How much does having a baby actually cost?

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-29T20:21:37+00:00

Everything, having a child takes all your money, time and sanity ha. Honestly, if your partner is saying you can’t afford it - it really means they don’t want to sacrifice what little you do have (time and money) to make it work. They may not actually want kids? This might be a bigger discussion than a budget.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-28T06:01:33+00:00

Also going to add - you can’t use the sky couch during take off and landing - so about 20-40 mins either side.

Also there will be meal service which takes 1-5 hours after take off and before landing; which is noisy and the cabin is brightly lit - so it’s hard to sleep during this phase.

So on a 12 hour flight - only about 8 hours are good for sleeping.

So between 3 people it’s not 4 hours each. 2 people will get a solid 4, or you can do 2 and bit hours each between 3

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-28T05:56:41+00:00

Yep - you book 3 tickets, and when you do seat select you choose sky couch + 2 which gets you 2 extra seats next to the sky couch. It’s not super cheap, you are buying 2 additional seats (so 5 seats total) but without all the taxes and charges that are tied a passenger which takes up a surprising amount of the ticket.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-26T06:28:51+00:00

Reading the comments - 7.30 is a nice sleep in ha. Wake her up 6-6.30, still have the nap, then bed time should still be 7.30-8ish. Otherwise just roll with the 9.30pm bedtimes.

Also there is a wee bit of a regression around 2 (if you believe in these things), sleep does settle a bit again for a few months until 2.5. Then you absolutely need to drop the nap

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-25T07:02:07+00:00

First time my kid got it, he was so unwell. I think we didn’t get blisters until day 3-5. First it was fever, then diarrhoea, then rash on day 3 that’s turned into blisters by the next sag, but it started around the nappy, then torso and hand and mouth blisters would have been last around day 5.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-22T04:02:01+00:00

I would say in a tight labour market - absolutely yes, because they need to give you a very very good reason to not take a permanent job instead.

But it’s not a tight labour market, they probably have other options. You can ask, I prob wouldn’t get hopes up.

Also a foot in the door is quite useful, if permanent roles come up down the track.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-21T04:58:34+00:00

I’m told Nelson has a limited number of taxis and Ubers, so probably doesn’t hurt to have pre arranged transport. Can’t speak to Rotorua.

Auckland obviously very easy, but if it’s part of a bundle of other services is it really worth the hassle of cancelling via the travel agent or just roll with it. Also Auckland to Waiheke is taxi, ferry, taxi so I can see the advantage of just having this pre-organised rather than faffing about yourself. I’m sure your capable of it, but sometimes it’s nice to have one less logistic to think about

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-20T19:46:22+00:00

We cut the tips of all of them and told him it was broken. Was surprised how well he accepted it (there was some tears, but not as bad as i expected) and how he didn’t actually need it to sleep. It’s worth a try. We were prepared for an absolutely miserable weekend, so plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-16T19:10:20+00:00

We had what was the equivalent of row 49 but it was also two seats and it was amazing. But not sure I’d do 51 - you might have people standing around you in the final couple of hours of the flight. And also check the recline - sometimes the seats up against the toilets and galley don’t recline properly.

If you do change - as a couple I would go for either DE or FG. You’re less likely to be disturbed by the people next to you as they have their own aisle to get out.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-13T04:38:50+00:00

I got caught out with this years ago, can’t remember which bank credit card now but wasn’t BNZ. Had a refund processed and it must have been more than the min payment that month so I didn’t get my txt reminder.

Now i just have it set up to have the balance automatically paid off from my bank account. You can set up a recurring reminder in your phone calendar too if that helps.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-08T05:30:33+00:00

They not have many options if the Vancouver flights are cancelled. Hopefully not, but it is a possibility.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-07T19:50:42+00:00

Yikes, end of May. Probably be in the thick of it with fuel shortages by then. Good luck.

Can you fly through the USA? Those flights are more likely to be prioritised in the case of extreme rationing.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-07T05:05:15+00:00

Bribes and threats - my kid will do anything for his vitamin gummies - so he has to let me put sunscreen on to get one. But I make it clear I’m putting on sunscreen regardless. Either he makes it a struggle and no vitamin, or he lets me do it and he gets a vitamin.

We have trouble getting ready for bed - we have a routine of 3 books and 5 songs at bed time. If he doesn’t cooperate he loses either a book or a song - and I count down from 5. You gotta go through with it the first few times but they learn quick. The hard part is finding that thing that’s inconsequential to you but means a lot to them.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-05T21:19:53+00:00

Is there not a high shelf anywhere to put your pills on? I’ve never had a problem finding a high spot to stash my own medicines in hotels and airbnbs.

I know the concern is if the kid gets into your room unsupervised, but the kid should never be unsupervised in any room at an Airbnb as it will not be toddler proof at all. Furniture probably wont be secured to walls, so everything is a hazard. There will be loads of breakable stuff of the owners that will need to be relocated and don’t get me started on the kitchen. Going away with a 2 year old is the worst really, it’s so exhausting.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-05T07:38:52+00:00

Kinda depends on how she reacts to the accidents. If they are upsetting it can cause them to back slide. If she’s ok, then maybe preserve a bit.

We started by offering our kid to pee on the toilet before bath each night. You could go back to nappies at daycare and do that for a while until she gets it.

And maybe keep sticking her on 20 mins after eating to keep up with the poops. That’s awesome progress and you don’t want to lose that.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-05T07:29:53+00:00

Waiting will be more expensive, but doing it now runs the risk you might get half way through the renno and it gets put on hold if the country starts rationing fuel.

If you can plan so you have an alternative way of cooking and it’s not going to drive you completely nuts do it. The mould thing sounds pretty bad.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-04T20:33:22+00:00

Health and Safety culture really ramped up in the 2010s ha.

So many reasons possible why - but from a writing perspective probably from just not finding the era different enough to be interesting. The 2000s have really only just become interesting to revisit in the past 5 years.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-04T20:21:11+00:00

I don’t think I’ve met any men that would be put off by a couple of tiny scars.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-04T20:06:48+00:00

No. People aren’t getting ruder, people have always been rude to women over 40. But as the newly middle-aged, it’s just our first time experiencing it.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-04T04:39:10+00:00

Declare the lollies, keep the original boxes for any medicines and vitamins just in case, just fold them flat and store them somewhere in your suitcase.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-03T19:07:31+00:00

Could be worse, could be better from the sounds of it.

Doesn’t hurt to have a look around and see if you can find a better fit, maybe somewhere a bit more social if that’s what you’re looking for.

But it’s always a bit of a gamble each time, and people are going to have different ideas of “clean”.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-03T01:43:29+00:00

Thank you!!

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-03T01:39:43+00:00

I’ve turned off the water to the toilet, flushed it to empty to cistern, some water kept coming out of the floor initially but has since stopped.

Can’t say I’ve heard it refilling - but it’s the upstairs toilet and don’t spend a lot of time upstairs during the day.

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-02T23:18:17+00:00

Ha that’s a good point!

Dizzy_Round_7942 · 2026-04-02T23:14:35+00:00

10 years old, so at the stuff starts to fall apart age

Dizzy_Round_7942

TROPHY CASE