Parenthood is a beautiful journey, and we want you to enjoy it as much as possible. That includes not stressing about unknown costs. Let’s go over how much delivery and health care bills, diapers and clothing, formula, child care and baby gear can cost and how to get a head start on planning for them.

Delivery and health care bills

The average cost to deliver a baby that doesn’t have any complications is right around $6,940 — and if you don’t have health insurance, the price basically doubles. Not to mention that 1 in 33 babies is born with birth defects that ultimately results in more health care bills. Additionally, wellness doctor visits usually occur six times before your baby reaches their first birthday.

To start planning, make sure you have insurance and understand exactly what your plan covers. Talk to an agent to comprehend all of the different available plans and which one will work best for your growing family. Moreover, take the time to discuss with your employer exactly what the company offers in terms of maternity leave.

Diapers and clothes

Are you expecting a little one soon? We are so thrilled for you and want to set you up for success! Knowing the expenses that come along with a baby can give you an advantage and allow you to focus on their milestones rather than how you are going to buy a package of diapers. It is estimated that many parents will spend $2 to $3 a day on disposable diapers and $150 a month on clothing. To reduce these costs, consider using cloth diapers, dressing your baby in hand-me-downs or buying discount clothing.

Child care expenses

Are you prepared to add to your little family soon? For many families, having a child puts them in a tough situation to decide if they will have a stay-at-home parent or if they will choose to have their child cared for by a third party. Below are some average weekly rates to consider when making the difficult decision of who will care for your child:

• In-home nanny: $736.
• Day care: $284.
• Family care center: $229.

Have a conversation with your partner beforehand to compare the benefits of having a stay-at-home parent versus paying someone else to watch your child.

Formula costs

Making memories with your baby is important, and so is making sure you’re not concerned about living paycheck to paycheck. Create lasting memories with your baby by planning in advance how you will provide for your baby’s needs. Formula is by no means cheap. On average, you can expect to pay upward of $1,000 in the baby’s first year. If possible, breastfeeding is a great option, as is buying formula in bulk.

New baby gear

Your bundle of joy is almost here! When you start to prepare for the big arrival and begin purchasing baby gear like strollers, car seats, cradles or playpens, it’s worth your while to look at the clearance section. Here are some websites that offer special discounts:

• Amazon.
• Walmart.
• Target.

Save money on your must-have items for your little one by planning ahead, making sure you have the best insurance plan for your family, taking advantage of hand-me-downs, buying in bulk and shopping discounted items. As we all know, having a child can be an expensive adventure, but there are several ways to keep you within your budget.

Lindsey Certonio is a project manager at Stage Marketing, a full-service content marketing agency based in Provo.