{"id":10247,"date":"2025-08-09T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/riverbend.objectivebrand.com\/?p=10247"},"modified":"2025-08-07T20:12:47","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T20:12:47","slug":"new-baby-heres-what-to-do-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/riverbend.objectivebrand.com\/?p=10247","title":{"rendered":"New Baby? Here\u2019s What to Do First (Financially Speaking)-Finger Financial Five #225"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"10247\" class=\"elementor elementor-10247\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f4f3e96 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f4f3e96\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dd3e014\" data-id=\"dd3e014\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae69395 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-blockquote--button-view-icon-text elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"ae69395\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t \u201cLittle by little, one walks far.\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">\u2013 Peruvian Proverb<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=+%E2%80%9CLittle+by+little%2C+one+walks+far.%E2%80%9D+%E2%80%94+%E2%80%93+Peruvian+Proverb&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Friverbend.objectivebrand.com%2F%3Ffeed%3Drss2\" class=\"elementor-blockquote__tweet-button\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-twitter\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-blockquote__tweet-label\">Tweet<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-729e0e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"729e0e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Becoming a parent for the first time is like starting a whole new chapter\u2026 maybe even a whole new book. One full of joy, a few late nights, and a whole lot of decisions.<\/p><p>A new baby brings love \u2014 and paperwork. I put together this guide as a way to help new parents (and expecting ones) feel a little less overwhelmed. Think of it as a guide. You don\u2019t have to do everything at once. Just focus on the next right step.<\/p><p>Whether you&#8217;re preparing for your first child or just want to help a loved one who is, here are some financial and legal items to take care of \u2014 broken up into bite-sized chunks.<\/p><h2>\ud83d\udea8 The First 30 Days: Take These Steps ASAP<\/h2><p>These items have deadlines or legal consequences, so try to get them done sooner rather than later.<\/p><ol><li>Add your baby to your health insurance<ul><li>Most plans give you just 30 days to do this. Miss that window, and you might be stuck paying out of pocket until open enrollment rolls around.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Apply for a Social Security number<ul><li>You\u2019ll need this to file taxes, open accounts, and more. Hospitals usually offer this when you\u2019re filling out the birth certificate.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Request your baby\u2019s birth certificate<ul><li>Pro tip: order more than one. You\u2019ll use it for passports, insurance, school, and more. Like having extra car keys \u2014 just makes life easier.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Update your estate plan<\/li><\/ol><p><strong>Now that someone new is depending on you, it\u2019s time to:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Name a guardian in your will<\/li><li>Add your child (or trust) as a contingent beneficiary<\/li><li>Review and update life insurance policies<\/li><\/ul><h3>\u00a0<\/h3><h2>\ud83e\udded Next Steps: Financial Planning for a Growing Family<\/h2><p>These items are still important, but you can tackle them in the coming weeks or months.<\/p><ol><li>Revisit your budget<ul><li>Diapers, daycare, doctor visits \u2014 things add up quickly. Now\u2019s a good time to sit down and update your spending plan.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Adjust your tax withholdings<ul><li>Adding a dependent may change how much tax you owe (or how much refund you get). Talk with your CPA or adjust your W-4.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Reassess your life insurance<ul><li>Your old policy might not be enough anymore. A good rule of thumb is to have enough coverage to replace income and cover big expenses like education or housing.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Look at your workplace benefits<ul><li>Some jobs offer dependent care FSAs, HSAs, or group life insurance for children. Worth checking out.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Start a 529 plan<ul><li>College might seem far away, but compound interest needs time to work its magic. A 529 grows tax-free for education expenses and some states offer a tax break on contributions. A friend of mine had one set up for their grandchild \u2014 gave $50 instead of a toy. That $50 may turn into books, a laptop, or even tuition down the road. I set one up for Elliott as soon as he got his Social Security number.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Freeze your baby\u2019s credit<ul><li>Identity theft can happen to anyone \u2014 even newborns. You can freeze their credit with the three major bureaus. It\u2019s free, and it\u2019s smart.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Order a passport (and passport card)<ul><li>If you\u2019ve got travel plans, this step can take time. Fun fact: even babies need passports for international travel.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol><h2>\u00a0<\/h2><h2>\ud83d\udccc Good to Do (But No Rush)<\/h2><p>These aren\u2019t urgent, but they\u2019re helpful and worth doing when time allows.<\/p><ol><li>Register baby gear for recalls<ul><li>Cribs, strollers, car seats \u2014 it\u2019s smart to register so you\u2019ll be notified in case of a recall. Safety first.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Create an email address for your child<ul><li>I\u2019ve heard parents do this and send letters, photos, or memories over the years. When the child turns 18, they have a digital time capsule.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Consider Global Entry<ul><li>Yes \u2014 even for infants. If you\u2019re planning to travel, this can save you a lot of time in customs.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Keep key documents when you travel<ul><li>Bring copies of the birth certificate and immunization records \u2014 they can come in handy for doctor visits or daycare enrollment.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Add your child as an authorized user on a credit card<ul><li>Some card companies allow this. Done right, it can help your child start building credit early.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Sign up for Dolly Parton\u2019s Imagination Library<ol><li>This program sends your child a free book each month from birth to age five. That\u2019s 60 books, totally free. A fantastic way to build a little home library and encourage reading early on.<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol><h3>Final Thought<\/h3><p>Parenthood can feel like drinking from a firehose. But you don\u2019t have to do it all in a day. Just take the next step.<\/p><p>Little by little, one walks far\u2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cLittle by little, one walks far.\u201d \u2013 Peruvian Proverb Tweet Becoming a parent for the first time is like starting a whole new chapter\u2026 maybe even a whole new book. One full of joy, a&#8230; <a class=\"read-more\" title=\"FULL STORY\" href=\"https:\/\/riverbend.objectivebrand.com\/?p=10247\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10249,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[310,346],"class_list":{"0":"post-10247","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-finger-financial-five","8":"tag-kids","9":"tag-new-born","10":"entry"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/riverbend.objectivebrand.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/riverbend.objectivebrand.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/riverbend.objectivebrand.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riverbend.objectivebrand.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riverbend.objectivebrand.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10247"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/riverbend.objectivebrand.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10257,"href":"https:\/\/riverbend.objectivebrand.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10247\/revisions\/10257"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riverbend.objectivebrand.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/riverbend.objectivebrand.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riverbend.objectivebrand.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riverbend.objectivebrand.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}