[Eighty8Keys]

Hello! We have been certified to foster/adopt since December, but have been pursuing "legally free" kids up to this point. We have been involved in 4 adoption staffings so far with our 5th one scheduled for Friday. We told our caseworker that if we are not selected Friday, we will be available to foster as of next Monday. So, I want to get a list of things together of items we should purchase over the weekend in case we do go ahead and foster. Here are the children we are willing to accept (that sounds so strange!): A sibling group of up to 4 kids - ages infant through 12 years.

So, we have quite a wide range of who might be placed in our home! We have no kids of our own, so we don't have any toys, etc. We do have 4 beds available, and one of our nieces is going to let us borrow a crib and toddler bed if we need them. The foster care worker told us we should buy lice shampoo and diapers (we are going to get the lice shampoo, but I'm not getting diapers yet...)

We thought of getting some "generic" toys like Legos, puzzles, board games, etc. But, what about clothing? How do you prepare for that type of need, especially if the kids come to you late at night with nothing?

We sure would appreciate any tips, suggestions, etc. Thanks so much!!

[ml4474]

The children that were placed with me 8, 13 & 14 just want each other so I wouldn't worry too much about toys plus its fun to take the kids shopping - Dollar tree is great b/c they can get SO much stuff. Also, check with the local Junior League Chapter in your area. All JLs have a seconds shop. Members are required to make a yearly donation of at least $150. The clothing is in really good shape (along with a lot of different toys) at a great price. I clothed my three foster children for $110 all name brand clothing - 5 different outfits per child! That was a great deal and they love having polo RL on their shirts and pants

[shycar]

I think you need to get more things for babies and toddlers. I would buy kids shampoo and baby shampoo, kid friendly lotion and baby lotions. Toothbrushes and toothpaste, hair brushes, combs. Id buy diapers, baby wipes, pacifiers, bottles, formula, extra blanckets. I have learned that they can call you anytime, including in the middle of the night. I got a call for a 5 month old at 1am. Thank goodness I had extra bottles and formula and diaper I keep for emergency. Toys are no biggie you can go the next day and get some. The most important are hygene things and lots of little baby stuff.

[ajrl]

I didnt go out and buy anything till the day. When they called me to tell me that they have a 2 year old that is big but not potty trained I had no idea what she would be like. She wasnt Big but Tall.. grrrrrrrrr I went to the store on my way home and bought a bottle and a sippie cup (didnt know if she drank from a bottle or a cup???) and diapers.. I thought she would be big (heavy) so I bought pull ups size 4, well she was a size 2 and by accident I bought boys pullups. Just a reminder.. blue is for boys.. lol I was just looking at the size didnt even look at the pictures.. Then when I got home my 4 year old said hey mom you bought boy pampers.. lol Like I knew!!!


But I wouldnt go out and break the bank before the kids come. You dont know what age group or what you will get.

You really can not get formula till you know what the kids are on or what they might be allergic to. I might have a few t shirts on hand for bedtime but I wouldnt worry about toothpaste or any of our regular necesities because getting them into your house and settling them down will be more important.

One more thing.. Dont forget if you get children under 6 years old tell DFCS that they all need carseats when they get to your house. They should be providing them to you.

AJ

[Eighty8Keys]

Thanks for the suggestions so far! I was going to ask about car seats...At least we are only 7 minutes from a WalMart and about 15 minutes from a Dollar store. Any other ideas???

[twinflana]

If you are taking newborns I would make sure you have rubbing alcohol on hand that was the one thing I forgot and had to run out and get. You need it to help the umbilical cord dry up. Enough bedding for 4, I would just get some plain tshirts they can use those to sleep in for the first couple of days, dont buy to many bottles because some babies are very picky on what kind they will drink from. Usually the playtex are the best. Boxed cereal, peanut butter and jelly

[hubbyswife]

I wouldn't worry too much about things. We had neutral toys coloring books, legos, blocks, cars, etc. We didn't have clothes. We had a blanket that I made from fleece that I give the children. We keep on hand toothbrushes, toothpaste, kid friendly shampoo, body wash, lotion.

As far as clothing, shoes, etc. We waited til we actually got the child and then they gave us a clothing voucher for about $50 to $100. It doesn't buy much but it comes in handy. Our kids came to us w no clothes or anything. We haven't had any kids brought to us in the middle of night. We got FD2 on a friday nite at around 9pm. They had formula and a bottle so the next day we went out and bought all that stuff. So try and keep at least $200 available for a placement.

We don't have diapers before hand. We basically wait til we know about the placement. As far as car seats, the state lent us their car seat until they knew the kids would be in care for awhile then we went out and bought one. That's happened w all our placements.

I have bought lots of clothes from ebay. I've seen a lot of clothes from newborn to 24mths. But usually we end up at Walmart or Target buying clothes and bottles, etc.

I wouldn't buy anything big until u get a child and then just keep the big item for the next kids. For example, we bought a high chair and stroller when we got FD1. She slept in a low twin bed and now sleeps in a regular twin w a guard rail. With FD2 we went out and bought a crib, playcenter, swing, baby monitor, but now we will have those items for the next baby we have.

I had wanted to buy a 3in1 crib before we got FD2 but we kept putting it off until we got her. We had one of those traveling cribs that she slept in for a week.

Hope that helps. I just think once u start getting kids, you'll keep things that u'll use later on w other kids.

Just keep it to basics. Good luck and welcome to the crazy world of foster care!

[AmyAnne]

We had a couple of neutral coloring books also. Crayons. A friend who was moving gave us a TON of legos. We also had a few books around.

Mostly you want to make sure you can get them cleaned up if need be. Shampoo, soap, toothbrushes and paste, baby wipes, ointments, bandaids. I'd also have children's motrin or tylenol and something for tummy aches.

[hubbyswife]

That's what I forgot to add to my list. Baby meds like AmyAnne suggested.

[TNfostermom]

Mattress covers are good too. Some of the younger children will still wet the bed. Also some stuffed animals for them to sleep with. I would recommend keeping a few hundred dollars on hand, because it takes a few weeks before you start getting your checks. The first ones are the hardest, because you really don't know what to expect.

[AmyAnne]

Oh. Nightlights.

[Eighty8Keys]

Nightlights! Yes! Thanks for the ideas and suggestions that keep coming - we have started our list based on all you have said...

[AmyAnne]

Kid friendly foods. Fruit snacks. Cheerios, Goldfish crackers.

[deidra_mitchell00]

We started out with nothing as well. We just put our feelers out to families with kids that were maybe going to be getting rid of things and now we have clothes and such for many of the ages that we are willing to take. Never buy baby toys you can get some great things at garge sales that were hardly ever used. I was not a garage sale person till I became a Foster parent, but now I find it fun.

Good luck. We only waited four days till we got our first call so good luck and let us know what you get.
Dee

[Mel in NEPA]

I would second the vinyl mattress protectors, even for the pillows. Some older child still wet the bed. Not only that, but if they throw up at night, sweat heavily...it's way easier to change sheets and wipe the protector than to have to buy a new mattress.

I would second having the cash on hand as well. I wouldn't go out and buy anything until you know who's coming. And just a quick reminder, really babies don't need all the stuff that ppl tend to think that they do. They really only need you.

Have fun, you're in for the ride of your life. =)