In my piece discussing the murder of George Tiller, I strongly recommended to all parents to have a talk with their teens upon reaching puberty to discuss various contraceptive measures that are out there. I have even strongly backed sex education in our public schools. After all, you as a parent are responsible for your children and do not want to hear that your daughter is now pregnant or where you son impregnated someone else’s daughter. If you have not discussed birth control with your children and should you hear that a pregnancy has occurred: Don’t scold and blame your child; blame yourselves.
While I do not have the medical background to thoroughly discuss how each contraceptive device works, again, it is up to you as a parent to find out. I would suggest even men and women find out from their health care professional how each contraceptive device prevents pregnancy. The one that I feel qualified enough to discuss is the condom. While it has a high rate of preventing pregnancies, it also helps to protect against the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases where the other devices do not. It is your best bet.
If you are a man who hates using ‘rubbers’ as condoms are often referred as; well tough. Do you want to hear of a surprise awaiting you nine months down the road? The choice is of course yours. If your female partner decides to bring that baby into the world, you are financially responsible for the baby’s care. Get used to that fact. If you are one of those men who think: well she can just abort it, you are misogynist. Some women after having an abortion go through PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) or other emotional conditions which are equally devastating. An abortion is not like having one’s tooth pulled.
Now here is where I do feel qualified to discuss the care of a new baby brought into this world since I am the mom of two teenagers. The health care issue aside since the politicians continue to debate it; babies need stuff.
I do not know if you are eco-friendly or not, in both cases, diapers are expensive and yes, babies go through tons of diapers. On drugstore.com, a package of Huggies diapers for newborns will cost you, $10.99 for a package of 36 and take it from me, it does not last one week. Now extrapolate the cost of these diapers which go up in price as the baby grows and you are talking serious money. By the way, as the baby grows, less diapers are included in those packages.
Oh, I did forget baby wipes to clean your baby during each diaper change and trust me on this, you will go through many of them. They too cost money.
Some women choose to breast feed where others like me could not. Being on medications for epilepsy, the only choice I had was to bottle feed and yes, formula is expensive. The average cost of powdered formula is $26.99 per-can if you purchase it through drugstore.com and again, babies go through many feedings. Even the ready-to-use cans which do not go far, cost on average $8.99 per-can. Now extrapolate the costs of formula feeding throughout one year. Yes, babies need to stay on formula for one year before switching over to milk.
What kind of bottle will you choose since there are several kinds? Again, do your own research as to the costs and yes, they will need replacing in a year’s time.
At some point, babies do switch over to solid food when your pediatrician gives you the green light and as you will see on drugstore.com, the cost of oatmeal or other grain products will roughly cost you $2.99 per-box. Then we get into the vegetables, fruits and meats and we are speaking of spending at least $1.99 for a package of two. Let me assure you that babies are always hungry and extrapolate these costs over a year’s time.
When you bring home a baby from the hospital, the hospital itself will not release the baby into your care unless you have a car-seat. They too can be expensive depending upon the brand. According to Walmart.com, you will see the price-range from as low as, $34.99 and as high as $145.00. These are only newborn car-seats which will have to be replaced as your baby grows.
During your baby’s first three months, pediatricians will recommend they sleep in bassinettes close by and again, if you visit Walmart.com, they range anywhere from, $34.99 all the way up to $189.88 in price.
Let us move on to cribs which will be your baby’s next sleeping arrangement: In looking again at Walmart.com where America loves to shop, the prices range anywhere from $149 upward. If you think that a hand-me-down crib that has gone back several generations in your family will do, most of them are no longer safe since a baby can put their heads through those bar slats easily. Baby deaths have occurred due to this.
As far as clothing, explore Walmart.com or your favorite store’s web site to see the prices. I will tell you this, babies need tons of onesies and sleepwear. Diapers leak and yes, babies do spit up. You will need a fresh one to change that baby. They will also need their own towels and face cloths. Oh, and babies do need blankets to sleep, and to be swaddled in. For their cribs, they will need bumpers.
Did I mention the stroller? Oops! Babies do need fresh air and help them get to know their brand new world. Time to go browsing on Walmart.com, but you will see that they range in the hundreds of dollars.
Babies from the moment they are born all the way up to their teens do need toys and I will not even go there as far as price ranges. The responsibility is yours. But, in the first year, toys help to stimulate that baby to his or her environment. They learn from toys.
These are only but the basics a new baby will need.
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