It's one of the facts of life — as your kids grow older, their health care costs are likely to grow, too. How you budget for children can help you save hundreds of dollars and maybe at least a few sleepless nights down the road.

Why you need a health budget
Add up all the booster shots, earaches, colds, flu, and regular check-ups, and you'll probably find your kids are your family's biggest users of health care, which can add up to some serious bills. Add in the cost of having a new baby, and you're looking at upwards of $3,000 in additional medical expenses. And after the baby's born, you'll have another, very precious person on your health plan and more health care to pay for. Use the Family Health Budget to plan for your expenses and get money-saving tips. Think about adding in the cost of well-baby care for the first year if your insurance doesn't cover it.

Look into a health care spending account
Don't let financial worries lessen your joy. Look into a health care spending account. These accounts let you use tax-free income to pay for health care products and services. Because you're using money that hasn't been taxed, it's like getting a discount on things you have to buy anyway.