[Mommyofthreetobe]

I think in the next six months or so I'm going to rework the bedroom situation and get licensed for more children...

How do you stock up on kids supplies, especially cloths? We've been just shopping as we go, and we got licensed FOR these kids so we didnt have the not knowing about the age/gender...

I thought I would like to have a box of each age and gender for clothing (obviously that leaves me vulnerable to seasons being wacked, but as long as there was at least a coat in each box....)

How do you buy lots of cloths off ebay? I know someone mentioned doing that before. I looked at the sight but mostly saw like HUGE lots of socks or something...IDK...

Also, its so expensive!!! I'm checking out craigslist too....how should I break up the ages for the boxes? I'm not sure when babies have huge growth spurts or what, should I do each year, or do the ones under 2 need to be set up my smaller months?

I have not been keeping my FK cloths because I've been passing them onto friends...opps....wasnt thinking ahead....Oh also, diapers...I kinda want to do cloth, is that allowed?

Gimme all your best tips!

[mommytoelmolover]

We don't stocl up on clothing. Your best bet is to wait until you get more kids. Go to walmart when you get the kid and pick up the needed items. If it's summer you can hit some garage sales and get deals. Other wise just check ebay. DOn't search for lots on ebay. type in what you need. Like say you have a size 4 girl who needs jeans...then search for girl 4 jeans. You can get great deals. Last fall I got out FD 9 pair of jeans for $9 with $10 shipping. You can't possible stocl up on every size both sexes it would cost you too much.

WHen we get news kids our friends and family always send tons of handmedowns. I sort through them see what is worth keeping and fits and if there are items we can't use we take them to goodwill or sell them on ebay and get things we can use.

[waited2long]

Freecycle and Craigslist... I have a terrific assortment of infant/toddler clothing from preemie to 4T, all free. I also have toys, furniture, bedding, dishes, etc......

[Withay]

Here is what I have:

One VERY large bag for each gender of: preemie, newborn, 0-3 mo, 3 - 6 mo, 6 - 9 mo, 9 - 12 mo, 12 mo, 18 mo, 24 mo/2T. I am also beginning to collect 3T because I expect to finalize the adoption of my almost 2 yo fs (although he is still in 18 mo clothing for a lot of things). That means I have 18 VERY large bags of clothes. I am now transferring each bag into a vacuumn bag to decrease the space needed to store them.

I also have 4 convertible cribs (crib/toddler/day/full). Two for the boys room and two for the girls room.

Three convertible carseats and 4 infant ones.

Three infant swings, 3 toddler swings (on the swingset). Two bouncers (think jumperoo). Toys of every description and skill level. A closet full of blankets and bedding.

I use a diaper service for the cloth diapers, but I have to furnish the diaper covers/plastic pants. I have 24 newborn covers, 48 pairs each of small, medium and large plastics. Yes, cloth is ok in my area. Check with your cw about your area. Here, cloth diapers are actually cheaper than disposables. I spend $120/month for 3 toddlers for cloth vs. $80/month each toddler for disposables.

I have a large bag of bottles/nipples for cleft lip/palate babies and a large bag of Dr. Brown's bottles. I also have a number of sippy cups.

One of the best places to shop is a local baby resale shop. Good luck

[CaddoRose]

I have plastic bins labeled for ages/sizes. I try to keep a few changes of clothes in each. I go through the local thrift stores and look at garage sales regularly. I'm not necessarily looking for something, but if I see an item that is in good condition and it costs $1, then I will probably pick it up. This way I have enough stuff to use for a while and once I get a placement, I can decide what extras I might need.

I also try to buy clothes that are gender neutral as much as possible, but I have to admit that when I see pretty dresses, and cute clothes in general, I can't resist. So the bulk of the stuff may be gender neutral with other stuff mixed in.

I am always looking for good developmental toys. Blocks, puzzles, cars, trucks, books, etc. I have a good selection of these. Some stuffed toys and dolls. I have two plastic bins of toys and some shelves with books and puzzles and other stuff. I don't get toys are electronic mainly because I don't like the sounds and I want toys that the kids can interact with without being entertained. They usually need developmental toys.

[mamallama]

We have lots of closet space on the second floor. We're using a walk in closet as a "clothes closet" for our foster babies. Friends and family gave us lots of used clothing. I've also bought several things at garage sales, from ebay, on craigslist, at thrift shops, etc. A friend gave us a $500 Target card as a "shower" gift too. We've been so blessed. We are open to two girls or a b/g sibling group from 0-36 months. I only have a few things in each size for each for little boys because I've given most of boy's clothes to my sister. If I needed them, I could get them back though. I have little girl clothes coming out of my ears though. It was all very unorganized until last weekend. I separated everything into size and season and in our clothes closet. It looks like our current placements are going to stick but we're prepared for anything. We have two carseats, a single stroller, a double stroller, toys for all ages, etc. I have diapers in every size from NB-4. I also have several types of bottles, sippies, pacifiers and a several sample cans of formula. If our little girls stick, we're going to close our home for a long while. At that point, my plan is donate my stash to another foster family or our agency's clothing bank.

My advice would be to tell everyone - friends from work, from church, etc. - that you are trying to get ready for placements. You'll be surprised how quickly things pile up.

[Withay]

You made me remember one other very important item that I have mamallama.

I have the most wonderful stroller that I can use as a single, tandem or side-by-side double, triple or quad. The seats all configure either forward or backward facing and each seat fully reclines (handy when you have 4 babies who don't sit). It was pretty spendy, but oh so worth it.

