[ladybug72]

Hi! My name is Joyce and I've been lurking here for a few weeks. I finally made the decision to foster to adopt. I've just had my first home visit and classes start in a little over a week. I'm getting the things I need for my house to pass inspection, carbon monoxide detectors, etc. My question is what other things should I get for a future child since I don't know who I'll get placed with? I'm pretty open on age range but I'd really like an infant or toddler. I have a full bed and a twin bed but no crib. And I'm planning to paint the bedroom that the child(ren) will have. I just don't know what the caseworker will expect by the final visit or what is practical. I don't want to be overlooked for a baby because I have nothing for them but I don't want to spend a lot of money until I know. I'm just trying to be prepared. I would appreciate any opinions/information anyone has.

[Prettyboicris]

First off, Congrats on taking the step to opening your home to a child(ren) in need. I actually just put up my crib on Sunday but the entire time have been considered for an infant. The worker will usually tell you by what date to get stuff. I was worried about the crib this since My wife and I were open to 0-5 years old. I got a convertible crib. People on here did recommend to me to check out freecycle, craigslist and the salvation army for cheap/ free cribs. I know on Freecycle people are often giving out pack N plays which can be useful.
Some other things to make sure to have are:
Window guards if you live in a multi level home.
Out let caps so small children wont stick things into the socket.
If you use surge protectors/ power strips try and switch them for the "child safe" ones that will keep children from sticking thinks in the un used socket spaces.

I got the child proof surge protector/power strips for less than $5. The outlet caps I got from the Dollar store.

The convertible Crib I got was on sale because the same company came out with a "Fancier model" The crib was $100 and as I said it converts into a Toddler bed and has the supplies included.

While i was searching I saw pack and plays for $40.

Best of luck to you

[CaddoRose]

Start looking on Craiglist and free cycle for baby items. If you belong to a church or any social group, let them know what you are doing and ask for anything they might have stored away that they don't need any longer. Thrift stores are a great and cheap place to find just about everything you might need in toys, clothes, sheets, etc.

I have bins labeled with size and season which I keep stored in the very top of the closet and the attic. I try to buy gender neutral clothes, especially for the young ones and this helps keep the amount of stuff I have down to a minimum. Onesies in every size.I also keep a selection of diaper sizes. A baby wearing a 3 could wear a 4 or a 2 for one night. With clothes I keep something that they can sleep in like soft shorts and a Tshirt and some daytime clothes. Usually my foster kids come with nothing and we don't get a clothing allowance either.

With toys, I have a few bins with toys that a broad age can play with. I do not have any kind of electronic gaming system at all. We have baby dolls, trucks, blocks of various types, puzzles, lots of books and a few toys that play music or talk.

You should be able to get a crib from one of the previous mentioned places, but make sure that it is a relatively new one and the bars are no more than 2 inches apart. This is the national standard now. An older crib and bedding will not work. In Texas, they do not allow crib bedding until they are at least 6 months old. I have the bedding, but I don't have it in the crib.

I have a few bottles and nipples, sippy cups and small forks and spoons. A potty chair. A high chair and a booster seat. Several types of car seats too. Don't get a used car seat unless it comes form someone you personally know and can assure that it has never been in an accident. I got mine from a friend who runs a baby closet for low income people and she gets the seats free from the manufacturer.

Welcome to fostering. Hope your classes go well and you get your license soon.

[teachermomof3]

You do have to have a crib ready if you are licensed for infants.

[ladyjubilee]

My only suggestion is on the room painting. Depending on what kinds of needs you're open for, I'd be conservative in what I put in the room initally. I'd originally planned on going all kiddy with colours in Little Guy's room. Fortuantely I hadn't gotten around to it before I got the call.....and that was for the best. I had no toys, basic furniture, cream walls. Which turned out to be the best for Little Guy. Now that he's comforable I can get fancy in the room, but when he was still scared, stressed overwhelmed a riot of colours would have been sensory overload. And a bunch of toys would have been too much. Since he's autistic, he needed toys to be introduced one by one and rotated in and out.

[anilorak13ska]

ditto on the crib. The SW made a point to see the crib and bed and the space where the child would sleep, and also wanted to know about the dresser. We were not asked about any other baby gear.

[ookpix]

I know that I had to have a crib at my home but not necessarily set up before I could be licenced for under 2. It had to be onsite at my home so I could set it up at a moments notice.

You will need to have some bottles available, and diapers. I keep a stash of 5 diapers in each size at all times. I keep them from prev fk in those sizes, but you could also collect from friends you may know who have babies. Onsies in various sizes and at least one outfit and jammies in each size you are considering are good also as kids often come in filthy nasty clothes with nothing else. I keep some assorted T-shirts around and cotton shorts in larger sizes than I am licenced for to use for pj's for younger kids who are larger (I had a 4yo in size 8-9). Also underwear for the age kids you are licenced for is important.

You will need as many carseats as children you are willing to take. (If u licence for 2, make sure u have 2. If u would be open to a sibling override, get 3. You can't leave the house with the kids in the car without them.) The Cosco/Dorel/Safety1st brand has one that is around $50 and fits newborns well and also kids up to about 4. I would suggest this as an inexpensive versitile seat. It is sold at Wmart, target, kmart, pretty much everywhere and is called the Scenera. Be careful buying used. I would also grab a booster - about $13-19 most places - if you are going above 3 - as some 3yo wouldn't fit in a Scenera. That's my personal recommendation. Infant seats are great too and I couldn't live without them, but to cover the bases without having 28 seats in your car and garage... (sheepish), I'd recommend the Scenera.

[ookpix]

I know that I had to have a crib at my home but not necessarily set up before I could be licenced for under 2. It had to be onsite at my home so I could set it up at a moments notice.

You will need to have some bottles available, and diapers. I keep a stash of 5 diapers in each size at all times. I keep them from prev fk in those sizes, but you could also collect from friends you may know who have babies. Onsies in various sizes and at least one outfit and jammies in each size you are considering are good also as kids often come in filthy nasty clothes with nothing else. I keep some assorted T-shirts around and cotton shorts in larger sizes than I am licenced for to use for pj's for younger kids who are larger (I had a 4yo in size 8-9). Also underwear for the age kids you are licenced for is important.

You will need as many carseats as children you are willing to take. (If u licence for 2, make sure u have 2. If u would be open to a sibling override, get 3. You can't leave the house with the kids in the car without them.) The Cosco/Dorel/Safety1st brand has one that is around $50 and fits newborns well and also kids up to about 4. I would suggest this as an inexpensive versitile seat. It is sold at Wmart, target, kmart, pretty much everywhere and is called the Scenera. Be careful buying used. I would also grab a booster - about $13-19 most places - if you are going above 3 - as some 3yo wouldn't fit in a Scenera. That's my personal recommendation. Infant seats are great too and I couldn't live without them, but to cover the bases without having 28 seats in your car and garage... (sheepish), I'd recommend the Scenera.