If you can't afford diapers, you can't afford a baby.
- 692 Replies
I just read this online and thought this would be an interesting topic for discussion.
What do you think?
I think that the basic question should be "If you can't afford a baby -with what ever budget cuts, couping, recycling, special efforts your are willing to put in you shouldn't have a baby." A lot of people could afford a lot more if they were willing to put in the effort to reuse things as opposed to go disposable.
Quoting brittanyjenean:There are two sides of this coin.....if you can't afford diapers, you can always go old fashioned with cloth. If you refuse to use cloth and can't afford diapers, then nope, you shouldn't have a kid.
Quoting Anonymous:I was thinking the same thing. I had my parents help, My mom wanted me to stay home with him for the first year, then I went to school. My parents demanded that i go to college instead if getting a job at some fast food place. While I generally agree with the statement, I don't think it's anyone else's business how many kids someone has and if they can afford them or not. With that being said, I am NOT having another until I'm graduated, married and on my own. I've learned for my experience and won't let it happen again.
Quoting Mocking.Jay:When I see people saying if you can't afford diapers, I am led to assume they are speakin in general terms as in, diapers = part of the baby basics. So if you can't afford formula, diapers, or clothes for your baby, then yeah, I don't think you should have a baby.
But then if you are stupid like I once was, and had a baby anyway really young, but you have wonderful parents and family to help support you, then you are just lucky and should take that help and not try to make your own way until you have used those resources to get on your feet like I have.
I had every right to choose to not terminate my pregnancy and keep my baby because shit happens, but it was an opportunity to not become a bar star, and shooting meth on Friday nights like a lot of my clas of '05 is doing now, lol. Instead, I am stuck with a hardly considered social life, and a preschooler. :)
For some ppl I guess it is, lol.
Quoting Anonymous:And it's that hard to type out the word people?
Quoting nangel5:
people
Quoting Anonymous:
What is "ppl"?
Quoting Anonymous:
Then don't offer to buy them, ppl like certain brands and even if they bought it or someone else is buying them, they have the right to choose what goes on their baby. We buy ours ourselves, but when family does stop over with a surprise pack of whatever (diapers/wipes) they know we only use Huggies so that's ht they bring
Quoting pinkyheather:
I whole heartedly agree! There should also be "if you can't afford formula or food for the baby" up there too.
And what really gets me is if you know someone who doesn't have or is running out of diapers and you say "hey i'll help you out and get a pack" they have the nerve to tell you what kind. Uh no, if i'm buying, as long as your kid isn't allergic to what kind I get i'm getting what I can afford and not the kind you want me to get. So no, sorry i'm not getting diapers that are 2 x's more expensive than what I used to buy for my 3 year old when he was the kids age. No way.
There was no sexual content in my statement. That was YOUR interpretation. FF.
Quoting Anonymous:
You're the one who phrased it that way.
"So you were proud because a baby can suck your tit? Holy shit this country it doomed. "
How else would we be doomed by being proud of breastfeeding? And the term is BREASTfeeding, not "sucking a tit".
Quoting Anonymous:
Sexual implications? You're the only one with that shit on your mind, not me. FF.
Quoting Anonymous:
Are you seriously making sexual implications about breastfeeding?
If so, breastfeeding mothers are not what is wrong with this country, YOU are.
Quoting Anonymous:
If you can't figure that out, then you wouldn't understand anyway.
Quoting Amberleigh81:
She was proud because she was successful at getting her child to latch so she could successfully breastfeed. How is that scary or "dooming" this country? The Surgeon General and the American Academy of Pediatrics, along with the World Health Organization, recommend breastfeeding as a way to IMPROVE childhood health. If anything, you should applaud this mama for lowering her child's healthcare costs.
Quoting Anonymous:
The shit is getting friggen scary in this thread.
So you were proud because a baby can suck your tit? Holy shit this country it doomed.
Quoting Anonymous:
I went through this with my baby. I used a shield until she was bigger, then I figured out how to just take a handful of breast, pinch it a bit, and latch her on. I was so proud!
Quoting Snapdragon88:
Well... I don't know if my reason is medical, but I formula feed because my nipples don't stay erect. My babies couldn't even FIND my nipples. It was heartbreaking to watch them struggle while hungry.
Quoting Anonymous:
I understand that, but I'm willing to bet most people who use it do so not because of a medical reason.
Quoting Snapdragon88:
Some women do, sweetheart. Don't make yourself sound like an ass.
Quoting Anonymous:
good thing you don't NEED formula if you have a baby.
