What You Might Not Expect When You're Expecting

We all know that babies are expensive. That's a fact. But do you know just how expensive having a child can be? And all the costs that come with them? No matter how prepared you think you are, there will still be costs that will gut check you.

So what are some of those costs you need to be prepared for when you're expecting? The obvious ones for the baby are diapers, clothes, bottles, a crib, blankets, etc. There are also the costs for the mom, such as pre- and post-natal doctor visits, your hospital stay, maternity clothes, vitamins, etc. But what else is there?

Childcare. This is probably the biggest cost of having a baby. The average cost of center-based day care for infants is about $10,468 per year, according to 2016 Care.com member data. Depending on what state you live in, it could be more or less. 

Maternity Leave. Maternity website, The Bump says that, "The typical policy will pay between 60% and 70% of your gross income for the first six weeks." So you're missing out on 30-40% of your income and 100% of it if you take more than six weeks.

Insurance. You'll need to add your newborn to your health coverage, which means your premiums will increase. You'll also need to make sure you have a good life insurance policy in case anything happens to you and/or your partner.

Utilities. You may have to keep your house warmer or cooler, depending on the time of the year and the baby's needs. This will impact your usage.

Food. You're going to be exhausted the first few weeks after the baby is born. You will be overwhelmed and sleep-deprived, so cooking is most likely out of the question. You'll probably be eating a lot of takeout.

Convenience. You won't have time to cut coupons to get the best deals or wait until there's a sale. You have to go to the nearest store and get what's available right then, no matter the price. With a crying baby, all of your savvy shopping goes out the window.

While this list is not at all exhaustive, hopefully it helps you plan accordingly. Start thinking about these things now. So when the baby comes, planned or not, you'll be ready. Well, as ready as you can be with a baby.