Preparing yourself for parenthood is not just all about buying a tiny dress and touching ultrasound photos. Parenthood requires a great deal of preparation in terms of emotions, and yes, finances. This guide will illustrate the most vital financial duties on your situation starting from pregnancy to the baby’s early years which includes:
- Estimating your hospital and medical expenses
- Preparing a leave from your work
- Budgeting for the newest member of the family
Other preparations for parenting just materialize as you go with it, like easily changing a messy diaper or washing soiled clothes. On the other hand, the checklist of the things to do prior to the arrival of the newborn and within the first early weeks after birth is lengthy, which is why addressing pre-delivery issues earlier is a bright idea.
Prepare Your Health Insurance
Figure out your health insurance and prepare yourself for the anticipated costs. Having a baby is costly, even when you have appropriate health insurance with you. It is better for you to anticipate your likely expenses earlier in gestation.
Apply For Maternity Leave
Always plan for paternity or maternity leave. How many days and time you and your life partner get off work and whether you are paid during that period can greatly affect your household expenses in the approaching year.
Make a Budget
Compute your baby budget. The moment you recognize what you will be spending on medical costs. Figure out how it will affect your expenses in the months to come. Also, prepare a shopping list for the new family member and balance your expenses accordingly.
Newborns come with a lot of expenses, which is why it is better to set a limit on both necessary and extra purchases. Strategize your post-delivery budget. Recurring expenses like diapers, child care, and additional food will change your household costs for the coming years. It is best to plan for them ahead so that you will come prepared and not caught off-guard.
Don’t forget a Pediatrician!
Select a pediatrician within the network of your insurance. Your newborn’s first physician visit will come within the first week of life, so you will want to have a doctor decided out.
Talk to family and friends to get recommendations and suggestions. You can also contact local clinics and to look for a pediatrician before you make a decision.
In seeking the right physician, do not forget to check if the doctor is within the scope of your insurance so that you will not get hit with the costly unexpected out of network charges. If you want, you can also recognize financial advice from Ashe Morgan for you to understand better the benefits of having a financial security.
Set Aside an Emergency Fund
Establish or inspect your emergency fund. If you do not own a crisis fund, now is the right time to expect some emergency situations. Children are prone to accident, and with the price of nurturing a child, there is no assurance if you will have the available resources to pay for any sudden or extra expenses. Having at least three months worth of preparation is an excellent way to start.
During Hospital Stay
The primary objective, while you’re in a hospital is to have a healthy newborn. However, there are equally important things that require attention.
Issue a Social Security card and certificate of birth. Hospital staffs should be able to provide you with the needed paperwork to get your newborn’s Social Security number and birth certificate.
If such service is not available or if you’re having a home birth, you may contact your state’s vital records office for the issuance of a birth certificate and your local office of Social Security to acquire a Social Security card.
Newborn’s First 30 Days of Life
Include your baby in your existing health insurance. In most cases, you have around thirty days from the birth date of your baby to include the baby in an existing health insurance.
In some employer-based methods, you have around a month. Nevertheless, it is better to do it earlier rather than doing it later, as you do not want to be caught with a sick newborn with no insurance coverage at all.
Always acknowledge a life insurance policy on your newborn. No one anticipates the misfortune of losing a baby. The rates are usually low because a newborn’s life insurance policy only covers funeral expenses and few others.
Take Childcare Into Consideration
Start making a plan for childcare. Deciding the appropriate daycare or nanny can take several days or sometimes weeks. It is safe to get started earlier before your leave is over. You will require time to interview nannies or visit day care centers, as well as finish an application and the process of approval if necessary.
Takeaway
Adding a new family member comes with a wide checklist of responsibilities, so it is best not to do them all at once. Make a priority and address the most necessary requirements on your to-do list first. Expensive medical bills and insurance process will be one of the primary financial duties you will face, so better prepare for them.
About the Author
Janis Walker is a freelance blogger who loves writing. She’s particularly interested in the wise management of financial resources, she also likes to write articles about it to provide information and to reach out to people who share the same interest.
