COULD the people who surveyed 3,000 mothers and found that the average baby costs £18,000 in its first year (Echo, April 15) now survey 3,000 homes of workers in Wear Valley to find out how many do not have £18,000 to live on?

A sum of £3,000, even at today’s prices, seems a bit excessive for a cot, a wardrobe, a set of drawers, some wallpaper, a carpet and some curtains (most first-time grandparents will be delighted to buy a pram). Three dozen washable nappies should come in at well under £100. Baby food is expensive, but if you cook proper meals and invest in a blender (£40?) many of baby’s meals will come free.

People fortunate enough to have children unaided must sympathise with those who need help, but if these people are budgeting for £2,000-worth of childminding maybe they should ask themselves if they are having children for the right reasons.

Are these views old-fashioned?

Yes. Are they wrong? What do you think?

Dave Quinn, Howden-le-Wear, Co Durham.