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lifelong commitment filled with love, laughter, tears, and so much more than what you expected.

Welcome to Parenting: The Costs Involved by Sedona Randall and Baizard Kassabian.

This Padlet is a compilation of the costs we've discovered when it comes to having children. We tried to focus on both typical costs and alternative costs of being a parent that are usually forgotten. Whether they were obvious or hidden, we have tried to display it all here.

Now don't let this wall scare you off, we are just trying to make you aware of what's in store, before and after your due date.

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This video gives a voice to a mother living in the GTA, sharing her experience with childcare in Ontario. She tells her story of living in the Ukraine before immigrating to Canada, as well as the differences in laws and culture between the two countries she has called home. She talks about the cost she paid when sending her children to daycare, but then goes into different childcare resources in the GTA, and most of Canada. She also speaks on the topic of government subsidies.

We chose to include this video because not only does it show the narrator's first hand experience with childcare in Ontario, but she also shares the different options. This was a unique addition from many other sources, in the sense that she gave many alternatives to traditional daycare. We also decided to include this video because she touches on receiving government assistance, and also provides links in the description for how to qualify and apply for this.

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Daycare Costs in Canada, Ontario | Subsidy and Other Options For Child Care

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This video is very brief, but very informative when it comes to the costs of daycare in Canada. This video features statistics from 2016, outlining the costs of daycare in the major cities across Canada. It was posted by a Canadian immigration channel, but it is applicable to anyone planning on putting children in daycare in Canada.

We have chosen to include this video because it is very informative and straight to the point. We found that this might be particularly helpful because it lists the prices of childcare per age of child, per city in increasing price. We thought this might be valuable to anyone currently living in Canada and considering children, or considering moving, as well as people coming to Canada.

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Child Care Fees in Canada - Cost of living in Canada

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This video is a different take on what most people in Canada experience when it comes to becoming a parent. This video is of a woman living in Ontario, who adopted a child through the foster care system. She breaks down the individual costs of the process and paperwork she needed to have in order to adopt.

We decided to share this video because most people who have either struggled with infertility or cannot naturally conceive children do not realize how affordable it is to adopt a child through foster care. The speaker reveals that it cost under $500 CAD, to adopt a child, contrary to many people saying it costs thousands of dollars, and all of it was reimbursed by CAS. Although this is not traditionally a cost or thought for many parents, we thought it was important to include for those who will enter this process.

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Breakdown of Costs Involved in Foster Care Adoption

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This video is of a woman living in Calgary, Alberta speaking on the expenses of actually being pregnant. These expenses include; maternity clothing, prenatal vitamins, and books/apps. The costs that are dependent on location include; prenatal chiropractor, fitness/yoga specifically for pregnant women , and 3D ultrasounds. This video also covers the costs of giving birth, these being a doula/midwife if that is desired.

We decided to include this video because pregnancy costs are almost never included when looking at the overall cost of having children. We thought that making women aware of these costs before pregnancy would help them to better prepare themselves and their budget for what is to come during their 9 months of pregnancy.

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A Brutally Honest Breakdown of How Much Pregnancy Costs

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This article includes the details of how much the first year will cost after your baby is born, these costs are based off of Ontario, and broader Canada. This article also has testimonials from mothers on the sometimes shocking prices of pregnancy and baby necessities.

We chose to include this article because it gives a very detailed breakdown on the costs of different products that you would need for a baby. Everything from furniture to feeding to travel gear is on the list, so it is a good resource for first time parents who might not know all the expenses. This article also includes ways to save money when buying products for your baby, including baby showers and buy-and-sell websites like kijiji.

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When Lisa van de Geyn became pregnant with her first daughter, "the excitement took over," she recalls.

The excitement took over her wallet, that is. The Ontario mom, then based in Ajax, dropped $900 on her first trip to a maternity clothing store and spent hundreds of dollars more on baby outfits shortly after.

"I overbought and overspent on everything," van de Geyn told Global News.
READ MORE: How much does it cost to raise a kid in Canada?
Lots of new parents tend to do that. There is a special kind of guilt that comes with trying to save money on infant necessities when you're welcoming your first bundle of joy, said van de Geyn.

