I'm about to become a dad soon and I was trying to get a realistic idea of monthly expenses. Between diapers, formula, pediatrician visits and everything else, how much do you actually spend per month? Maybe someone here who has young kids right now can give me some concrete numbers.
It's not like the costs are really standardizable because it depends so much on how you choose to do things and where you live. I'd say diapers, formula, and basic needs take away like 200-400 euros a month, but if you go for budget brands you lean toward the lower end, and if you want the best it climbs easily. Pediatric visits though are often covered by the healthcare system if you're not always going private, and you save a ton compared to what it might seem like. Then there's everything else that's not fixed - clothes that he grows out of quick - but that's more of an upfront investment than recurring, honestly.
What the others said makes sense, but I'd add that costs vary wildly depending on where you live. Where I am, diapers cost noticeably less than in other regions, and if you go with formula instead of breastfeeding, the budget changes quite a bit. What I'd say is don't get too hung up on a specific number: keep in mind the first months are heavier (layette, crib, stroller), then it stabilizes around essentials, but then surprises come along like private vaccinations, specialist visits, or unfortunately illnesses nobody predicts. The advice I'd give you is to build a safety margin into your budget and track your actual spending over your first three months, so you see how it goes in your specific situation.
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