As the weeks went by we became better and better at the schedule. We were on a 3 hour schedule and it continued for 5 months. The hardest part was the nights. Cutting back the 11 p.m., 2 a.m. feeding were hard. But worth every minute. We did it by being on "Binky Patrol". That is right. We rotated who was on-call for popping the Binky back in their mouth. As long as they had the Binky they were fine. Every once in a while one would wake up fully and need a bottle.
Once we got past the overnight feedings everything got better. They started eating baby food by 6 months. It was great to see them evolve so fast. We started with the baby cereal but they did not enjoy it as much. They were on stage 1 foods for only a month or so. By 8 months they were gobbling down stage2 foods easily.
We cut back on the amount of formula we used, only 4 bottles per kid per day. But they were now eating 5 containers of baby food per kid per day. That is equal to 105 per week, 420 per month .The cost was $46 per week or $186 per month, for beechnut baby food purchased at BJ's. They sell them in boxes of 18. So I get 7 per week.
Formula is still very expensive. One is having Alimentum which costs $9.00 per day, the others are on Enfamil Lipil for $7.00 per day. That is equal to $112.00 per week or $448 per month.
But we can't forget the diapers. Each box of 200 diapers costs$45.00 We go through almost 1 box per week. So that would be $45.00 or $180.00 per month.
Are you adding it up? Well the total bill is:
$203.00 per week
or
$812.00 per month
This is only on food and diapers. Every time we go to the doctor with the three girls it costs us $60.00 in co pays. Plus clothes, baby gear, toys and snacks (Gerber finger foods).
So where are we now?
To be continued..........
