We relocated from Belgium to the U.S. for my husband’s new job when my baby was three months old. An international move with a tiny baby can be very challenging.
I became very anxious when we arrived in the Bay Area with a three-month-old baby. How do we find a pediatrician? How does the insurance work? My husband needed to work just the day after we arrived in the U.S. There were many problems to solve.
This post will share things I wish I had known before moving to the U.S. from Europe with my baby. It would help your international relocation process to be smoother.
1. The early childhood education is costly in the U.S.
Unlike in Europe, early childhood education in the U.S. is costly, as there is no public option before TK/K, around 4-5 years old. In Belgium, most children go to day care as early as 3 months, and it’s very affordable for almost every family. It can cost between 5-30 euros per day. In the U.S., in Silicon Valley, where we are, it can cost around 2000-3000 USD per month. Consider this element before you make the international relocation decision. If you plan to move from a country with affordable child care and social benefits, wait until the child gets to 5 years old, when they can go to public school in the U.S., which is better economically.
2. Get your insurance fully ready before your move.
Seeing a doctor can cost you a fortune in the U.S. if you don’t have insurance. The first month, when we arrived, our insurance was not fully ready yet; there were still some papers to be submitted to activate the insurance. At the same time, my baby girl was due for her vaccinations. As a new mom, I can’t wait to pass the deadline for getting her vaccine done. So we eventually got her vaccines done without the insurance; the bill for some regular baby vaccines was over 1500 dollars.
3. You are restrained if you don’t drive.
Get your driver’s license as soon as possible. I waited too long to get my U.S. driver’s license and I do have fear of driving especially on routes where you need to speed up. In most parts of the U.S., you are restrained if you don’t drive. There are no pedestrian—or bicycle-friendly routes in most places. Getting your driver’s license as soon as possible can make your adaptation to the new country much more manageable. You may start learning the theoretical part of the U.S. driving exam even before your move.
4. Lack of public support system for new parents.
There is almost no public support system for new parents compared to Europe. Some Western countries have public support programs for new parents, like free midwife visits throughout and after your pregnancy journey. If you plan to move to the U.S. when your kid is very little, research local communities like moms’ groups where you can find support more efficiently. When my kid was little, I joined a local mom group where, once a week, moms get together in a park to exercise in front of strollers.
5. The hidden cost of living is high in the U.S
U.S. tipping culture and sales tax can make living costs relatively high. Be sure to plan for unexpected expenses.
If I moved again, I would consider those five points seriously, prepare my driver’s license earlier, research childcare options and the local community, and get my insurance fully ready before we moved here. We would probably decide to let my husband move first, and when everything is established, I move with the baby.
This post can help you with another transition to the U.S. with a little kid.
Leave a Reply