"You want your baby to have the very best of everything."

Reality, however, tends to set in after the birth, when you realize your newborn will never know the difference between a gently-used hand-me-down and a $30 onesie.

So how much does a tiny human being's first year of life cost and how can parents prepare for it?

Overall costs vary significantly

The low-ball estimate of the cost of raising a child in Canada comes from the Fraser Institute, a conservative think-tank, which famously stated in 2013 that "an annual outlay of $3,000 to $4,500 (depending on the community or region and the age of the child) would be sufficient." The number refers to 2010 so in inflation-adjusted terms, you're looking at $3,400 to $5,150. But experts have widely criticized the study for leaving out many of the costs faced by families with children.
READ MORE: Child care costs in Canada: The most and least expensive cities
Another well-known estimate comes from Canadian magazine Moneysense, which in 2011 put it at $12,824 a year, or roughly $14,350 in today's dollars.

Van de Geyn, a freelance writer who used to work for Today's Parent magazine, grapples with this in a new guidebook for parents called Babies, the Real Story of How Much They Cost, which she wrote for CPA Canada, the national organization of chartered professional accountants.

"According to parenting magazines and online parenting sites, some families spend $10,000 or more on their baby's first 12 months," she writes.

The reality, though, is that there is no broadly accepted method for estimating the cost of having kids. Trying to figure out the overall price tag for a child's first year of life is likely even trickier, as babies vary wildly in their needs and preferences.

More important than the headline number is budgeting for what you can predict and reading up on ways to save, according to van de Geyn.
WATCH: Here's how much it costs to feed a family of four
Start small

The list of things your baby needs is long, but van de Geyn's advice is to start small.

"Be prepared for the baby - have the car seat and the crib, but the whole room doesn't need to be outfitted," she told Global News.

That Pinterest-perfect white sheepskin rug might not seem like such a great idea after your newborn has spit up on it. And you might quickly find out that what you really need is a bouncy-chair, not the swing you asked for at your baby shower - or vice versa.

Some babies only fall asleep with dummies. Others spit them out immediately. Many parents would consider a diaper pail an absolute necessity. Others describe it as a colossal waste of money. It's hard to predict on which side you'll be.
READ MORE: The genius life hacks that working moms and dads use to get it all done
One way to keep costs under control is to buy the essentials and budget for the most predictable costs, like diapers and wipes, but leave plenty of extra room for added expenses. You should also do extensive research on an expanded lists of items. Once baby comes, you'll know what you really need and you'll already have a pretty good idea of where to find it.

"If I were to do it over, I would get my daughter to try, say, a swing at a friend's house to figure out whether I really need to buy one," said van de Geyn.
WATCH: Here are the cheapest and most expensive kids' activities
Baby costs for which you can budget in advance

Here are many of the essential costs for which you can budget in advance, (cost estimates are from van de Geyn unless otherwise noted):
Nursery furniture

Crib (costs range from about $50 to over $2,500).

A mattress for the crib ($100 to over $200).

A change table ($200 to over $400).

A change pad (starting at about $20).

A rocker for feeding the baby (starting at about $300).

READ MORE: Mothers talk candidly about postpartum depression: 'You're not alone' Feeding
Even breastfeeding isn't free. You might want to buy:

A nursing pillow ($30 to $60).

Nursing covers ($15 to over $40).

A breast pump (from about $60 for a manual pump to over $350 for an electric one).

A few bottles.

READ MORE: When is a child too old to breastfeed?
If you're formula feeding:

Powder formula costs about $25 for a 900-ml container of powder that will last one week. Keep in mind that most babies start eating solids between four and six months, but the use of infant formula is recommended until they reach one year of age. Ready-to-feed formula is far more expensive. Budget $50 or more for a case of 18 cans per week, writes van de Geyn. Investopedia puts the total cost of formula feeding at US$900-$3,000 per year, or C$1,140-$3,780.

Bottles. You'll need lots of them and might spend anything from $5 to more than $15 per bottle. "Don't be surprised if you have to try a few different brands and types of bottles and nipples to find out what your baby prefers," writes van de Geyn.

