How much do twins cost ;)

Hi there,
I am sure there are a lot of variables - but in general we are trying to figure out how much the diapers, formula, basic necessities will cost on average per month. Anyone know of a site or know from experience?

Thanks in advance!

 

This was four LONG years ago. We spent about $400-600 the first 3 months on diapers, wipes, formula. Both were on different formula , one ok priced ,other insane! It gets cheaper.But thinking back now OMG.

 

We haven't spent nearly that much, but I'm sure we will start spending it...

When people ask if they can bring something by after the kids are born, a bag of diapers is one thing you can suggest (or they might even suggest it for you).

Joining baby clubs, like Publix, helps.

And the free stuff for twins somewhere around here on twinstuff really helped! Cans of formula, free diapers, great coupons, etc.

 

Depends on how much you start out with. I strongly recommend you get as much from the hospital as possible. The nurses hooked me up real good, formula, diapers everything. Lie if you have to, say you ran out of formula they will bring you six more bottles.

We spend maybe $15 a week on a large can of formula (Parent's choice from Walmart)

Diapers - maybe $100 a month for four big boxes of them

Wipes - an economy size box is about $30, we use two a month so $60 on wipes

clothes - onsies and pajamas is really all they need and they have sales at all different places or craigslist.

Draft detergent can last a whole month, that is about $20.

And stuff differs in prices. Go to Craigslist for furniture, alot of people will sell for good prices.

 

QUOTE(CapeBretoner_123 @ Mar 5 2008, 02:55 PM) [snapback]654540[/snapback]
This was four LONG years ago. We spent about $400-600 the first 3 months on diapers, wipes, formula. Both were on different formula , one ok priced ,other insane! It gets cheaper.But thinking back now OMG.


ok my dh almost fainted when he read that haha... breast feeding will be a life savior.... maybe!

 

I can't really help you with exact costs but I will give you this bit of advice:
1. If AT ALL possible...BREASTFEED!!! It has saved us hundreds and hundreds of dollars and the ladies on the breastfeeding forum are awesome if you end up having a hard time.
2. Have many showers and ask for diapers. If you or DH work outside of the home, ask them to do a diaper drive where they just set up a box in the lounge or something and people can donate diapers, wipes, etc. whenever they want.

We had 3 showers and a diaper drive (at the school where I taught). I was on bed rest and only present for one and while I don't know how many diapers we got, I recall that we did not purchase one pack of them until our boys were 5 months old and we STILL haven't had to buy wipes, shampoo, lotion, medicine, etc. And as much as I hate to admit this...we've only bought them 3 outfits in all this time and their closet is overflowing into ours! My point is, you'd be surprised to know how much people want to give to you when you are expecting or have twins. It's crazy! One day a complete stranger came up to us at a restaurant and insisted she and her husband pay for our dinner as a "congratulations". CRAZY!!! Seriously, try not to fret too much about how much they're going to cost. It's not as bad as you think

 

We originally paid for our formula one a month, buying four large cans at $24 a piece at once, but we got our ins. to cover it after that.

Diapers - two boxes a month, generic from BJs $24 a piece.

Wipes - an economy size box is about $30, one a month.

Clothes, loads of people gave us stuff and loads of hand me downs too.

We borrowed a lot of baby things from family members too.

 

I agree that breastfeeding will be a huge help. We figured that we probably saved at least $3000 the first year on not buying formula, bottles, nipples and liners! :icon_eek: We did put ourselves into a bit of debt when the twins were born though. We had one great shower, but were left to buy pretty much everything. That and we were so exhausted and so incredibly busy, we ended up eating fast food pretty much all the time. That really adds up, so a great, great gift someone could give you is to bring meals by!

Good luck! It's all worth it in the end!

Sara

 

Well, I can tell you that it can be done and it doesn't have to cost a ton! We bought most of our major items ourselves second hand and posted a lot of wanteds on the local freecycle sites. If you are not familiar w/ freecycle go to freecycle.org and see if there is one near you. You can start posting wanted ads for small stuff like coupons ect. We did buy a lot of diapers ahead of time and people bought them for us as well. I would suggest trying several brands and buying lots of different sizes. Personally, I found that when they are little the cheap diapers are cheap for a reason... they leak! As they get bigger LUVS work well and they are much cheaper. Still shop for bargains and clip coupons! As far as formula goes I wouldn't know, I have been breastfeeding mine and will at least until they are drinking milk at a year. Hey, it comes out of your body for free and it is great for your baby so if you can go for it!

Also, I know that most of us intend to use disposable diapers. I know I did! I never considered doing anything else until mine got to be about 3 months old as we were using about 30 diapers a day! Just as an average, that is .21 per diaper when they are little and it gets more expensive the older they get since you get fewer per box and the price at best stays the same and usually goes up! And once you get to pull-ups they are over .40 per diaper! Anyway, I got really discouraged about throwing all that money away awsw well as how much I was throwing away so I thought I would try cloth! People discouraged me saying I was crazy and how much work it would be... Well, guess what... we have been doing it for a month now and I do an extra load of laundry every other day and that's it! I will say that for the first month or two I would probably not attempt it since there is such an adjustment period just having 2 babies and getting them to eat and sleep ect. But once you have a routine down go for it! You can diaper both babies for about 700.00 for the entire time they are in diapers!!! If you have questions about cloth diapering PM me, I will gladly answer any questions you have... By the way I really do LOVE cloth diapering. I am talking from start to finish! They feel great and they are really cute!!!

I agree with the PP about getting what you can from the hospital. Get to know your nurses and ask them all for as much as you can... When they put diapers in the Isolet take at least 1 package and have your husband put them in the car. Honestly, don't buy newborn diapers, we got as many as we needed right at the hospital. So, talk to your nurses about giving you diapers and A&D ect. They always do, but ask anyway and be super nice... Think about bringing them something like flowers for the Nurses station or something.

Seriously consider Breastfeeding as long as possible and cloth diapering! I personally never thought I would be cloth diapering, I didn't w/ my older child, but with two it makes a huge difference!

 

Generic's, like Target brand, are SO much cheaper and JUST as good.

 

I've found that diapers and wipes are cheapest at warehouse clubs (we belong to Costco). I fed my girls EBM the first 6 months, supplemented with Neosure, which I bought maybe 3 cans of. The pedi got us samples to fill in the rest by giving us cans of the powdered and signing us up for a program where we were sent like 18 boxes of the RTF.

After 6 months, I weaned and put them on Costco/Kirkland brand formula mixed to 22 cal/ounce and that cost us $125/month.

I'd say I go through 1.5 to 2 boxes of diapers per month, at $40/box, and not sure how many wipes, not a whole box, but I love Costco wipes!

I just don't really remember what it cost in the beginning (ie. how many diapers, etc.) Just try to get as many diapers as you can at your shower. Pretty much everyone gave me diapers at my shower, and I don't think I bought any until they were 4-5 months old. For my SIL, we did a raffle for anyone who brought a pack of diapers.