Women2Women - Summer 2017 - 17

In terms of sleep, research options to make baby the most comfortable for a sound, and fingers crossed, full night stretch of sleep.
Budget for a bassinet, or something smaller than a full crib to start.
Because a bassinet is only used for a short period of time, find one
that you can borrow from a family member or friend. Another large
one-time purchase in the budget is a crib. Consider spending more
on a luxury mattress and less on the crib itself. For the crib, consider
a convertible crib that converts into a toddler bed, and in some cases
to a full-sized bed.
Clothing baby is fun, but can add up over time. There are many
options to reduce clothing costs, some of which include consignment
shops or sales and swapping baby clothing with other mothers.

Rehabilitation after your
illness, injury, or surgery.

Better Outcomes.
Quality Care.

When it comes to toys, or baby entertainment, the options are
endless. For starters, budget for the large one-time purchases as you
determine necessary. These one-time purchases may include a stroller,
swing, bouncer, walker or activity center. For smaller purchases, the
tale about the child preferring the box over the toy itself, continues
to be true. Therefore, buy a small number of age appropriate toys to
occupy baby throughout the day - an activity for inside, outside,
in the bathtub, or on the go. Save up and purchase the larger, more
expensive toys for birthdays or holidays. Don't forget to explore
your household items (for example the pots and pans) which can
entertain a child for hours.
Overall, there is no way to predict the preferences of baby (for
example with bottles, pacifiers or even diapers) so buy the minimum
to start with, and then stock up once you know baby's preferences.
Additionally, get advice from the experts - other mothers/fathers
that is! No one can give you better advice than parents who have
been through the experience themselves.

FUN
Now, after exhausting much of your resources on the above, make
sure to stash away some funds to enjoy activities and make memories
with your family. Be assured that fun can be a small part of your
budget - because it doesn't take much to entertain and make your
children happy. There are many free activities to consider - take
a walk/stroller ride around your community, visit the local park or
attend a baby lapsit program at the library.
Finally, when you are developing your budget, remember that your
current lifestyle will change so more funds will free up that can be
allocated to the new costs associated with baby.
Hopefully this article has you thinking of ways to develop a budget
that is right for your family. n
By Kristin M. Kohler, CPA
Manager,
Herbein + Company, Inc.

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