[pdx.mothernurture]

...of products, services, or other useful things (a good start on a college fund, a cool cloth diaper stash, a high quality breastpump, etc) a family could afford by saving the $300-500 they would have spent on a circumcision.

Money is certainly not the most important factor to this issue, but it may sway some parents...especially as medicaid programs and private insurance companies are increasingly eliminating coverage.

Jen

 

[AntoninBeGonin]

$300-500

Dh and I just paid $30 for 3 hours of babysitting. We went out to a nice restaurant for $40. So $70 for a meal plus sitting. For $300-500 we could go out between 4-7 times.

~Nay

 

[splash]

CAR SEAT!
SOOOOO many people claim they "can't afford" a good car seat, yet they can "afford" a circumcision.
Zachary's circumcision cost them $450. He rides around in the cheapest car seat they could find. They "can't afford" a better one (even with the husband's over 100k a year salary)

That money will buy you the safest, easiest to use, most comfortable, longest lasting car seat on the market.

 

[pdx.mothernurture]

Quote:

Originally Posted by splash CAR SEAT! SOOOOO many people claim they "can't afford" a good car seat, yet they can "afford" a circumcision. Zachary's circumcision cost them $450. He rides around in the cheapest car seat they could find. They "can't afford" a better one (even with the husband's over 100k a year salary).

OT, but...good grief! So, they risked their son's life not once...but continue to put him at increased/unnecessary risk for serious injury and death every single time they put him in the car. Nice. Sometimes, I just don't understand people.

Okay, now back to your regularly scheduled program.

Keep the great ideas coming!

Here's another:

-Several good quality photo packages to professionally capture those precious early weeks/months forever.

Jen

 

[frenchie]

Here is how I spent the $500

Private room stay while in hospital (daddy was able to room in with us the whole time) $230
Lactation consultant house call $110
Soothies to help mangled nipples heal $20
Isis breast pump...to help mangled nipples heal some more $60
Misc nursing supplies $40
Precious pics of Kai at 4 weeks old $40

Sparing him the torture of circumcision.....PRICELESS!!

 

[Shaunam]

Ooh, fun post!

Well, I'm a diaper nut, so of course I have to mention that. Ummm, $400 will buy 2 dozen bumgenius diapers and will diaper your baby from birth to potty-learning. Or it will buy about 1/2 a year of sposies.

$400 will buy a nice medela pis pump with accessories so you can go back to work and still successfully breastfeed. Of course, not putting your infant through the trauma of circ will help with that too.

$400 can buy clothes for your child for 2-4 years easily.

$400 can buy a super-duper comfy car seat for your precious little one. I'd buy a britax blvd. And then there's money left over for a parkway when they outgrow the blvd.

You could go on 5 or 6 dates with your SO with $400 (including babysitting costs).

You could buy the hot video game sytem of the moment and one or two games with $400.

Of course, you could start a college fund.

You could spend the money on pretty slings and other carriers.

:

And I just realized some of these were already mentioned.

Oh well.

 

[christifav]

"My insurance paid for the circ"....

Yeah..and doesn't WIC pay for formula, too??

 

[splash]

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenchie Soothies to help mangled nipples heal $20

I read that three times trying to figure out how sMoothies made your nipples heal...

 

[Shaunam]

Quote:

Originally Posted by christifav "My insurance paid for the circ".... Yeah..and doesn't WIC pay for formula, too??

Yeah, and people use that as a reason to formula-feed too. I know many people that didn't breastfeed ONLY because they'd get the formula free. I don't doubt some of those people circ'ed because it was free with medicaid.

 

[redwolf2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by splash I read that three times trying to figure out how sMoothies made your nipples heal...

: laughup

 

[redwolf2]

Oh yeah, I forgot my ideas...

$400 I second the diapers....I am a diaper nut too.

I could defintiely spend $400 on a spa package or 2. With the money I saved choosing not to circ both my twins B/B I could have massages every week for a year.

 

[DreamsInDigital]

How about a post-birth mommy spa day? Massage, mani/pedicure, facial, the works.

 

[BamaDude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaunam I know many people that didn't breastfeed ONLY because they'd get the formula free. I don't doubt some of those people circ'ed because it was free with medicaid.

You are correct, Ma'am.
When a state's Medicaid stops paying for RIC, the circumcision rate in that state drops dramatically.

Back to the subject at hand- $400 will buy:

A second car (if you're mechanically inclined);

A whole bunch of heirloom organic seeds for your garden, plus garden tools and maybe even a compost maker;

A massive amount of yarn or other sewing supplies;

Lots of interesting books for everyone in the house;

Basic staples like rice, toilet paper, coffee, and tea in bulk quantities.

 

[sadkitty]

4 student loan or car payments!

 

[Robin926]

Thankfully--surprisingly--my state's Medicaid no longer pays for circ. Unfortunately though, it only costs $150 to have it done at the local hospital

I wish it cost more.

 

[calngavinsmom]

It would be a great start to a R.E.S.P. here in Canada(Registered Education Savings Plan) I am quite sure my sons will appreciate this tons more than if we had used the money to cut off part of their penis'.

Take care,
Tara

 

[KrystalC]

a co-sleeper or bassinet
breast pump
a chest freezer for storing pumped breastmilk (just mentioned it because my hubby and I need to buy one!)
a swing set or jungle gym for the backyard
gas for the car for the first family vacation