SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — With the ever-increasing costs of raising a child, a new senate bill is being introduced as a way to help alleviate some of the stress for new parents.
Senate Bill 1687 is designed to provide postpartum mothers with a new crib and car seat through their health insurance.
According to State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea), this is a way to make things a bit cheaper for new parents.
"In the early stages, worrying about a car seat that could cost you anywhere from $100. $800 for a crib. Those being the very first things that you have to worry about. If somehow we could take those things off your plate, I would hope that moms all over central Illinois would breathe a little easier," said Belt.
Car seats have a life expectancy, something that many families might not realize.
"They're usually for between seven years and ten years. We want to make sure that the mom has access to a good, dependable car seat for that child," said Belt.
When it comes to your child's safety, whether it be crib or car seat, you want the best for your child. Senator Belt hopes that this bill can provide that comfort.
"The safety of your child is the most important thing that a parent can offer to a child. And so you've delivered your child ... Then you should have a dependable car seat. You should have a bed that you can check all of the boxes on that's dependable, that when you lay your child down and you should be able to rest easy as it pertains to the equipment that you're putting in your most, prized possession," says Belt.
The bill is awaiting committee assignments. If approved, the earliest it would go into effect is July 2027.
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