£194000 price tag of raising a child

Raising a child born today could cost £193,772 up to their 21st birthday.

Bringing up a child in modern times is a costly affair, getting more expensive every year and forcing parents to cut back spending significantly, according to the sixth annual Cost of a Child survey from LV= Insurance.

LV chief executive Mike Rogers said: "Every parent knows how their hard-earned savings can dip thanks to eye-watering education and childcare costs."

The cost of raising a child rose four per cent over the last year - with rises in every category of spending – except pocket money allocations.

Equally startling is the figure of £133.7 billion – the cost of raising all 690,013 children born in the UK in 2007.

This equals £9,227 a year, £769 a month or £25 a day per child.

This rising cost is compounded by the new figures which show families are cutting back on all aspects of family life – with spending on holidays, clothing, food and leisure activities all affected.

Mr Rogers said: "Our research shows that parents are being very resourceful when it comes to budgeting and cutting back on non-essential spend.”

The survey of 4,027 adults showed that 81 per cent of parents have cut down on family spending, while 79 per cent admit to buying lower cost and ‘value’ items.

A spokesperson for LV commented that these cut backs are a result of families feeling the pressure financially in the economic downturn.

Based on these statistics, the cost looks set to rise further, with LV predicting the cost of a child reaching £265,577 by the year 2012 – approximately £12,500 a year.

David White, chief executive of The Children's Mutual, said: "These headline figures may look intimidating, but when you consider that nearly a fifth of the amount being quoted is the cost of university, there is hope for parents."

He added saving – though difficult in the recession – will help to reduce the financial hit of costs such as university fees.

"While in these credit crunched times finding significant sums for saving may be difficult, we believe it will be far harder for families to find the same amount as a cash lump sum in the future.

"We’re urging parents of younger children to talk to wider family today, to ask if they would consider saving for the child’s future so that in 18 years' time, they don’t miss out."

John Ellul

NCLR Urges Senate To Include Legal Immigrant Children In Health Bill

Washington, DC-Calling it "an investment in a stronger and more secure future for all Americans," Janet Murguํa, President and CEO of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, today at a press conference on Capitol Hill called for the U.S. Senate to include legal immigrant children and pregnant women in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill. Along with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), NCLR praised the House of Representatives for including this vulnerable segment of the Latino community in its SCHIP reauthorization bill, and it urged the Senate to make the same commitment to promoting a healthier America by passing the legislation.

"It is inexcusable that Latino children, who make up a significant portion our nation's population, continue to be the most uninsured ethnic group in the country," said Murguํa. "Excluding legal immigrant children from this bill would result in an irresponsible and dangerous health care policy."

Under the 1996 welfare reform, immigrant children and pregnant women are subject to a five-year bar before they may qualify for coverage through Medicaid or SCHIP. "I haven't met anyone who isn't outraged when they hear what the current five-year bar on legal immigrant children means: that a girl with asthma has to go through five years of attacks before she can get an inhaler, and a boy with cancer has to wait five years for chemotherapy," said Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ). "Five years truly is a lifetime for a child. It's time to remove this bar and include coverage for legal immigrant children and pregnant women in the bill to reauthorize SCHIP, so we can take a major step toward making sure no child goes to bed at night without health care in the greatest nation on earth."

Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), who introduced the measure under the "Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act" (ICHIA), stated, "I have worked hard for a decade on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to follow the lead of the House and include ICHIA in SCHIP. The need for child health insurance coverage in states with large immigrant populations is reaching crisis proportions. The law should not discriminate against legal immigrants; health care is too important an issue."

"The five-year waiting period can mean the difference between preventing or treating health conditions that can affect a child's prospects for a healthy and productive life-or leaving those conditions undetected and not treated, costing taxpayers much more in the long run. This is not only a matter of common sense, but also an opportunity to show the values that define us as a country," said Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA).

My most perfect day: Brave Hannah at home for what could be her last Christmas

By Tessa Cunningham
Last updated at 10:35 PM on 25th December 2008

For Hannah Jones, it was a Christmas Day perfect in every way. Lots of lovely food, presents and, best of all, she was at home.
Hannah was determined to spend the day with her loving family because this could be their last Christmas together.
She is the brave 13-year-old leukaemia victim who recently won a High Court battle for the right to refuse a heart transplant which could save her life.

At the time she declared: 'Being in hospital reminds me of bad times. I've spent long enough there. I just want to be home - even if my life might be shorter.'
Those poignant words hung over Hannah's family as they put in an extra-special effort to create yesterday's magical Christmas.