Quoting ElitestJen:
Most people can afford just diapers. However, if you can't afford formula, health insurance, clothes, diapers, etc. all at the same time - then you can't afford a baby.
Babies ARE expensive. I had planned to BF but did not produce enough despite months of trying. We weren't expecting to incur the costs of formula, but didn't have the option of seeking assistance for formula. I also didn't expect to have a c-section either. We are blessed that we have two full-time incomes, but even with that we struggled that first year. We could certainly afford her before she was here and had planned to do certain cost cutting things, but my plan isn't always someone else's plan. I also did CD which helped.
I can relate. I had a very similar experience.
Quoting frgivn2:
Babies ARE expensive. I had planned to BF but did not produce enough despite months of trying. We weren't expecting to incur the costs of formula, but didn't have the option of seeking assistance for formula. I also didn't expect to have a c-section either. We are blessed that we have two full-time incomes, but even with that we struggled that first year. We could certainly afford her before she was here and had planned to do certain cost cutting things, but my plan isn't always someone else's plan. I also did CD which helped.
Quoting Anonymous:
What is it that parent did (other than providing college) that caused your aunt to feel a need to party so much? Was that her first exposure to independence so she didn't know how to handle it? Was she monitored every day while in high school?
Normally there is a psychological component to college failure after success in high school that has nothing to do with "who paid".
Quoting StarWilliams:
My grandma paid for my aunts college fund and she failed cause she wanted to party . My grandma paid agin . She failed agin . Long story short she finally passed the 4th yr .
Now that want be me . I will help my kids but they will work for alot of it also . I want to know they are willing to put in the hard work and it will also help self esteem . Theyll work harder if they help pay the cost of it cause theyll understand where their hard working money is going towards (:
Quoting Anonymous:
It's only a privilege for the poor. It's a necessity for the upper-middle and upper class. Still sad.
Quoting Anonymous:I got better than they did and worked for it. There's no shame in that on either of our parts.
ETA - and my kids will be just fine. COLLEGE IS A PRIVILEGE. You have to work for it.
Quoting Anonymous:
Poor things. Most parents want better for their own children.
Quoting Anonymous:My parents couldn't afford college funds. 90% of my education was learning to pay for it.
My kids will be taught the same way.
Quoting Anonymous:
If you can't afford diapers, food, household bills, and a college fund you should not have a child.
Quoting Anonymous:Parents who cannot afford the basics, such as food, clothing, and a roof over their heads are not good parents. No way, no how.
Quoting embersparkle:
Obviously I hope that families who are rich actually care for and spend time with their children. There is also the families on foodstamps who don't give a shit about their kids. Honestly I don't care, as long as the children have families that love them, take care of them and be there for them. Doesn't matter to me if they are on foodstamps or have a million dollars. Money or lack of money isn't what makes a good parent.
Quoting Anonymous:
Quoting embersparkle:
You know, I would rather see a family on foodstamps who love and care for their children and nurture them than a rich family who ignores their children.
And I would rather see a rich family who loves and cares for their children.
I don't think anyone cares about the others...thanks.
Things happen! I have a 4 yr old, 2 yr old and 1 yr old. We are by no means rich and My husbands 11 year old daughter in mexico got into a big accident. we thought we had enough to send over there so sent a bunch of money when we are already currently living paycheck to paycheck. Then our car broke, Found mold in our storage so had all that food get thrown away, and we have 2 in diapers! Im currently 19 weeks pregnant and My husbands boss is refusing to give him an advance or a raise. THings happen and when it rains it storms! This last baby was a condom breaking baby and was NOT planned at all. But life happens and there are ways to get diapers! I could not afford diapers the last 2 weeks. Had to get help from Money tree. But i Am HUGE into free samples, coupons and freebies and I won a free pack of Diapers of Listia. that coupon should be here any day. If ANYONE can not afford something like diapers or something there are ppl out there who can help! Who are we to judge that family? Maybe they simply hit a rough patch? Does not mean they should not have kids!
I cannot afford health care and formula and I have 2 children under 3 years old and a tween. But I chose to breast feed my children and I sought out a company that pays for my insurance and have worked for them for more then 4 years, and will forever be a slave for them :o)
And I probably could afford formula, but heck, I'm cheap, lol.
Quoting ElitestJen:
Most people can afford just diapers. However, if you can't afford formula, health insurance, clothes, diapers, etc. all at the same time - then you can't afford a baby.
are you ok with another woman calling your husband "hun" or "babe"