ALMOST two-thirds of new mothers feel under financial pressure to return to work, a survey has found.

While 64 per cent of mothers said they felt they needed to get back to work because of money concerns, 37% said they had under-estimated the cost of having a baby, the survey for Prima Baby & Pregnancy revealed.

Parents said they spent an average of £2,665 on baby-related items during pregnancy and the first year of parenthood.

Two-fifths (43 per cent) of 822 people surveyed said that a buggy had been the most expensive item they had bought for their baby, while one fifth (21 per cent) said nappies had been their biggest baby-related expense and one in nine (11 per cent) said the biggest outlay had been on baby clothes. Moses baskets, baby baths and breast pumps topped the list of items that parents would not buy again. Bouncer chairs, stairgates and baby clothes were the most popular items that parents said they would buy again second hand.

More than half (52 per cent) of those surveyed said they had paid for baby items by cutting back to save money generally, while 19 per cent said either they or their partner had taken on extra hours at work to meet the costs.

Kelly Beswick, Prima Baby & Pregnancy editor, said: “Our survey shows that new parents are still struggling financially despite the recent upturn in the economy.

“Whilst two-thirds of the mums said they feel pressurised to return to work to start earning money again, with the cost of childcare so high the reality is more complicated.

“It shows that in a period when new parents should be enjoying their newborns many have financial worries and have to work additional hours.”