All life events
A new child is arriving
A new child changes your fixed costs, your coverage needs, and who depends on your income. These are the moves that matter most.
Do first
Today
- 1Add the child to health coverage within the enrollment window after birth or placement.
- 2Confirm what parental leave is paid, unpaid, and for how long.
- 3Write down the new monthly costs you already know about: childcare, supplies, medical.
Next 7 days
This week
- 1Name a guardian and put it in writing. This is the single most overlooked step.
- 2Review life and disability coverage now that someone depends on your income.
- 3Update beneficiaries on retirement accounts and policies.
Next 30 days
This month
- 1Rebuild the cash buffer around the new monthly number, not the old one.
- 2Set up childcare backup: two people who could step in on short notice.
- 3Store birth or adoption records, social security details, and coverage cards in one place.
Common traps
- Missing the coverage enrollment window after birth.
- No named guardian in any document.
- A buffer sized for the household you had before.
Go deeper
See where this leaves your household
The five-minute check scores your household across money, health, housing, emergency readiness, and support, so you can tell which of these steps matters most for you.
Take the check