Wake Forest Baby First Born in Triangle
The first baby born in the Triangle this year is happy and healthy with his parents.
Daniel Joseph Andrews was born just eight minutes into the New Year at a hefty eight pounds, 15 ounces. Daniel is the fourth child born to Steve and Tammie Anderson of Wake Forest.
"Dad" changed the first diaper, and says he's had a bit of practice.
Diapers are just one of hundreds of expenses that new parents have to face every day. The newest figures from the federal government show that raising a child is more expensive than ever.
Many parents are surprised at the expense, but say they the rewards are worth the cost.
Meanwhile, Wake Medical Center delivered an unusual set of twins who have different birthdays. Sylvia Suago gave birth to a daughter before midnight on December 31, 1997, and her twin brother was born after midnight on January 1, 1998. The girl was delivered naturally, the boy was delivered by Ceasarean-section. Suago doesn't speak English. Further information was not available.
Doug and Mary McCaffrey have two college-age sons, but this April, Mary will give birth to a little girl. On their first shopping trip for baby items in nearly 20 years, they've already learned their little girl will cost more to raise. Doug McCaffrey says they are planning for the extra expense.
Mary McCaffrey says the thought of college for this baby is really frightening.
Even without college, raising a child is surprisingly expensive, and not necessarily because of all the new gadgets that new parents like to buy. The cost of living is pushing the cost of parenthood to new heights.
In 1960, the average middle income family spent roughly $25,000 to raise a child for 17 years, so that figures does not include college expenses. These days, the cost is roughly $150,000, a 600 percent increase in just 38 years.
Still, for expecting parents like Billy and Kim Colley, those financial demands are a part of the labor of love.
The typical middle-income family will spend between $8,000 and $9,000 per child this year. On the average, parents with multiple children tend to spend less per child than single-children families.
