[happyhome]

Hi all,
Until recently I had not done any baby shopping. The room that will someday be DS's is empty because I didn't want to have an empty decorated baby's room during this arduous process.
We're adopting a baby boy as young as possible and we're expecting he'll be about 12 months old by the time we come home. Of course that may change depending on the referral and court dates. It seems though, that many people who adopted infants adopt at 12 months, and often the child weighs around 17 pounds.
So, now that receiving a referral is increasingly likely, DH and I decided to do some looking around yesterday. Needless to say, we are completely clueless. It's easier for those parents that know they are staring out with a 0 day old. But for those of us starting out with a possibly 17 pound, potentially developmentally delayed, 12 month old, how do we determine what is needed for our child with regard to car seats, toys, etc.?
I've learned so much from the forum, thankfully. I guess my main concern right now is the car seat/stroller. They have those car seat/baby carrier/stroller combos for infants and most of those go up to 22 pounds (one I saw went up to 30 pounds). However, if we buy that, our child will only be in it for a few weeks. So, do most of us buy the toddler car seat and a separate stroller?
Also, any tips on features/brands you like on your car seat and/or stroller?

Thanks so much.

[Kasey]

Our son came home at 5 1/2 months and I never used the carseat/stroller combo, I used convertible carseats (ones that can be used rear facing and then forward facing) and at 2 my son is still in it.
That would be your best bet, everyone has opinions on which brand they like, what I do recommend is trying it out in your car, babies r us will let you do this. We didn't for our one car seat (A britax) and it fits horribly in my car, just doesn't seem secure, but it fits great in DH's, so at least we have it.
As far as toys, don't stock up yet, wait and see until your first trip, that way you will know what level the child is at, what they will benefit most from.
Ifd you want to start buying things, start stocking up on books, for all ages, it is great to start your child's library now.
The Leap Frog and Einstein toys are also great leaners.
Puzzles, blocks, balls, shape sorters are also good things to have.
Activity tables are great, he probably will be standing, we got this step and play piano, which he still loves since we have taken the seat out he loves to make music.

As far as strollers, we have a large stroller (Graco)which was nice in the beginning but we hardly use now (except if I know he may need to sleep in it), and an umbrella stroller (MacLaren), which I keep in my car and use everywhere.
I had a hand me down jogging stroller for my walks, but hardly used it, it didin't seem to steer great for me, I wound up just using the umbrella stroller.

Test it all out in the store, especially the strollers, you want something light, easy to manuver and easy to fold down and get in your car.

Good luck and happy shopping!

[Ktates]

our daughter came home at 14 months 18 pounds - we bot a separate stroller (peg perrego - love it) and a convertable car seat...evenflo triumph - I like both, especially the stroller - have fun!

[angelkisses0102]

We used convertible carseats (Britax...worth every penny but as Kasey said make sure it works for your car) for our little ones...see my siggy for ages. For Alex we did borrow an infant carrier carseat for the first couple of months because he was so small and delayed...couldn't sit up for example.

As for toys, with DD, I went and bought a bunch of things that were for younger babies...and she was not only not developmentally delayed...she was advnaced...so I had a bunch of toys she never even used. For DS, he was delayed...and so I even bought one of those tummy time activity mats...for my 8 month old. As hard as it is, it is best to wait and see where your child is at when you bring him home...

Also, most of our kids are not used to and honestly don't need a ton of toys...just a few simple ones go a long way...as do most cardboard boxes. LOL.

Good luck with getting your referral soon. (And I just love your avatar... )

***ETA*** I love my Inglesina strollers...just love them.

[Iready2go]

My daughter came home around the day after she turned 15 months and she weighed around at 14 lbs. I didn't even bother with the carseat/stroller combo becasue she would probably only be in it for a couple of weeks and then I would have to buy another car seat. I got the conver. car seat the was like 5-80lbs with the 5 point harness, and you could use it rear facing. I even took it to the local fire department for them to make sure that it was in correctly and they took the base off so it would fit tightly.
I also got a big stroller which I still use when I go shopping or walking by Graco.

When you are looking for toys...I would tend to agree with the others about not buying a whole bunch because its hard to gage what level they will be at until you see them and spend more time with them. I bought some toys and took them with me to see if my daughter would find them interesting and some of them she did and other she didn't ...and those I left for the orphanage.

Good luck.

[Amysue1112]

We have a Britax, round about car seat. That way we could turn her backwards until 20lbs/1 year, then turn her faceforward. It was not cheap, but has a very good reputation and very nice.

As far as toys...a baby is a baby. Anythinng noisy and colorful works great!

Hannah LOVES the Baby Einstein videos. Theya are very "clean" and she learned to say "dog" by watching them!

We waited a very long time to put our room together..in fact, only a month or so before we got a the referral in Izhevsk which led us to Hannah.

[britfish]

I was given a car seat/ stroller combo and never used it and Grace was just under 15 lbs. at 11 months. Instead we used the Britax marathon. It reclines so much it works great even for young ones that don't have great posture yet. I kind of figured putting her in the infant snap in type would only encourage me to have her dangling in a plastic car seat from my arm instead of me carrying her close! Definitely try it in your car, we bought a Britax for DH extended cab truck and it didn't work. It fits great in my Liberty though!

We have a jogging stroller for the neighborhood. I now have a Peg Perego Pliko (thanks to Ktates) and I LOVE it. It is small and lightweight but yet fully reclines.

We had a hand me down swing and Grace loved it for months. I think it helped make her world smaller and kept her up from the dog and in her own little area. I wouldn't buy a new one but if you can find a used one it may be a great help. After the swing we transitioned to an exersaucer which was great!
For toys, I would stick w/ small things for now. Pick out a few you think will really work (babiesrus website has great reviews on toys). We had lots of books, stacking cups, a toy you dropped balls in to and it played music and that type of stuff. Grace has always loved music and was very responsive to it.
I would recommend everytime you go to the store picking up one package of diapers. Before you know it you'll have a nice supply and it offsets the cost when you will have babyclothes and other stuff to buy!

[LouLouBelle]

We brought DD home at 21 months and 17 pounds. We use teh Britax roundabout that we love! We bought this on a strong recommendation from my sister who has used this with her three girls. I don't know if this is standard in all cars, but ours (Audi) has special clips that the carseat anchors to and is very secure and easy.

As for a stroller, we use a Maclaren. I love how small it is, yet it is very durable.

Have fun stocking up on these things. We waited until between trips, which was only a few weeks, and then felt rushed to just have everything done.

[deere1]

You may want to wait until after your 1st trip to purchase anything major. Once home from 1st trip you need something to keep you busy and shopping seems to help. Waiting for 1st trip is tough, but 2nd can be tougher.

[jroc]

I just wanted to thank you Emily for asking this question! DH and I are expecting a referral in the next month or two and just last night I was wondering these very same things myself! DH loves, LOVES, LOVES to research and buy gadgets (weird hobby, I know)! When we went to Babies R' Us, he was in the stroller section the entire time....poking the tires, checking the turning radius, etc. So I will definitely put him on the car carrier and stroller detail

J

[happyhome]

You're welcome Jroc!

Funny, my husband is the same way with the gadgets. It seemed all the husbands in babies r us on Sunday were similarly occupied. How funny.

Thanks to the group for these wonderful and helpful replies!