15 guides
Baby money guides
Plain-English guides to budgeting for a new baby. General education, not financial, tax or medical advice. No brand pays us to mention anything, and we don't use affiliate links.
Before baby
Birth bills, parental leave and insurance deadlines.
- Budget for your baby's first year
Split costs into one-time, monthly and "maybe", then save ahead.
- Understand the hospital and birth bills
Deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums and itemized bills, explained.
- Plan your parental leave money
Find out what's paid, what's protected, and budget the gap.
- Add your baby to health insurance on time
A birth opens a special enrollment window, and the clock is short.
Gear, diapers and feeding
What to buy, what to borrow and how to spend less on the everyday things.
- Baby gear: what you need, and what can wait
A short day-one list, and a longer list of things to skip.
- Buy secondhand baby things safely
Great for clothes and toys; be careful with car seats and cribs.
- Cut the cost of diapers
Unit prices, store brands, the right size, and whether cloth pays off.
- Feeding your baby on a budget
Support for breastfeeding, savings on formula, and what never to do.
- A baby registry that actually helps
Ask for what you'll use, plus a few things for month six.
Childcare and the toddler years
Comparing childcare, tax breaks and what changes after year one.
- Compare childcare options and costs
Centers, home daycare, nannies, family help: the real trade-offs.
- Dependent care FSAs and the childcare tax credit
Two tax breaks that can take the edge off childcare costs.
- Budget for the toddler years
What changes after the first birthday, and what gets cheaper.
Benefits and help
Tax credits, health coverage and local programs for families.
- The Child Tax Credit and other tax changes
A new baby changes your taxes. Here's what to check.
- Medicaid and CHIP for babies and kids
Low-cost or free health coverage for many children.
- Diaper banks, WIC and other local help
Free and low-cost help that many families don't know about.