Baby Supplies

[Redness]

Hello Everyone,

I have been trying to conceive to no avail for 3 years. My husband and I have signed on with an adoption agency, and we have just received our foster care license. Unfortunately the adoption agency isn't working with any birth mothers at this moment. Though we could get a call at any time from the family independence agency with a foster baby for us to take care of. I would like to be prepared before I get the call. I went shopping and was overwhelmed at all of the baby supply choices. Any suggestions as to what brand/kind bottles, pacifiers, formula, and diapers to buy? Any suggestions as to what else I need to have on hand so that I'm prepared for my first foster child?

Thanks so much,

Redness

[SaraLee]

I was hoping/planning on a baby too. Its so hard to buy things to be prepared.
I made sure I had a crib that was set up. Baby blankets, a couple bottles, a paci...Everything else you kinda have to wait to see what the age is. Even when I found out our first baby was 5 months old, I went and bought a few things for that age...she didnt fit them. She was already wearing 12 month old clothes. Oh, you could get a high chair, baby spoons/dishes. Just get basics that could be used atleast for several ages.
It can be really fun to take the child shopping once you get them too, so save some for that!

[Redness]

Hi SaraLee,

I have a crib all set up. I need to find a changing table. What brand of bottles do you prefer? Also what type of pacifers do babies seem to prefer? I see that you have 3 children are they all through foster adoption?

Thanks,
Redness

[SaraLee]

I used the platex air vent bottles. The paci's I bought a couple and used Nubs I think for a short time. My son found his thumb. Vi didnt take a paci.
Yes, all were foster adopt. I am the luckiest mom ever!
I bet you are excited!

[TeresaQ]

I'm going to chim in a little,
I love the Dr browns bottles, but they are expensive. I just bought what was on sale.
Paci, most hospitals in my area use the blue ones at wal mart, which they now make in a bottle. (Soothie brand - http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4631183 )
I like luvs or white cloud diapers. but would wait until you get a referal or foster child for size.
Things to keep on hand, Sheet, blankets, baby bath, diaper cream, lotion.
baby swing or bouncy seat
formula, I would wait until you find our that the baby is on. You can sign up on line for enfimil and carnation, and they will send coupons, but with a foster baby, you should get WIC.
Hope this helps a little.
TeresaQ

[tippietappie]

This was the hardest time - the age group we were approved for was 0-5. We originally had a 15 mos. old and a 4 year old. They were reunified with their birth family. Then we got a newborn. All times we were at Walmart the night before picking them up (and the day they arrived) getting the basics. We bought a crib but didn't assemble it till we got the first placement and knew he used a crib still. I'd hold off on the changing table (unless you just want to use the storage space). An older baby probably won't use it. The crib works great for changing the baby. My advice is to have some money put aside so you can do that quick trip to get the necessities as soon as you know the age, what the baby is eating, etc. BTW, we literally tried about every bottle on the market with our newborn and we LOVE the Playtex Drop Ins. We use the Playtex Air Vent for daycare though because they don't allow the drop ins. We swear by Huggies over all diapers. More expensive but they work VERY well.

[cag4nyg]

We had the room all finished, we did a nurtal jungle theme. We moved our bio daughters crib in to the other room as she moved into a big girl toddler bed for her 2 birthday. Other then that i went though my daughter old cloths and seperated the nutral/boys form the girl cloths. That way it would be easyer. We did not go and get anything new until we picked him us. We got the call on wed and had to pick him up the next day. On the way home we stoped and got some stuff and ove rthe next couple of weeks filled in wht we forgot. When we picked him up the county did give us bottles, blanket, diapers, wipes, a couple outfits, and formula that he was on. I dont know if that is normal because i have never hears of people getting stuff when they pick up the little one. Our son was a newly placed with DPSS and there for we are his first and last placement as we will finalze the end of this year or first part of next.

Do make sure to call WIC asap once you get the child because it take take forever to get that first appointment. I know i wated until we had him a month to call which i regret as i did not get an appt until the end of aug. Make sure to jump on getting them in to dr too.

Sense we picked him up we have bought several things. We did have some stuff left form our daughter but also needed newer things too.

We have:
Bouncy
Jump a roo
exersauser ( it was our daughters and we have a two story house so its up stairs while jump a roo is down stairs)
Swing ( many like the cratle one by fiser price
high chair ( we got the one that fits at the table that reclins and then grows with child to a boster seat)
Car seat ( wanted it to fit the new stroller)
Double stroller (we have a 2 year old and little guy is 5 months)
bowls
spons
bottles (evenflo comfi - we used this both our daughter and this is what the county gave us)
bath stuff
blankets( the kind that streach, our son still likes to be swatled under the arms to take his nap, its the only way he will really sleep)
and more i cant think of

Hope this helps

Heather

[tippietappie]

When we got the sibs they came with a small grocery bag of old clothes that didn't fit, their Easter baskets (we got them right after Easter) and the clothes on their backs (which didn't fit either). Our infant came with nothing but what the hospital gave us (the formula samples, a small diaper bag, little hat, pacifier and nasal aspirator).