Once solids are introduced and baby can sit up on her or his own:

Highchair ($85 to over $400).

Baby cereal. That's the first thing many babies eat. One box costs about $5 and will last about one week.

Baby food. The cost of baby food jars and pouches start at $1, but you might be able to skip that by blending your own baby food.

READ MORE: Babies can start eating spices after 6 months - how to introduce it to their diet Travel gear
No, we're not talking about flying with baby (good luck with that). This is just what you'll probably need to get yourself and baby out of the house:

Car seat. You can save by buying a car seat that converts from a rear-facing infant seat to a forward-facing toddler seat for kids up to 65 lbs. Costs range from about $150 to over $450. The arguably more convenient alternative is buying an infant car seat that detaches from the base so you can easily carry your little one to and out of the car. Those cost between $200 and over $400, and you'll have to buy a toddler seat later.

A full-sized single stroller ($250 to $3,000).

READ MORE: Exploding sunroofs: Complaints are soaring - here are the car brands and models involved Infant care

Diapers are the biggie here. The average child uses more than 2,700 diapers in the first 12 months, according to Investopedia. Disposable diapers tend to cost 20-25 cents each, so you're looking at $550 a year at least. Cloth diapers cost about $20 per diaper - or nearly $500 for 24 of them, according to van de Geyn. A diaper service that picks up soiled diapers and delivers clean ones can cost more than $25 per week, she adds.

Baby wipes are also a big drain. Budget about US$20 or C$25 per week, says Investopedia.

Diaper rash cream ($10).

A newborn-to-toddler bathtub ($20 to $40).

Baby head-to-toe soap (about $6).

READ MORE: Wary babies tend to be picky eaters too, child development study Clothing
The average cost of baby clothes is US$60, C$76, per month in the U.S., according to Investopedia. Clothes are notoriously cheaper in the U.S., but that may still be a useful ballpark estimate for Canadians, as clothing is one area where parents can easily save by using hand-me-downs or buying second-hand items in store or online.

Ways to save

Keeping a lid on costs doesn't necessarily mean passing up on state-of-the-art baby gear. Whether you're getting top-of-the-line equipment or everyday supplies, saving often comes down to accepting help and deal hunting.
Baby showers
Baby showers are a great way for parents to get some of the priciest items off their list. "People understand that the main reason for having a party is to shower the expectant mother with things she needs for her new arrival," writes van de Geyn. And friends and family are often happy to pool their resources to buy something like a stroller or a crib.
Facebook groups
In many parts of Canada, parents have turned to Facebook to buy and sell used kids' clothes, toys and gear. Especially if you don't have family to turn to for hand-me-downs, these groups can be a great resource. You might even be able to buy leftover boxes of diapers for a fraction of what you'd be paying in store.
READ MORE: What you need to know about Facebook groups for online buying and selling Other buy-and-sell websites
Sites like Kijiji, Craigslist and eBay can also be a source for great finds. However, make sure to check that second-hand items comply with Health Canada's current safety standards, warns van de Geyn. Car seats, for example, expire after five years and should not be used after an accident.
READ MORE: The best times to buy stuff on sale in Canada Retailers' websites

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Here's how much baby's first year might cost - and how to prep for it

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When Lisa van de Geyn became pregnant with her first daughter, "the excitement took over," she recalls. The excitement took over her wallet, that is. The Ontario mom, then based in Ajax, dropped $900 on her first trip to a maternity clothing store and spent hundreds of dollars more on baby outfits shortly after.

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This website not only covers the cost of having a baby, but also the costs of supporting that child until they are 18 years old. This article includes job expenses like maternity/paternity leave, and lost wages. It also includes mandatory/one-time and ongoing costs of having a baby such as a crib and diapers.

We decided to include this article because we thought it was unique that they included expenses such as shelter and food, but they also extended the costs over 18 years. We included this because most children will be living in the home for at least 18 years, if not longer.

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According to MoneySense.ca, the average cost of raising a child to age 18 is a whopping $243,660. Break down that number, and that's $12,825 per child, per year -- or $1,070 per month. And that's before you send them off to university.

