Tips on paying for your little Fool
Baby, Oh Baby!

So the little red mark on the pregnancy test was a plus sign instead of a minus. Off you bounce to the grocery store, passing the wine and champagne section (knowing that you won't be going there for awhile) and head for the aisle with the sparkling apple cider. On your way you pass row after row of strained carrots and spinach. The sweet smell of baby powder wafts up as you bend down to check the price of Pampers.

Suddenly it occurs to you that you've never even changed a diaper, much less know how much they cost!

Well congratulations, Fool! You're gonna be a parent and we're really happy for you. And while we can't give you tips on diaper changing, we can certainly offer some good advice on saving money for your little pumpkin's every need.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, your new little bundle of joy is going to set you back about $230,000 (on average) by the time she turns 18. If you plan on sending her to college, and she hasn't turned into Marie Curie or Jackie Joyner Kersee, you can add another $150,000 to that figure. Ouch! And that's if you only have one of the little boogers. So much for retiring early to the Caribbean.

Never fear Fool, we're here to help.

--Our Fool Quiz sharpens your mind on the subject of new babies. You'll need that mind sharpening, what with the sleep deprivation and lifestyle changes that will shortly be visited upon you. Here you'll learn such critical pieces of information as who said, "The yonge babies crieden alle"?

--Your Baby's Bottom Line looks at how your baby is going to change your financial life and some ways to make sure you'll still have a life even after paying for everything.

--Read our 10 Foolish Money Savers for tips on everything from photo labs to designer baby wear.

--We've put together a collection of tax articles, courtesy of Roy Lewis (TMF Taxes), on how your muchkin will impact your tax bill.

--If you've always wanted a multi-millionaire in the family, check out our Investing for Your Kids area. We've got all you need to know about what accounts to set up and how to do it.

--Play Dough looks at the subject of siblings. What should you tell them about the new arrival? How will the new baby impact them, in financial as well as emotional terms? What can you do to start the brothers and sisters off on the right foot?

--And finally, in Stock-In-Trade, we look at everyone's favorite no-more-tears company, Johnson & Johnson.

So, they're gonna put you back a half million dollars over their lifetime. But how can you really put a price tag on prom pictures, ninth-inning home runs, and straight-A report cards? Just make sure that you start teaching them early how cool it is to be Foolish.

--Trudy Hoyden
(TMF Hoyden)