A New Parent Checklist: Starting a Family
From pregnancy to choosing a guardian, new parents can count on making lots of decisions.
Having a child -- either by birth or by adoption -- can be one of the most exciting and meaningful things you do. At the same time, bringing a baby into your life can be stressful, especially in the ways it affects your work and your income. In fact, the financial and legal implications of child-rearing and parenting can be overwhelming.
But it isn’t as scary as you might think. By taking some time now to become informed, you can save yourself worry and trouble later -- and begin to put all of the necessary plans in place. The checklist below will give you a place to start.
Before Your Baby Arrives
For all expectant parents -- birth or adoptive, mother or father, married or single, straight or gay -- the complications begin even before that first cuddle with a new baby. Here are some questions to consider as you prepare for your baby’s arrival:
- If you are pregnant, how much of your pregnancy and delivery will your health insurance cover? (For information, see Health Insurance and Pregnancy: Coverage for You and Your New Baby.)
- If you are pregnant, do you want a doctor or midwife to care for you during your pregnancy and to deliver your baby? How do you select a good one? Where and how do you want to deliver your baby?
- Can you take time off from work for doctors' appointments or to prepare for adoption? What about for medical complications during pregnancy?
- How do you select a good pediatrician for your child? (You should have a pediatrician in place before your baby arrives.)
- Do you want to conduct genetic testing during pregnancy?
- How do you tell your boss and coworkers that you will soon be a parent?
- How much maternity/paternity leave can you take, and how much of it will be paid? (To learn more, see Taking Family and Medical Leave.)
After Your Baby Arrives
Once your baby arrives, issues and questions will pop up daily. Of course, you’ll have lots of questions about your baby’s health and development, but there will be practical issues to deal with as well. For example:
- How do you apply for a birth certificate for your baby? What about a Social Security number? (For information, see Social Security Numbers and Why Your Baby Needs One.)
- If you are the mother, what are your rights to nurse in public?
- How can you arrange for health insurance for your new baby?
- How can you make sure that the baby products you buy are safe?
- How can you make sure that your home is hazard-free? What about lead paint?
- When you travel -- either by car or by plane -- how can you make sure your baby is safe?
- How can you take advantage of the tax breaks available to parents? (For information, see Tax Breaks Every Parent Should Know About.)
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