Hopefully you have budgeted some money aside to prepare for the expenses that may arise unknowingly. Here's a few things that you should keep on your radar.
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Diapers, diapers, and more diapers
For first time parents, or even current parents, the cost of diapers can sneak up on you. It's no secret that people say that you'll need diapers, but how many are you actually going to need? Trusted Choice says that you will spend about $2,500 on diapers from the birth of your child to their second birthday (not including wipes or diaper cream) [1]. If this seems larger than you were hoping, you have a couple options. You can either save more money and purchase disposable diapers or you can consider buying cloth diapers. Parents suggests to reconsider cloth diapers as they are not what they once were, specifically mentioning a few brands to look into including Bumkinz, Fuzzi Bunz, and Motherease [2].
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Check your insurance
Something you might not think about at first when you are having your baby is your insurance. Check and see what your different insurances cover. WebMD states that without insurance, prenatal care will cost you about $2,000 [3]. What To Expect offers a great overview of insurance aspects to review before having a baby, including your deductible, Medicaid access, and the benefits of your work or your spouse's insurance. Having a baby without insurance can cost A LOT of money, so try and check with your insurance to find out how much you'll actually be spending [4].
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Baby supplies
Think about all of the furniture and equipment that you are going to have to buy. Nursery furniture costs an average of $700, formula can cost about $1,800 for the first year, and there's also car seats and other feed supplies to think about, depending upon whether you will be breast feeding or using formula. Also, look online for cheaper prices. If you plan ahead and have an idea of what you're going to want, place big ticket items on your registry and see if a nice friend or family member will buy it for you.
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Daycare
Although some people are lucky enough to be able to stay home with their baby for a while, most people will have to go back to work, forcing them to find a daycare solution. First determine what qualities you would like to find. Then check around your neighborhood, ask friends and family, and do your research. It's important to find the solution that will fit your family best, then begin taking this additional cost into account when you're planning and saving.
Sources:
[1] The 7 Hidden Costs of Having a Baby
[2] Cloth Diapers 101
[3] What It Costs to Have a Baby
[4] What Pregnancy Costs
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