How do you know when you’re ready for a baby?

Question

Hello!! This is my very first post (copied & edited from pregnancy group). 26 year old type-A personality wifey here who likes to be as prepared as possible and always have a plan. I could really use advice. How do you know when you’re ready to have your first baby? My husband & I have been married 4 years. Our marriage is strong, tested and true. We bought our first home last year. We have been settled in our careers for a couple years. I work from home. We make enough money together to be comfortable, but it does take both salaries to cover monthly expenses. We make enough to have about $700 (give or take) leftover each month after paying for all bills, loans, groceries & gas. We have a monthly budget where we plan all expenses for the month and stick by it. We have some emergency savings, although not 3-6 months worth of living expenses. We try to save some money each month, but sometimes we can’t. We have parents who are willing to help if we get in a bind, but I don’t want to bank on their help. Several months ago my husband communicated that he’s very excited to start a family & he feels ready, so he wants to start trying as soon as I’m ready. When he first brought this up, I was like NO WAY 😂 But now I’m warming up to it. My husband is my best friend. I can’t wait to see how becoming parents makes us grow as individuals & as a couple. I’m excited for the extra love it will bring into our lives. Also, one of my close friends just got pregnant & I find myself wishing I could be on the same journey. But the thing is, I just want to make sure I can provide a good life for a child. Is $700 extra each month enough to give a baby what it needs? And still have room leftover for savings & other fun things? How much does a little baby even cost to keep alive 😆 Is it possible to WFH and look after your baby instead of doing daycare? (My WFH job is not on the phone). What other factors should I consider before I decide? 
Thanks in advance to anyone who read this far & will take the time to respond ❤️

Answer

You sound ready. On paper, my husband and I were in a similar spot when I got pregnant with our first. 
I will say though, as a WFH mom, it is not sustainable to keep your child home. For the first couple of months it’s totally doable as they really don’t need much. But at some point you’ll likely have to get childcare. Once they’re up, moving around, more vocal, and into everything it’s very difficult to juggle both. My job is mainly computer based but I have some casual phone work that is just about impossible to do with a 3 year old running around. It’s nice to have the flexibility and I can make it work for a few days if I absolutely have to, it’s just really not the best option. It’s also not fair to me, my child, my employer, or my patients/providers.

Answer

It’s usually not possible to WFH well and take care of a baby/young child at the same time. You’ll want to plan for them to have care that is not you. Many workplaces require it. In my area, $700 would not be enough for full time infant care (it’s $1500-$2200 for a daycare center, double or more for a nanny).
We basically paid for me to keep working the first couple years of my daughter’s life. I contributed maybe $100-$200 of income to our monthly budget after daycare fees. It sounds like you’ll need to cut some discretionary spending if you want to keep working.
After caregiving fees, our baby expenses weren’t bad. Stick to generic brands for diapers and formula and join a local buy nothing group. People are always giving away free baby clothes and equipment since they outgrow it so fast.

How do you know when you’re ready for a baby?

Let’s Glow

Glow is here for you on your path to pregnancy

25+ million

4.8 stars

20+

Getting Pregnant

Pregnancy

1st Year (Baby & You)

Baby Products