[deninew]

Ok I am on my way to foster our little one in a about a week.(yikes!!!) What kind of seperation period should I expect from her wonderful foster mom? I am not sure how long it will take until she gets used to me. Oh my goodness I am so scared.....Thank God my DH is coming with us for a while.... What does she eat now? Stage 2 right?
Ok that is my ramble for now
Denise

[lockharts]

I don't know what to tell you about the foster mom.. I would think it will be hard on her.. You may want to take her a gift and get her address to send her some pictures.....
As for food. My son was starving at 5 months.. He jumped the gerber stages like nothing.. He was wanting pancakes and grilled cheese at 6 months.. I think he is an exception to the rule.. You will be able to buy food at the grocery store. Just find out from the foster mom when you get there.. Good luck.. CONGRATS on going to foster.. I wish I could... Sorry I am not much help...

[CLHsilent]

My daughter came home when she was about 7 months old (in November). She was eating formula (about 28 ounces a day) and eating baby food (rice cereal, vegetables, and fruits). I think that is pretty typical...at least it was for both of my kids.

As for her adjustment, I am sure it will be difficult in the beginning; however, 7 months is still pretty young, which works in your favor. My daughter came off the plane (we used an escort) smiling and adjusted very well. She was so young that I think she would have gone to anyone at that age.

Best of luck with fostering. Congratulations!

Christie
Mom to Hunter and Lauren

[csw]

Hi
On my 3rd visit to Guatemala Ana was about 6.5 months old..we took the foster mom and facilitators teenage kids out to lunch at TGIF..Ana would not let me hold her and wanted nothing to do with me..I was pretty upset,,esp cuz 8 weeks earlier she was all smiles..after the foster mother opened her gifts in our hotel room..she made a quick get away..Ana looked around a little for her and seemed a bit nervous. We immediately started trying to distract her. We played with her, gave her a bath, fed her..she was much better and all smiles very soon after. On my 4th trip when I went to foster her at 8.5 months..it was MUCH harder for Ana..around 9 months old is the peak of separation anxiety. Your daughter at 7 months will probably have some definate separation anxiety..but after her first night she will probably be fine..she is still young enough to do fine..
I would bring fortied rice cereal for her, as well as organic baby food. Start with orange veggies first..only introduce 1 new food at a time..after veggies then fruit..you don't want her to get too used to sweet stuff..but..the foster mother may already put sugar in the bottle and already give her only fruit..start introducing the veggies right away..
Our daughter loved the organic turkey dinner..you could also bring a hand held food mill and grind up table food when she is a bit older..have fun!

[coachmom]

Mine was 8 months old. WE had about 2 weeks of adjustment issues.. Crying and just wanting bottles -no food. My ped said that was ok , because when they are upset, their tummies arent right... But after the adjustment period, he eats anything. I switched him to Babys only organic formula and he is doing great.
Just be prepared for the crying...if you dont have it,great!!!
They are mourning the only mother they have ever known, in some instances..
Doretta

[jnstvny]

Our son was 7 months old when we brought him home. We were so nervous how he was going to react after his foster mother left. We were surprised that he didn't cry. He was laughing and in a good mood. We were also nervous how he would react the first morning being with us. But he was just great. He bonded with us right away.

[waitingforher]

Our little girl came home at 7 months. She did not do much crying, but she was very quite. She was not smiling or babbling much either. She was just observing everything around her and taking it all in. After a couple of weeks she was talking and laughing and enjoying her new family!

[BebitosMama]

Denise --

On our first visit, Bebito just turned 8 months. He was already standing, and taking steps with someone holding his hand. He honestly didn't seem to have any adjustment problems with us, and we had him with us for 9 days. He was a delight, sunny, laughing, and as he got used to us all, very affectionate. He especially loved trying to give big smooches to his big sister! He loved the pool, and a big blowup ball we played with -- he'd sit and roll it back and forth to us. He loved watching outside to see what was going on, and he drank a lot of milk, but also ate cereal with fruit, or baby fruit, toast, cookies, and had his first ice pop.

But when his foster mom came back to pick him up that visit, he was very happy to see her, he knew her and his adult foster brother, and went to them happily. But by then he was pretty much happy with all of us as well -- it was great.

We had much more grieving and adjustment when I went on a visit at 11 months. He cried for 3 days, just miserable. Then he finally warmed up mid-trip, and by the end, he was ok with me, but he was still pretty thrilled to see his foster mom when she came for pickup after a week. I think that was the peak of his separation anxiety.

I predict she's going to be fine!!!!!!!!

Mary

[astra]

At seven months, expect lots of smiles and laughter!! It really is such a fun age. Maybe even some crawling and rolling over!! Our little guy does the whole holding on to your fingers and walking thing, so she may be able to do that too! I know you'll have an awesome time fostering!! I can't wait to hear about your little girl

[steph94]

Denise;

Our daughter was 8 months when we brought her home and she did not cry. She took to us right away and bonded real easy. I think we got lucky with her, I would say to expect some crying. We gave her formula and started with rice cereal. WE eventually went to veggies as CSW stated. I am so glad you are going to foster. I have followed your story from the beginning of the first. Have even emailed you in the beginning of our second adoption regarding your social worker for homestudy. I pray that you have a speedy process. Please keep us posted from Guatemala if you can.

[Smylinatya]

Hmmmmmmmm...what should you expect from your 7 month old. Lets see...diapers...you should expect a few of those Laughs, crys, more diapers, seeing her learn things...basically you should expect the time of your life. Alex was eatting cereal and stage 1 food, he could sit up on his own but not get up on his own. He had his first hair cut at 7 months. He also LOVED to go shopping with his mommy and his favorite Aunt Denise.

Anyway, we are going to miss you and hope you have a great time. We know you will. We can't wait for you to bring that little beauty home.

Jenn

[JohnnaMJH]

Our son came home at 7mos. I think the one thing is to not have any expectations. Our son had formula with cereal but no solids. She said he didn't really like them, and he didn't, but I'm thinking he didn't try them too much either. It took about two weeks of trying every day and then he LOVED them. I started w/Stage 2 and moved to Stage 3 pretty quickly.

My son was very quiet, but didn't have any major grieving that was obvious like crying or fussing. He slept through the night his first night and has always w/a one-week fussy/night waking period about a month after he had been home. Teething, constipation, anxiety? We'll never know.

Over the last few months (he came home in Aug) he has blossomed physically and personality wise. This week we had a lot of family visitors and I notice he is much more clingy. I am fine with that!

Overall, our transition was very very easy. It really depends on each situation. Good luck!

[kcbailey777]

My Kaylee just turned 7 months. She eats oatmeal and fruit in the morning. She eats a vegtable and plain yogurt for lunch and a vegtable and fruit for dinner. She has a bottle at each meal and an extra one at 2:30pm.

Just guessing but I think your daughter's transition will be similar to the way it was a few months ago when you were with her.

As stated above this is a really fun stage. You will have so much fun.

I hope you have a wonderful short stay in Guatemala.

Lisa

[hibbard]

We picked up Kira at 7 months and the transition was relatively smooth. She cried when first handed over, and also throughout the first night at the hotel with us. Honestly, after that she was pretty calm and happy, so we were very fortunate! She was on formula (about 35 ounces a day) and the foster mom had started her on various pureed solids, but she refused any baby food from us. I think during the transition she just felt more comfortable with formula, so for awhile that's all she had (with some rice cereal added to it once or twice a day). We re-introduced Stage 1 baby foods after being home about a month, and she quickly moved on to Stage 2 and beyond.

Don't worry - you'll do fine!