Starting a Family? Here is Your Complete Checklist to Prepare for the New Arrival

Starting a family is one of the most momentous decisions a young couple can make. It’s obviously an emotional decision, one that is contemplated even before the wedding vows are exchanged; but, to the extent that a couple needs to be financially prepared, it is also a practical decision, at least as far as the timing is concerned. With the cost of raising a child exceeding $300,000 over the next 18 years, it’s easy to overlook some of the more immediate costs of preparing to welcome him or her into your lives. Before you bring your new bundle of joy home from the hospital, here is a list of things that need to be done starting from the moment you know he or she is coming:

Build your emergency reserves: Building an emergency reserve fund should be a top priority the day after you get married. Your emergency reserve fund is to cover life’s contingencies, the unexpected that you should expect, such as a medical emergency, a job loss, a major repair, or a debilitating injury that could keep you from working. The general rule is to have at least six months of living expenses saved in a liquid account, like a savings account. However, with a new family member in the house, you may want to increase it to 12 months to help cover a maternity or paternity leave of absence.

Make a spending plan: Of course, you know there will be additional food costs and baby supplies to purchase. But, don’t forget the added costs of running a household with a baby. Energy and transportation costs tend to increase as a baby requires more wash loads (for clothes and dishes), more heat, hot water, and more trips to grocer and doctors. Your spending plan should include the added cost of health insurance and the savings you’ll want to set aside for a college education.

Research Family leave: Plan ahead for family leave. Check with your employers to determine what, if any, parental leave time or benefits are available and plan accordingly. If you’re not fortunate enough to have family leave benefits, you may want to start adding to your emergency reserve.

Research Child Care: The need for child care will arise at some point. With average child care costs approaching $800 a month, it would be important to have a plan in place. Begin the search now for child care options and alternatives in your neighborhood.

Legal arrangements: If you don’t have a will, get one. It should include specific guardianship arrangements. Be prepared to change your beneficiaries on your life insurance policies (making your child a contingent beneficiary).

Increase your protection: Speaking of life insurance, now would be the time to increase your coverage, especially for Mom if she’s not already pregnant. Some life insurers may want an expectant Mom to wait until after the baby is born to issue a policy or issue one with a preferred rating. You should consider increasing the liability coverage on your homeowners insurance, especially if you plan on hosting any playtime with the neighbors’ kids.

See a tax professional: When you have a baby, your tax situation will change, usually for the better. It would be important to talk with a tax professional or do your own research to see how your taxes will be affected by added exemptions, deductions and child credits. You may be able to incorporate any tax savings into your new spending plan.

Baby-proofing: Last, but certainly not least, you will need to completely baby-proof your house and yard. Download a baby-proofing guide or watch a video and don’t wait until the baby is born. Anything you can do to fully prepare ahead of time will save you money and give you greater peace-of-mind.

Did we leave anything out? Add it to the list. Make this your checklist for ensuring all the vital issues are addressed before your baby arrives.