While money isn't the only factor when deciding when to have children, it's still important to consider whether you can afford to raise a child -- and what short-term and long-term sacrifices you might have to make.

Here are some numbers to think about.

Maternity leave
Employment Insurance will only give you a maximum of $485 per week, or $45,900 a year -- and you have to pay income tax out of that amount -- so it's important to think about how your household will deal with the loss in income during the first year of your baby's life. In order to become comfortable with your reduced household income, calculate how much money you might receive in maternity leave benefits and try creating and living off of a reduced budget while or even before you are pregnant.

Lost wages
Not only will you lose a significant amount of income during maternity leave, but taking time off to raise children might also affect a parent's long-term employability. MoneySense.ca suggests that for each year parents take off, they experience a three per cent wage loss. So if you return to the workforce after taking five years off, you are likely to earn 15 per cent less.

Mandatory expenses
Parents of babies need items such as a crib, car seat, stroller, high chair and baby gates. These items aren't cheap, and can potentially cost thousands of dollars in total if you decide to buy new. Start your search for these items by asking friends, family, coworkers or neighbours who have recently had children. They might be willing to sell, lend or even give you the items that you are looking for. Make sure to check out Craigslist, Kijiji and neighbourhood yard sales for deep discounts on these expensive items.

Ongoing expenses
Children can be money pits. Not only do newborns go through a huge amount of diapers, formula and clothing, but the costs to feed and clothe your child will increase as they continue to grow. In fact, according to the MoneySense.ca cost breakdown, you could be looking at spending $48,760 just to put food in their mouths and clothing on their backs. Cut costs by breastfeeding if you can instead of buying formula, using cloth diapers and looking for hand-me-down clothing, toys and other miscellaneous items.

Child care
If both parents work full-time, the cost of day care will most likely be the biggest expense in raising a child, with costs ranging anywhere from $700 to $1,100 per month, per child, depending on your province and city. It can pay to do your research and get on waiting lists as early as possible. Note that day care is a tax-deductible expense, and the spouse with the lower income can claim up to $7,000 per year. So make sure to keep receipts for all child care-related expenses, such as nursery schools, nannies and day camps.

Shelter
MoneySense.ca calculated that the cost of shelter for one child, including furnishings and household operations, comes to $2,720 per year, or approximately $226.67 per month. Add up the expenses until age 18, and it will end up costing you $51,680 to put a roof over your child's head.

Aside from the MoneySense.ca report, expecting parents can estimate how much a baby could set them back by using the detailed cost calculator at BabyCenter.com [http://www.babycenter.com/baby-cost-calculator]. It's important to note that the information will be in U.S. dollars and geared toward American parents, but it still gives a good indication of what to expect before your little bundle of joy enters the world.

There's no question that having kids comes with a hefty price tag, but most parents wouldn't trade the experience of raising their children for anything in the world. Starting to save as soon as you can, collecting cost-cutting advice from other parents and planning far in advance of your due date will mean less financial stress for you once the baby comes -- and more quality time to spend with the newest addition to your family.

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How much does it cost to raise kids in Canada? | Canadian Living

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According to MoneySense.ca, the average cost of raising a child to age 18 is a whopping $243,660. Break down that number, and that's $12,825 per child , per year -- or $1,070 per month. And that's before you send them off to university .

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This website gives a breakdown of the costs to give birth in 18 different countries around the world, including Canada and the United States. It gives the average cost of births and cesarean sections in each particular county.

We included this particular article because it brings the idea of birth tourism. Canada has one of the highest rates of the because the government grants citizenship to anyone born here. Not only that, but this article helps people looks at the costs of giving birth in another country, on purpose or due to an emergency. This website also gives information on the different healthcare coverages in the applicable countries.

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Millions of babies are born every day, making birth the most common reason for a trip to the emergency room. But when the parents of these newborns leave the hospital, the postpartum experience can be vastly affected by the medical bills that follow them home.

Here's how much it costs to give birth around the world. A great deal of this information comes from the 2016 Coyne College study of birth costs around the world. (It's important to note that these numbers have likely changed since the study was conducted. )

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Here's what it costs to give birth in 18 places around the world

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Giving birth is a beautiful experience shared by women all over the world. The bills that follow the experience, however, can be anywhere from stress-free to debilitating. Depending on where in the world you are, giving birth can cost anywhere from $0 to $60,000.

