How much does it cost to have a baby in Chile? | Economy | BioBioChile

According to a report from the National Institute of Statistics, in the last decade there was a decrease in births in Chile, however, between March 2018 and March 2019, 2,539 more births were registered than in the same previous period , leaving as a total result 221,724 births for the last period.

According to UN records from June last year, the global fertility rate is 2.5 children per woman.

Although the population growth rate has been declining since the 20th century, there are 140 million children born worldwide each year.

It's no secret that the arrival of a baby significantly expands the list of family expenses.

In addition to the monthly costs of food, clothes and diapers, we cannot forget the most expensive items such as the crib, the changing table and the car, among others.

An analysis by Picodi.com added up the expenses related to the birth of a baby: clothes for pregnant women, hospital bags, household equipment and the cost of maintaining the baby in the first year of life.

The shopping list is divided into 7 thematic categories. The extended kit contains the basic products, but also some additional ones that are not essential.

Pregnancy expenses

During pregnancy, the mother-to-be needs to expand her wardrobe with larger-size clothes, from the special maternity collection.

According to Picodi's analysis, the average cost of the basic maternity clothing kit is $198,800.

The expanded kit ($298,500) includes some items that may be useful for pregnant women: special cushions for better sleep and rest, fetal heart monitor, and smart scale.

The hospital bag, which contains the necessary items for the mother and baby during the hospital stay, costs about $48,400 (or $101,000 in its extended version). This type of hospital bag can be completed by the mother-to-be, or bought directly already prepared in a specialized store.

Preparing the Home for the Newborn

Preparing a home for the arrival of a new family member can be costly.

The price of a crib with mattress and duvet, changing table, high chair, bathtub, bottles, pacifiers, and other accessories for baby care can exceed $724,200.

In the extended version, with items such as baby monitors, electric swings, bottle warmers and others, parents would have to spend $1,217,800.

Anything related to transporting the baby can also be expensive for parents.

A mid-range 2-in-1 stroller and car seat with carrier function cost $168,000. On the other hand, a high-end car, sling and baby carrier backpack, increase the bill to $461,000.

Hygiene

In the category “hygiene products”, diapers are the items with the highest price.

This 1950s invention makes a parent's life so much easier, which can't be said about your bank account balance. Annual stocks of creams and ointments, grooming products, and diapers can cost anywhere from $704,300 to $1,002,600.

Milk

The World Health Organization recommends that a baby be breastfed for at least the first 6 months, and that this be their main source of food during these months. This means that any complementary feeding should be introduced no earlier than the end of the first half year of life.

Food expenses during this period make up 18% of all baby-related expenses ($427,200). Naturally, high-quality food becomes more expensive ($512,600).

Clothes

When choosing baby clothes, parents often find it hard to resist the urge to buy attractive outfits.

Parents who give in to temptation can spend as much as $681,700. But on the other hand, with a reasonable approach, baby clothes can be cheaper ($454,500).

The cost of essential purchases related to pregnancy and the first year of a baby's life is $2,725,400. In contrast, products for demanding parents cost almost double, that is, $4,275,200.

According to information from the Superintendency of Pensions, the average net salary in Chile is $531,841. That means that the cost of the basic kit is equivalent to 5.1 average salaries.

In comparison, in the United States and Canada, the analyzed items are worth 1.0 and 1.5 average salaries respectively (including local prices). Expenditures similar to those in Chile concern parents in Mexico (6.3 salaries), in Argentina (6.3) and in Brazil (5.5). On the contrary, in Peru, you have to spend 11.1 salaries.