[irelady10]

Originally Posted by Withay

Here is what I have:

One VERY large bag for each gender of: preemie, newborn, 0-3 mo, 3 - 6 mo, 6 - 9 mo, 9 - 12 mo, 12 mo, 18 mo, 24 mo/2T. I am also beginning to collect 3T because I expect to finalize the adoption of my almost 2 yo fs (although he is still in 18 mo clothing for a lot of things). That means I have 18 VERY large bags of clothes. I am now transferring each bag into a vacuumn bag to decrease the space needed to store them.

I also have 4 convertible cribs (crib/toddler/day/full). Two for the boys room and two for the girls room.

Three convertible carseats and 4 infant ones.

Three infant swings, 3 toddler swings (on the swingset). Two bouncers (think jumperoo). Toys of every description and skill level. A closet full of blankets and bedding.

I use a diaper service for the cloth diapers, but I have to furnish the diaper covers/plastic pants. I have 24 newborn covers, 48 pairs each of small, medium and large plastics. Yes, cloth is ok in my area. Check with your cw about your area. Here, cloth diapers are actually cheaper than disposables. I spend $120/month for 3 toddlers for cloth vs. $80/month each toddler for disposables.

I have a large bag of bottles/nipples for cleft lip/palate babies and a large bag of Dr. Brown's bottles. I also have a number of sippy cups.

One of the best places to shop is a local baby resale shop. Good luck

Wow!! You are SO prepared!!! Just reading all that made my head spin (I have HUGE storage issues with my little apartment!).

[aryn]

If you dont mind, what kind is it? I would def be interested in looking into a stroller like that for us as well.

Thanks.

Alina

Originally Posted by Withay

You made me remember one other very important item that I have mamallama.

I have the most wonderful stroller that I can use as a single, tandem or side-by-side double, triple or quad. The seats all configure either forward or backward facing and each seat fully reclines (handy when you have 4 babies who don't sit). It was pretty spendy, but oh so worth it.

[2momsinGA]

Hello,

We have stocked up on several items that we will need for children age 0-4. I agree with others that local baby and children resale shops are excellent. We've found several items at prices that allowed us to get more for our $.

I think it is great to stock up to a point, but I know that, as the children arrive, we will want to purchase clothing, etc. for them individually.

I wanted to be prepared for a child (children) who arrive with nothing so we could have something to start with and go from there...

[Mommyofthreetobe]

Some excellent advice here I think! I totally forgot about freecycle! And strangely...I didn't think of baby toys??? I mean, I'm constantly tripping over toys, so I didnt even consider that....but Im tripping over toys for a 4, 6 and 8 year old.... oopps.

ALso, Someone said that they just get the basics so if a kid arrives with nothing, they have something for them...I just worry if they came at a time when things were a little tight, before we got any reimbursements, Id wanna have a few things for them to hold us over till payday...you know what i mean?

[lovingheart]

We have bunk beds, a crib and a bassinette (sp), several umbrella strollers, a double jogger, a single stroller that an infant car seat can sit in, two infant car seats, two convertable car seats, a backless booster and a booster with a back, a baby swing, exersaucer, high chair, toddler booster for the table, bouncy seat, boys clothing from newborn to 2t and girls size 2t and two bins of winter outerwear (unisex) for new born to 3t.
My mother has started collecting girls clothing for us at her house as she has more room, my sil is keeping bins of 3and 4 boys for us and has one girl and three boys of varing sizes 9 and up, who would be willing to share. We have gotten a lot from friends and family as hand me downs and from freecycle.com and I go to e-bay and type in the size and season I need when I have the need and usually can get a ton for about $1 to $2 each. We receive a clothing stipend when they come to us only if they have just come into placement so it helps when you have someone come with inappropriate clothing or with nothing as our last placement had. Do what you are confortable with and have the money and space for. Plus when our little guy came to us some friends and family went out and bought stuff for him and even bought for him when he left. he came with nothing and left with a full to bulging 21 inch duffle bag, a huge box stuffed full and a large shopping bag full.

[EandDmom]

We have a great local goodwill and I go a couple of times a month usually. If I see something cute and in great shape I just grab it and hope it fits someone eventually. I agree with the other person that said tell everyone you are going to foster. I used to work full time at a local store and now only work one or two days a week well a lot of regular customers ask me where I've been and I say well I'm a foster mom now so cut down to part time. Usually, either immediately or within the next couple of weeks they say hey I'm cleaning out closets you want the clothes or toys for your foster kids? I always say yes I figure if it is stuff I don't end up wanting I'll just cart it to goodwill myself (I'm there all the time anyway..lol). I've gotten so many nice clothes this way and they love giving it to me because they feel like they are also helping the children.

[EandDmom]

I am now transferring each bag into a vacuumn bag to decrease the space needed to store them.

Do these work ok? I've been thinking about putting all my baby clothes in them I am quickly running out of room.

[hcg]

A combination of:

Freecycle
friends' babies' outgrown clothing/toys
Craigslist
thrift stores
free offers online

I got a crib, bassinet and bouncer off Craigslist. Freecycle provided clothes, bottles, toys, books, and a carrier. Thrift stores provided more clothes (Wednesdays were 1/2 off!) and a stroller. Friends loaded me up with clothes, burp cloths, baby towels, receiving blankets...

I think the only thing I bought new to start with was the convertible car seat!

Also keep an eye out on store clearance racks. I got a bunch of cheap but still good formula from Publix and Walgreens that way. There's a blog called babycheapskate which keeps me abreast of the latest deals.