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This article comes from the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. The focus of this article is to help parents understand what the costs of babies are, but also where there money will go.

We picked this article because it helps parents create a budget for the babies life, but also before the baby is born. It also touches on Registered Education Savings Plans or RESPs and the importance of having once with the constant increase of tuition. On the topic of RESPs the article suggests a very interesting concept, rather than having friends or family gift your baby toys or books (that are unnecessary or cheaper to buy second hand) have them give money to add to your baby's RESP.

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Babies are a blessing, and what's also true is they cost a pretty loonie. Toronto-based author Lisa van de Geyn has penned the financial version of What to Expect When You're Expecting. In her book, Babie$: The Real Story of How Much They Cost (CPA Canada, 2018), van de Geyn details the major expenses that parents-to-be should expect, beginning with the preparation of their baby's arrival to post-secondary education costs. Below are some of the eye-opening findings:

BUDGET BEFORE BABY

The strongest counsel that van de Geyn gives couples is to look at their finances ahead of time, create a budget-and then start implementing how they'll be able to live off a single income during maternity/parental leave. "During pregnancy, everyone is Googling baby names and cool strollers, but no one is researching the amount of money it's going to cost," says the former editor at TodaysParent.com. "Also, do the maternity leave research; figuring out what it actually pays, compared to what you might be expecting, can be shocking."

According to parenting magazines and websites, some families spend $10,000 or more on their baby's first 12 months-and that's not even taking childcare into account, should the parent return to work before their leave is up. The author suggests not overbuying maternity clothes, baby clothes and play equipment, and perhaps passing more things along to friends.

THE COST OF CHILDCARE

Childcare can be quite costly and with long wait lists-especially in big cities-parents should consider saving money and securing a spot during pregnancy. Toward the end of maternity leave, a couple needs to weigh the cost-benefit of two working parents' income and the cost of childcare. If parents thought the baby's first year came with a lot of expenses, says van de Geyn, childcare can represent a "major sticker shock."

She notes that full-time childcare in Toronto costs, on average, about $21,096 annually. That's equivalent to a year of university tuition and living on campus- without academic instruction.

CAREER AND MOTHERHOOD

Of course, there are lots of factors to consider when thinking about whether or not to stay home with baby. And the author presents some disheartening information about what the consequences are to a woman's career if she chooses to step out of the workforce for a number of years. The "motherhood gap" or "child penalty" is a well-documented phenomenon that new parents, specifically mothers, encounter. In 2011, Statistics Canada reported that women who had kids earned about 12 to 20 per cent less than women without kids.

THE ABCS OF RESPS

In addition to the here-and-now costs, there's also planning for the future-and post-secondary education represents one of the most expensive investments that parents make, writes van de Geyn. By the time children born in 2018 start university or college in 2036, it's projected that families will be paying up to $80,000 for a four-year undergraduate degree; to live on campus at an out-of-town university, the tally will top $150,000.

"Even if you can't afford to put money into an RESP, bring it up with family and friends," she says. "Instead of spending money on toys that kids don't need, ask them to put money into an RESP." It's important to contribute early to reap the compounding interest and maximize the government grant contributions.

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babie$: the real story of how much they cost

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Babies are a blessing, and what's also true is they cost a pretty loonie. Toronto-based author Lisa van de Geyn has penned the financial version of What to Expect When You're Expecting.

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This infographic breaks down the average costs of raising a child from birth to age 18.

We chose to include this photo because we liked that it gave you the breakdown of costs per month, year, and expense.

Below is a link to an article that talks about the costs and gives a resource to calculate your own personalized charts.
https://globalnews.ca/news/4271482/canada-child-cost-calculator/

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This photo includes a breakdown of the individual costs of each component in a typical baby room.

We chose to include this because it gave a range of prices for each item, so parents can get a sense of their expenses depending on the quality/price suits them best.

For more price breakdowns go to this link:
https://www.moneytalkgo.com/saving-for-baby/