2410
Sheets, changing mat, blankets, thermometer, grooming set: 1420
Baby carrier: 700
Baby sound system: 900

 

[matemate]

yes, but the best temp for a baby to sleep is 17-18C!QUOTE]

To me the whole temperature discussion is a perfect example where reliance on some western books can lead to funny conclusions in Asia.

The facts are: There is no established scientific consesus that there exists an absolute optimal temperature level. Research studies have shows that if a baby is too cold, it will catch a cold. If a baby is too hot, then the risk of SIDS does increase a little bit compared to a control group.

The key however is that 'too hot' is a relative term and not absolute. As a result, for example both the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Australian National Scientific Advisory Group do explicitly mention that there is no optimal temperature level, but rather that parents should bed their kids comfortably and ensure that they do not get too hot (by checking their neck, etc.). Kids regulate their temperature to 85% through their face, so it's important to keep the face upwards and free of anything that could interfere.

This summer our child slept comfortably in 28 degree and is never too hot. Equally he is very comfortable now in 22 degrees. He is simply regulating his body temperature himself (similar like me and my wife who are doing the same).

 

[carang]

i never, ever tried to reach the 17C myself. HOWEVER, i did notice that both of my children would wake throughout the night (they still do) if the room was more than 22C.

my problem is that i have kids come to class that, literally, cannot move because they have 7-10 layers on! i kid you not! i've counted them! this is not one or two children that i'm talking about but 10-12 children over the years.... it's utterly insane!

as for an "over-reliance on books".... i've never actually sat down and read through ANY of the books i bought when my kids were little. i occasionally had a glance at them and that was about it. i chose, instead, to rely on my instincts 98% of the time.

 

[matemate]

my problem is that i have kids come to class that, literally, cannot move because they have 7-10 layers on! i kid you not! i've counted them! this is not one or two children that i'm talking about but 10-12 children over the years.... it's utterly insane!

crazy indeed!

 

[Gataloca]

Hehe, probably the parents were dressing in 6-9 layers themselves!

 

[yonge]

I completely agree with the advice not to buy too much - you get so many clothes and toys as gifts. We're still using them almost six years after my first baby shower! Also, we got most of our big ticket items while we were traveling overseas or had friends/family bring them back for us. For example, as I was working at the time I was expecting my first and second, we bought the Medela breastpump and milk bags from the States. Also got the Angelcare movement monitors and Oreck air cleaners there, where we saved anywhere from 50-90% than in HK. The stroller and carseat/baby carrier were bought on a business trip to Singapore at the Robinsons department store, which is about 50% cheaper than HK. Really wanted to buy the crib there, too, but it was too big to lug back, so had to buy that at Bumps to Babes, my single most expensive purchase, but it's lasting through to my third child, so I guess it was worth it. I do like the winter sleepers at Mothercare, but we bought those with gift vouchers that we received during the baby shower.