Preparing for the Arrival of Baby in 2015

I have not been writing my blogposts frequently due to the need to do research on baby stuff. Being a first-time mum, I have been reading up ferociously on things that I need to prepare for the arrival of our little one. Besides asking experienced mums for their useful tips, I have also read reviews on the online forums and resources on what to expect and prepare. 

 

There are numerous baby items to be purchased as a first-time parent and as I hope to get the best bang for my buck, I have done a lot of research online to get the best deal in terms of quality and price. Besides going down to the physical shops, I have also done my homework on the web at the many online stores operating locally to compare prices and look at the selections. I don't expect to have the luxury of doing shopping very often once the baby arrives and these online stores will provide the convenience that the modern mum needs by delivering the goods right to your doorstep and often free delivery is provided with a minimum purchase of $60 to $100. Amazon.com USA now provides free delivery to Singapore on many items with a minimum purchase of US$125. I also like to refer to the reviews left by those who have made purchases previously to see if they found the product useful or not. If you want to go to the trouble of using shipping consolidators, you can also have the choice of shopping on other US shopping sites in the comfort of your home. Baby fairs held from time to time at the Singapore Expo, Suntec City and Takashimaya also provide attractive discounts and promotions on baby products, if you have time to make your way there.

I have affirmed that it is indeed not cheap to have kids in Singapore, even when the Singapore government is trying to help to defray some of these costs by giving out baby bonuses, subsidies, allowing the usage of our CPF funds to pay for visits to the obstetrician and delivery, subject to certain caps, amongst others. No wonder Singaporeans are having children later and later in life and having fewer of them. Having said that, it is still a personal choice whether you want to keep things simple or want to splurge on the best for your child.

It can cost between $5,000 to $25,000 onwards to prepare for the arrival of your baby. Most people spend from $10,000 to $12,000 on average. Aspiring parents have to start tightening your belts in order to provide for your child.

Delivery
Normal (vaginal) delivery can range from $1,000 to $12,000 depending on whether you choose  Government subsidized hospitals or Private hospitals and the type of ward you stay in. Please refer to MOH website for more details.

 

Delivery via Caesarean section can range from $2,000 to $18,000. Please refer to MOH website for more details.

If you wish to make claims from CPF for your delivery, do note that there are certain caps to be adhered to:
Maximum Medisave Claimable (subject to CPF Board approval)
Antenatal $450
Normal Delivery $750
Caesarean Delivery $2,150
Hospital Stay $450 per day
Neonatal screening tests and vaccinations $400 per account per year
Please refer to the CPF website for more details.

Confinement Nanny or DIY Confinement

Whether you choose to observe the confinement month or not also determines how much you will be spending in the month after child birth. A 28-days confinement nanny can cost somewhere from $2,500 to $4,000 during the Chinese New Year period, not forgetting the obligatory ang pows that you have to dish out before they start work and after they complete the stint which will add another $100 to the cost. This is not including the herbs that you have to purchase so that the nanny can prepare nutritious tonic food to help you in your recuperation. This will add another $100 to $300 on top of the costs.

If you prefer to do-it-yourself or get your mum or mother-in-law to help you during the confinement period, you have the choice to cater confinement food from experienced establishments which will cost anywhere from $400 to $900 depending on how many meals you cater per day.

Baby Essentials

Well, baby essentials like clothing, bath/baby care products, diapers / reusable nappies, nursing and feeding items, nursery items like cots, playards and toys will come to mind. There is a wide array for us to choose from to suit our needs. We may also prefer certain brands to others and these may cost more.
 

Post Natal Massage
Some mothers consider this a luxury but for others, it is a necessity, so as to get back in shape quickly after delivery. After 10 months of pregnancy, this will be an affordable luxury for new mummies to relax and pamper themselves. Depending on the type of packages and the masseurs you choose, whether freelance or from massage centres, you can expect to pay at least $300 to $800 for this.

Others
There are also many optional items like cord blood banking, baby's full month celebration and cakes, newborn photography, geomancer consultation to determine the Chinese name of the baby (if you are Chinese and require such services), just to name a few. Expect to spend another $8,000 to $10,000 or so if you want them all.

Conclusion
What will you choose for your baby and yourself? Most of us have budgetary constraints, so we will have to weigh the pros and cons, in order to make the final decisions. We must not forget that, at the end of the day, it is our love for them that matters most rather than any material wants which are definitely secondary.