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My Toddler’s Third-Year Expenses

A toddler happily riding a rocking horse as an example of toddler's third-year expenses.
My 2-year-old toddler

This post, my toddler’s third-year expenses is a continuation of 3 of my earlier posts on the money and kid series.

These 3 posts are:

Since I resigned from my job when my son turned 2-years and I take care of my son on my own, there’s been a significant drop in my toddler’s third-year expenses.

Let’s see how much my toddler’s third-year expenses are.

Table of Contents

My toddler’s third-year expenses

As before, to simply this sharing, I shall divide my toddler expenses into its category as below:

Feeding and food expenses

Upon turning 2-year-old, my son starts taking more solid food. And that reduced my son’s formula milk consumption. I also slowly introduced him to the normal food that we eat during family meals.

And I noticed we started to spend more on his favourite snack and titbits.

The details of my son’s feeding and food expenses are as below:

  • formula milk brand 1 (1.1kg x RM61.89 x 12 packs): RM742.68
  • formula milk brand 2 (2.4kg x RM180.99 x 6 packs): RM1,085.94
  • baby safe cleanser twin pack (RM 45 x 2): RM90
  • milk bottle cleaner brush (3 x RM10): RM30
  • baby bottle feeding teat (2 x RM21): RM42
  • solid food – meat extract paste (3 x RM25): RM75
  • multivitamin syrup (500ml): RM48
  • cod liver oil (400ml, 6 x RM12.80): RM76.80
  • favourite titbits and snacks (RM50 x 12): RM600
  • subtotal for feeding cost: RM2,790.42

Expenses on clothing

Compared to his first year and second year, my son’s third-year expenses on clothing were also reduced.

And I still shop online, mostly through Shopee for my son’s clothing. Except for special occasion apparel where we shop at the local departmental stores.

These are our expenses on clothing:

  • long sleeve pyjama set (6 x RM17): RM102
  • short sleeve set (8 x RM15): RM120
  • children’s clothes set for special occasions (5 x RM40): RM200
  • kids socks: RM20
  • kids pants (3 x RM40): RM120
  • children’s shoes and sandals (RM35 x 4): RM140
  • subtotal for clothing cost: RM702

Hygiene and bath care expenses

I started potty-train, my son when he turns 2 years old. It doesn’t take long for him to get familiar without diapers. He seems to enjoy more without diapers.

But he still wears diapers when he naps or sleeps. For that, we save about 50% on diaper expenses compared to the year before.

The expenses for hygiene and bath care are as below:

  • diapers for daywear (RM30 x 5 packs): RM90
  • premium diapers for nightwear (RM34 x 15 packs): RM510
  • baby wipes (RM13.90 x 6): RM83.40
  • baby hygiene wipes (RM10 x 4): RM40
  • yu yee oil (RM3.50 x 6): RM21
  • baby shampoo (RM15 x 2): RM30
  • baby bath (RM15 x 4): RM60
  • mosquito repellent: RM27.50
  • subtotal for hygiene and bath care cost: RM861.90

Healthcare expenses (doctor visits and vaccination)

From 2-year-old to 3-year-old, my son still frequently has flu and cough. Mostly light infection. I suspect he got them from his playschool.

Whenever he’s not feeling well, we bring him to the same child specialist clinic. Except when the clinic is not open, then we bring him to a different child specialist.

As for vaccination, he only has one vaccination during his third year – chickenpox second dose.

The details of our expenses on healthcare are as below:

Specialist and doctor visits

  • 24 July 2018 – light flu: RM30
  • 3 Oct 2018 – flu and cough: RM30
  • 18 Dec 2018 – ear infection: RM40
  • 21 Dec 2018 – follow-up ear infection: RM40
  • 7 Jan 2019 – flu and cough: RM30
  • 25 Mar 2019 – flu and cough: RM36
  • 29 Mar 2019 – follow-up flu and cough: RM38
  • 17 May 2019 – flu and cough: RM28
  • 21 May 2019 – cough and fever: RM43
  • 24 May 2019 – follow-up cough and fever: RM38
  • 25 May 2019 – skin rashes: RM30
  • Subtotal for specialist and doctor visit: RM383

Vaccination expenses

  • Chicken Pox 2nd dose – RM145.00
  • Subtotal for vaccination expenses: RM145.00

Playschool expenses

My son started his half-day playschool session in July 2018. Actually, it’s only a 3.5-hour morning session on weekdays.

I sent him there to mix around and play with other kids to improve his social circle.

And these are his playschool expenses:

  • Monthly playschool expenses (RM250 x 6months) + (RM270 x 6 months): RM3,120
  • Playschool miscellaneous expenses: RM200
  • subtotal for playschool expenses: RM3,320

Expenses on toys and learning

As my son grows, he starts to request to buy toys for him, especially toy cars. Initially, my husband mostly buys him the toys he requested. As for me, I don’t. I meant I only buy toys occasionally and not on every request.

Because I want him to learn the importance of delayed gratification at a young age.

After some time, my husband agrees not to spoil my son with toys. So, we cooperate to guide my son and teach him the importance of managing his wants and needs.

Still, we spent quite a lot on toys. The details are as below:

  • toddler toys: RM600
  • books and stationaries: RM200
  • visits to the kids’ entertainment centre and play sessions: RM100
  • subtotal for toys and learning expenses: RM900

Birthday celebration expenses

For his 3rd birthday, we had a family gathering. And we also had another simple celebration at his playschool.

The expenses are as below:

  • birthday dinner: RM175
  • birthday party at playschool: RM100
  • subtotal: RM275

Miscellaneous expenses

My son only starts his haircut session when he’s about 1.5 years old. And from 2 years old onwards, we bring him for a haircut in alternate months.

  • haircut session (RM10 x 6): RM60

Summary of my toddler’s third-year expenses

And this is the summary of the expenses for my two-year-old toddler:

  • feeding: RM2,790.42 (30%)
  • clothing: RM702 (7%)
  • hygiene and bath: RM861.90 (9%)
  • healthcare (vaccination only): RM528 (6%)
  • playschool: RM3,320 (35%)
  • toys and learning: RM900 (9%)
  • 2nd birthday celebration: RM275 (3%)
  • miscellaneous expenses: RM60 (1%)
  • total: RM9,437.32

Final thoughts

Overall, my toddler’s third-year expenses were reduced by 38% compared to his second-year expenses. One of the reasons is that I take care of my son on my own.

For an average family like us, I would say the figure of about RM9,500 in a year or RM791 per month is still reasonable.

So, what do you think of this figure? Or, do you mind sharing how much you spent monthly on your kids?

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