By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kids Nutrition Specialist Preparing to have a baby takes a lot of planning, and financial planning is becoming a major component of baby prep. One of the main reasons women nowadays are having babies later is life is worry of being able to afford raising a child, to the point that financial stability often dictates when and if a couple will have a baby. US News and World Report delves into a few ways to financially plan a baby. Couples are currently between a rock and hard place; the economy is tightening while the cost of having babies is steadily going up. Steep increases in gas and food prices certainly arent helping the matter any. According to the Department of Agriculture, costs of parenting have risen $2,500 since 1997 leaving couples to currently spend $11,000 per year per child. Several factors have played a part in this birthing delay. The definition of growing up or entering adulthood has been parlayed as it is defined as finishing school or leaving the parents home. Rising costs of tuition, healthcare, and housing causes a great deal of stress resulting in the postponement of having a baby or forging the idea altogether. In addition, women previously viewed having a baby a means of growing up while women now want to be grown up before having a baby. The real question to ask yourself is: is there ever really a perfect time to have a baby? Life is constantly changing and as a nation we somehow always manage to adapt. If having a baby is something you desire, there are a few ways to better prepare your pocket book for the bundle of joy: Wait until after birth to start spending Spend Wisely: optimize the resale and consignment shops Make Tradeoffs: saving for college may have to wait until childcare costs are reduced when baby gets older Check on benefits: check with employers on maternity and paternity leave, as well as health care benefits Plan ahead: do the best you can to make gradual shifts in your lifestyle Other tips include thinking creatively, practicing budgeting, and finally- just taking the plunge. In regards to the post baby finances, the Productivity Commission just finished a national hearing on parental leave. The hearings discovered that a minimal maternity leave pay is not enough to entice women back to work. The Australian Institute of Family Studies, who provided data for the commission, found that guaranteeing pre-baby pay as well as better attitudes in the workplace would provide more motivation for moms to return to work.