For expectant parents, the joy of an unborn child can make them feel like doing somersaults or leaping tall buildings. The sobering views of a new child start to come in as the news of the pregnancy wears off, maybe with a friend’s offhand comment that a child costs a lot of money. The excitement turns to worry when considering food, clothing, security, savings, school, tutors, piano lessons, cell phones, college, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. A baby does cost a considerable amount of money until he/she reaches adulthood.

A recent MSN money article analyzes the cost of raising a baby from birth to 17 years of age. The cost relates to how much the parents makes on average. The following paragraph sums up the breakdown of estimated costs.

Though not as steep, the figures for lower-income families are just as unsettling: $204,060 for families earning $45,800 to $77,100 and $148,320 for families making less than that. That breaks down to nearly $16,290 a year from birth to age 2 for families in the $77,100-plus income bracket. This is no back-of-the-envelope guesstimate. The survey involves interviews with about 5,000 households, four times a year. [Source: MSN Money]

So a baby can cost as much as $200K until the parents send him/her off to college. The cost relates to housing, food, education, and medical expenses. These four areas validate MSN’s estimates or drive the costs lower depending on how each family responds to certain needs.

The housing cost was calculated by adding 100 to 150 square feet of needed house space for each baby in a household. This meant some families had to upgrade their homes, which meant more mortgage costs and probably accounted for the majority of the cost in the $200K figure, unless you’re feeding your child sushi and caviar regularly.

To reduce costs for a baby the housing variable should be the number one priority. Many families can make do with what they owned before a baby came into the picture. Now one child doesn’t necessarily equate to a need to move situation. Afterall how much room can a stroller, toys, and carriage take up? The question comes when the child gets older and wants more space. At that time, a move might be considered in most households.

The education variable can be different for many families. The variable is really dependent on whether the child will be placed in a public or private school. Of course public schools are affordable, but private schools often times offer better standards.

How then can parents shave some of the 200K from their spending. The biggest way would be to not upsize a house. Make do with what you have. This would save the most, with education and smart necessity spending coming in next. The best advice would be to not spend money you don’t have. If you plan on buying a bigger house, save for it. In the end, the 200K would be worth it, but saving some along the way could make the journey that much more enjoyable.