Even though money was tight, they spared no expense decorating their house in Hereford with the tallest tree from the garden centre, the twinkliest decorations and of course, the best and fanciest presents for all their four children.
'It was the most perfect day,' said Hannah. 'I'm just so lucky to be here. Being with my family is all I want. It's been very important to celebrate this Christmas as if it were the last. I believe it won't be, I have so much to live for, but the truth is no one knows exactly how long is left.'
Hannah has been fighting acute myeloid leukaemia since she was four.

Last year tests showed her heart was severely enlarged as a side-effect of chemotherapy and doctors said her best chance was a transplant, although it would be risky with no guarantee of success.
When she refused and asked to go home, Hereford Hospital started High Court proceedings to remove her from her parents' custody to allow the transplant - accusing them of 'preventing' their daughter's treatment and threatening to send police officers to remove Hannah forcibly from her home.

It was only when she convinced a child protection officer that she knew her own mind, that proceedings were finally dropped.
And that gave her the chance to spend Christmas at home with her parents Andrew and Kirsty, brother Oliver, 11, and sisters Lucy, ten and four-year- old Phoebe.

'I had a brilliant Christmas morning,' said Hannah, grinning from ear to ear.

'I felt a little tired, but we all got up at the crack of dawn to rip open our presents. I got loads of make-up and a new High School Musical game for my Nintendo DS.
'I also got the Addams Family on DVD so I'm going to get into bed and watch that later when I'm too tired to stay up. My best present was a Disney bracelet from my dad - it's really pretty.

'I know the doctors don't expect me to live much longer. But I've proved them wrong and I will do so again if I have to.'
The family's Christmas celebrations actually kicked off earlier in December with a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida.
It was touch and go whether the family could fly because Hannah's health was so precarious until an anonymous benefactor offered £200,000 in insurance cover.
The family stayed at Give Kids The World - a village specially designed for sick children. Hannah's face lights up as she recalls the treats she enjoyed.
'The chalets were all painted bright colours and lit up with fairy lights. It was magical,' she grins.
'We had our meals in the Gingerbread House where the tables were all made out of sweets. It was amazing. There was a miniature train running around the village taking us to whatever play park or ice-cream parlour we fancied. We could eat free banana splits all day. It was fantastic. Seeing Phoebe's face when she met Mickey Mouse was just amazing.'
The Disney trip was followed by another special event when Hannah and her mother were invited by Prince Charles to help him and the Duchess of Cornwall decorate the Christmas tree at their London home, Clarence House.
'I had to pinch myself that it was really happening,' says Hannah, still brimming with excitement. 'Not many people get the chance to meet Prince Charles.
'We got a letter saying what we were supposed to wear. It said, "No denim please" which was fine as I don't wear a lot of denim. I was so excited. I showed the letter to all my schoolfriends - it was the only way they would believe me. There were eight children and we each got to chat to Prince Charles - Camilla was ill in bed on the day. He was so sweet - much smaller than I'd imagined and quiet.'
Hannah's mother, an intensive care nurse, said: 'Seeing her with the prince by the Christmas tree and Hannah asking, "Can you just stand over there while I take your photo?" was magical.
'After the children had decorated the tree, we all went through to the dining room for lunch. It was a real family room full of snaps of William and Harry as boys.
'There were bow-tied waiters who served the children sausage and mash in the shape of faces. The mums had salmon sandwiches and champagne.'
Although Camilla was too unwell to join the party, she made a surprise appearance at the end.

'Just as we were leaving she appeared on the stairs,' recalled Mrs Jones.
'She had no make-up on - I don't think she'd even brushed her hair. She waved at us and said, "I can't come down because I've got flu but thank you for coming".'
Back at home, Hannah helped prepare the family's festive meal and organised a party on Christmas Eve for family and friends.
'I was excited about opening my presents on Christmas morning but the best part was watching Phoebe,' she said.

'She was wild with happiness. She was ripping the paper into shreds and throwing it over her head like confetti.'
The celebrations were in marked contrast to the same time last year, when Hannah returned home from the hospice where she had been staying for a fortnight. She was too ill to eat or even leave her bed for more than a few minutes.
'This year was wonderful,' she said. 'We have a tradition that we set fire to the Christmas pudding. When Mum brought it into the room all flaming, I knew it had been the best Christmas ever.'