Just the thought of planning for parenthood can be both exciting and daunting at the same time. There are a number of things you will both have to think about, that you may not have ever had to consider before. To make this experience as enjoyable and stress-free as possible, I’ve put together some helpful things for you to consider when getting everything in order for the arrival of your little one.
Set your priorities
Planning out your priorities will be a crucial first step as there are a lot of things which will likely change and be affected by the birth of your child. Priorities like mapping out how long you and your partner would like to be at home with your baby, and the steps for how you can achieve it.
Things you’ll both have to consider will be:
- Whether you have a support network that can help.
- How expensive is your local daycare center?
- How long are you able to take off work?
Creating to-do lists for your priorities will help organize things in a period of great change. Check out Human Services website for parental leave information.
Start saving now
It is important to get on top of your financial planning as soon as possible. As babies are more expensive than people anticipate, so it’s important to think ahead! What items can’t you live without from the baby shop? Are there clothes items that friends or family members can provide as hand-me-downs for those initial first months, where your baby will likely grow out of these cute little outfits in a blink of an eye? What big purchases could friends and families put money towards for your baby shower?
Thinking ahead
As your family is going to experience a reduction in income, opening an emergency savings fund is a great way to be prepared for things that can come up unexpectedly without having to necessarily rely on a high-interest credit card to see you through the tough times.
Another must is for parents to increase their life insurance to make sure the cover supports the new addition to your family in the event of a tragedy. Furthermore, by doing this early it could even save you money in the long run.
Play your cards close to your chest
At first, keep your news under wraps whilst you explore what you and your partner’s employers cover. As you’ll want to make sure that you both have all the information you need and your ducks in a row before making the news available to staff members and management. Only when you are ready and you’ve decided how you would like to approach parenthood and work, tell your boss. By doing it this way, you are in control.
Do so face to face, and be aware that they may be preoccupied with the knock-on effect to the business to congratulate you instantly. Be prepared for this by reassuring your employer that you will help to train your replacement and aim to have a crossover period with the new employee if the business requires.
Bigger isn’t always better
Many people think that they need more space for the arrival of a new family member, but the reality is young children are relatively small and putting your family under unnecessary financial pressure isn’t needed in the initial stages of parenthood. Check out some of these exciting tiny house ideas for new parents on Pinterest for ways to get around moving home during your pregnancy.
Remember to think about the now, as well as the future. Although there are a million things you could buy to make the transition into parenthood easier, there is just as much need to keep a safety egg for times which cannot be anticipated. Being a parent will be an amazing experience no matter what, but it is one that no one wants to be clouded by unnecessary stress.
If you are experiencing stress due to parenting, visit Psychology Today for tips on managing stress.