Real parents reveal 16 kid expenses that are worth the money

The average American family pays over $11,000 just in the first year of a child's life, and nearly $250,000 by the time they're 18. And while most of the incurred expenses prove worthwhile, not every toy, class, or experience warrants its price tag.

So how can you decipher when it's worth it to splurge?

Business Insider asked parents with children of all ages to weigh in on the financial side of having kids.

Not every parent went into their reasoning, but every family is different, and it makes sense that every expense would be valued differently, too.

Below, we've anonymously included 16 things they say are totally worth the cash: