Child Supplies

I think you will find it depends on where the child is coming from. I know when my oldest son was removed from his home he came to his first foster family with clothes on his back and no shoes and that was it. His brother was removed at birth, so he too came with nothing. My two boys came from another foster family and they were 3 1/2 and 7 months and came with one duffel bag of clothes. 90% of the clothes were too small and stained. They came with nothing else (no diapers, formula, toys etc...) My suggestion to you is buy the essentials like a carseat, crib, high chair, and a few outfits that are gender neutral in each size. Once our boys were placed with us our county gave us a small stipend for clothes that was quickly spent.

I would say be prepared. Even if its only babies you are fostering..they usully come with nothing or very little. I get phone calls anytime of the day or night. Sometimes I have to go pick them up. Just like the post above pe prepared. Here is a list of things you might need when baby comes, especially if its in the middle of the night (yes babies some babies come in the middle of the night...no stores) Everything the post above said. Baby swing (life savers for fussy babies) Baby monitor Bottles Diapers Formula Baby Food Pacifiers Baby Shampoo Baby lotion Recieving Blanckets (newborns love to be swaddle) Teething Rings Toys Baby Wipes I know there is more, but I cant think of it right now. I know when we got our first baby we had nothing. I had to go out and I spent over $200 on just baby stuff. Hope this helped. Good Luck

If you don't know what age you're getting, you might want to invest in one of the convertible car seats that fit every stage of your child. Also, we could not live without our little bouncy seat that vibrates. It is a definite saviour, especially in the middle of the night when nothing you do soothes baby.

We didn't have car seats right away. We used the Dept's until it was official that the kids were staying in foster care then we went out and bought one.

IMO, I would say wait because you really don't know the age of the child you are going to foster. Most baby carseats are between 0-26lbs. You never know if you are getting a baby or infant over 26lbs.

I bought one infant car seat, one for older babies and a booster seat. I have used them all with our foster children. When the children leave I keep them for our next children. I was given two cribs, which was great since I have two babies. I also bought one pack of each size of diapers, wipes, bottles, binkys, a few pieces of clothes in each size, a bouncy seat, a walker, teething toys, baby spoons, sippy cups, baby food, blankets, a few toys, baby soap, shampoo, washclothes, etc. Everything else we need I get after the children get here. Our older baby came with the clothes on her back. Our younger baby came with three trash bags full of clothes, blankets and things, so you never know what they will come with. I try to have enough stuff that I don't have to go shopping until they have been here for a couple of days. That way they can settle in and you can get to know them, without the crazy trips to Wally-World.

So, when you buy the stuff do you send it home with them if they go back to their parents? src3

Src3- I only give send the things I bought for that specific child. I send clothes that I bought that still fit, some blanckets, their toys, their books, hair brush, toothbrush. If the formula I have was from WIC-then that belongs to that child and it all goes with the child. If I bought formula with my money then I send some and keep some. I keep the carseat, crib, highchair, swings-those things I bought with my money to prepare for a fosterchildren. I also keep clothes that I bought for a child and it no longer fits them and I save that for my next foster child. I hope this help.

Hi SRC,If you buy it just for them as a gift like shoes, or video games then you have to send it home with them but if you buy it to use with them then you keep it when they go. If they are older kids then you tell them this is for the family or to use when your here but no to keep. I too baught alot of stuff to have just in case. Hope this helps.Kim

No, we keep the big items like car seats, bouncer, high chair, things we can use over and over. I only send things that were specifically bought for the child. Like toys, clothes, shoes, blanket, etc.

I think it depends on where you live. In NJ they will purchase a crib for you if you get a baby. In the case of my daughter who came out of the blue. They called me about her one day and they brought her the next. (And I wasn't even waiting for a child. She was the newborn sister of the little boy I just adopted.) They asked if I had a crib for her. I said no, and they had a crib paid for and delivered in a few hours. They also gave me the money to go out and get a double stroller since my son wasn't walking yet. They also give you a good amount of money for clothes, money for a car seat, and a one time stipend for diapers. They really set you up here. And all this was done for both my kids but they were infants. If the child is older he or she may come with whatever they had from their last foster home. But if the stuff is dirty or old or whatever, they should give you the clothing and car seat stipend. I took my son's older sister for respite for two weeks while her foster mother went on vacation and she came with the nastiest stuff. It was winter and they sent all of these summer clothes that were either too warn or too big or small. I looked at the stuff before the social worker left my house and it was horrible. I asked the SW if I could go out and buy her new clothes, shoes and bottles. (Her bottles had mold on the nipples, and her shoes were three sizes too big.) She told me I could and that she would reimburse me. So I went shopping and they reimbursed every penny. I would just call your state number and ask what you get at placement. It's a shame but sometimes you don't get what you are supposed to unless you ask for it. :)

Wow bethany they really did a good thing for you. But since you weren't waiting for the little one, they knew you wouldnt be prepared. Where I am, you get reimbursed for a car seat and it goes with the child when they leave your care. Clothes, shoes, etc they give you an allowance that will barely get them half a season's clothes. As the child gets older, their allowance goes up but not by a lot. Everywhere is different so I would check.

I actually got a crib from the state before I had my first placement as well. And I didn't know when he was going to be coming. Everyone who was wanting an infant did. The clothing stipend is not alot BUT hey, it will buy you a few new outfits. The stroller was a request and they had no problem giving me that. I was taking a sibling so they really wanted to hook me up! :) They asked me how much the double stroller was and they gave me a check! It does differ by state but shouldn't differ too much by county. But you do need to check!

With my newborn the caseworker gave me the car seat she used to bring her in and then when she left her cousin already had a car seat so I was able to keep it. It was not a brand new one it was one that was "sitting in the closet at the foster agency" With my last foster son they asked if I needed a car seat and I said no I already had one. I have never been given a clothing allowance because in FL they must be in care for 6 months before a clothing allowance is issued. So I had to go out and buy everything for the newborn and the 10 month old girls, I kept the majority of the clothes when they left as I was instructed to do. They told me if you bought it from your own money then you get to keep it. My 7 month old fs's biomom gave me 2 storage bins full of clothing blankets diapers food bottles toys, so of course I will give those back when he leaves. Although probably most of the clothes wont fit by then. And by the way she told me she buys his clothes from thrift stores but the majority looks brand new so not all bio parents send junky stuff. My licensing specialist has given me donations they have received of clothing, bassinet, bouncy chair and stroller, etc. I told her she needs to give it to other foster parents also but she told me I was the "new" foster home so for now I will keep getting it.

Thanks! to everyone who replied. It really helped. src3