When youB次元官网网址檙e caring for a newborn, it can be hard enough to carve out time to shower, let alone stay on top of money tasks.

In the fog of sleep deprivation, you may miss a bill payment or impulse-buy random things online to help with infant care. Suddenly, your credit scores are down and your budget is stretched.

Planning for the baby itself B次元官网网址� the name ideas, the nursery themes B次元官网网址� is certainly more adorable than developing a system to make sure you remember to open the mail, but the last thing youB次元官网网址檒l want to do is leave money management up to chance when your baby arrives.

Here are ways to start financially nesting.

KNOCK OUT IMPORTANT TASKS

Take advantage of the pre-baby months to make some big decisions, including:

B次元官网网址� HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE BABY: Giving birth or adopting a child is considered a B次元官网网址渜ualifying life eventB次元官网网址� as far as health insurance coverage goes. That means you wonB次元官网网址檛 have to wait for open enrollment to add your child to your plan, but youB次元官网网址檒l have only a limited amount of time B次元官网网址� about one or two months B次元官网网址� after the birth or adoption to do so . Check your insurance planB次元官网网址檚 rules to know what your deadline would be. If you and your partner have separate plans, compare costs and decide who will take the baby on as a dependent.

B次元官网网址� ESTATE PLANNING: about drafting a will, selecting a power of attorney and health care proxy, and establishing a trust for your child if appropriate for your situation. B次元官网网址淚f something were to happen to one of you or both of you at the same time, it would just create a myriad of problems for your child,B次元官网网址� says Paul Sydlansky, founder and senior adviser at Lake Road Advisors in Corning, New York.

B次元官网网址� LIFE INSURANCE: A life insurance policy can provide vital funding for your family if something were to happen to you, your partner or both of you.

GET YOUR BUDGET BABY-READY

From smaller ongoing purchases like diapers and formula to massive costs like child care, those baby expenses are going to add up. If youB次元官网网址檙e taking unpaid parental leave or one parent is leaving their job to handle caretaking full time, the money coming in is going to change dramatically.

Start by identifying cuts you can make or bills you can renegotiate to bring down costs. If you have credit card debt and thereB次元官网网址檚 room in your budget to pay it down aggressively, that can free up more money for necessities later. Begin to price out expected ongoing baby expenses, like the monthly cost of day care, so you can get a general sense of how your spending will change.

Next, automate bill payments for recurring costs, like credit cards, utilities and mortgage payments. If you rent your home and normally mail a check to your landlord, use your bankB次元官网网址檚 bill-pay feature so itB次元官网网址檒l send checks on your behalf. Set up whatever you can in advance so these services will continue without interruption and late fees.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

DonB次元官网网址檛 neglect to make room in your budget for unexpected costs.

Emily Rassam, a senior financial planner at Archer Investment Management in Charlotte, North Carolina, found herself spending more on self-care than she planned. B次元官网网址淢y interest level in grocery shopping and cooking plummeted during pregnancy,B次元官网网址� she says. That meant more of her food budget went toward restaurants and takeout.

Rassam also recommends confirming child-birth expenses with your insurance company in advance. She learned, for example, that the hospital she planned to deliver at was in her insurance network but the anesthesiologist wasnB次元官网网址檛. In that situation, getting an epidural would cost more than anticipated.

TAP INTO YOUR VILLAGE

Your loved ones arenB次元官网网址檛 just great sources of hand-me-downs, advice and free babysitting. They can also help with financial tasks, whether thatB次元官网网址檚 checking in with you about your money goals or even reminding you of payment due dates.

Lori Gross, a financial and investment adviser at Outlook Financial Center in Troy, Ohio, says neighbors have the same deadlines for costs like property taxes and utilities, so ask them to text a reminder when they pay their bill so you donB次元官网网址檛 forget.

B次元官网网址淔amily and friends are very good about helping out with those things, but a lot of parents hesitate to ask for help,B次元官网网址� Gross says. B次元官网网址淭hey donB次元官网网址檛 think theyB次元官网网址檙e going to need it.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擲ara Rathner Of Nerdwallet, The Associated Press