Raising Kids Adoption & Foster Care Adoption Facts Adoptive and Foster Parent Shopping List Whether you are fostering a child or adopting a baby, consider this your preparation checklist when it comes to what to buy for your family's new arrival. By Laura Broadwell Updated on November 11, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Iulian Valentin / Shutterstock Adopting or fostering a child is an exciting milestone. Once it appears certain that a baby or toddler will be joining your family, you'll want to prepare your home for their arrival. Here's a suggested list of things you may need to buy (or borrow) for children of various ages. Shopping List for Babies Under 1 Year For the Nursery Crib/crib mattressQuilted mattress padWaterproof padBumpers (to place around the inside of the crib)Fitted sheets (in flannel or cotton, depending on the season)Blankets (light weight, medium weight, or fleece, depending on the season)Changing pad or tableDiaper pailDiapers (either disposable or cloth)Diaper wipesDiaper rash ointmentBaby powderChest of drawers (for storing baby's clothes)Rocking chair or gliderNight-lightBaby monitor Bathing and Grooming Baby tubTub seat and bath toys (for when baby graduates to the big tubBaby soap or bath liquidBaby shampooBaby oil and/or lotionSoft towelsSoft washclothsHooded terry robesBaby nail clipper or nail filesSterile cotton ballsBaby brush and combCloth diapers (to be used as burp cloths) RELATED: How to Care for Baby Skin Feeding High chairBottles/nipplesWire brush bottle washerAccessories basket for dishwasherDrying rack for bottlesFormulaBaby spoons and forks (for feeding older babies)Plastic or washable bibs Medicine Chest Thermometer (ear and/or rectal)Nasal aspirator/saline nose dropsMedicine dropper/measuring spoonBaby acetaminophen (Tylenol)Baby ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)Baby decongestantRehydration fluid (such as Pedialyte)SunscreenHydrocortisone cream Hydrogen peroxide Antiseptic cream Sterile bandages and gauze padsGas dropsCool mist humidifier Heating pad and/or hot water bottle (for soothing a colicky tummy)Activated charcoal (if recommended by your local Poison Control Center) Travel Gear StrollerStroller blanketRain shieldBaby carrier (front pack or sling)Diaper bagTravel changing padCar seatPortable playpen/crib RELATED: Parents' Best Baby Carriers 2018 Safety Safety gatesSafety latches (for drawers, cabinets, closets, toilet seats, etc.)Outlet plugsWindow guardsCord shorteners (for blind or drapery cords)Corner guards (for sharp edges of furniture) RELATED: Nursery Safety Tips Clothing This is a basic shopping list for newborns and very young babies. When shopping for your baby, you'll need to take into account his or her age and gender, and the season in which you'll adopt, and adapt this list accordingly. (An older baby, for instance, wouldn't need a hooded bunting, but could wear a hooded sweatshirt or jacket.) 1 to 3 sweaters3 bodysuits4 to 6 rompers3 pullovers4 to 6 footed coveralls3 to 5 side-snap undershirts2 to 4 pairs of booties/socks Fun and Games Mobile (for young babies)Baby swing (for babies older than 6 weeks)Activity gymMusical toysStuffed toysStacking cupsBooksSoothing baby CDs RELATED: Best Baby and Toddler Toys 2018 Shopping List for Babies 1 to 2 Years Old For Baby's Bedroom Crib or crib that coverts into a toddler bedCrib mattressQuilted mattress padWaterproof padFitted sheets (in flannel or cotton, depending on the season)Blankets (light weight, medium weight, or fleece, depending on the season)Changing pad or tableDiaper pailDiapers (either disposable or cloth)Diaper wipesDiaper rash ointmentBaby powderChest of drawersRocking chair or gliderNight-lightBaby monitor Bathing and Grooming Tub seatBath toysBaby soap or bath liquidBaby shampooBaby lotionSoft towelsSoft washclothsHooded terry robesBaby nail clipper or nail filesSterile cotton ballsBaby brush and combBaby toothbrush and toothpaste Feeding High chair or booster seatToddler spoons and forks (for self-feeding)Sippy cupsPlastic bowls and platesPlastic or washable bibs RELATED: Toddler Feeding Schedule: A Guide to Planning Meals Medicine Chest Thermometer Nasal aspirator/saline nose dropsMedicine dropper/measuring spoonBaby acetaminophen (Tylenol)Baby ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)Baby cold medicineRehydration fluid (such as Pedialyte)Sunscreen Hydrocortisone cream Hydrogen peroxide Antiseptic cream Sterile bandages and gauze padsActivated charcoal (if recommended by your local Poison Control Center)Cool mist humidifier Travel Gear StrollerStroller blanketRain shieldDiaper bagTravel changing padCar seatPortable playpen/crib (for younger children) RELATED: 24 Cool and Convenient Strollers Safety Safety gatesSafety latches (for drawers, cabinets, closets, toilet seats, etc.)Outlet plugsWindow guardsCord shorteners (for blind or drapery cords)Corner guards (for sharp edges of furniture) Clothing This is a basic list of items that an older baby or toddler will need. (You'll obviously want to adapt this list to your child's gender and the season in which you're adopting.) In general, buy clothing at least one size ahead of what you'll need -- for instance, if you're adopting a 12-month-old, buy 18-month sizes -- babies outgrow their clothing more quickly than you'd expect! Don't guess on shoe sizes, though. Wait until your child arrives and can have his feet measured correctly. UndershirtsFooted pajamasLightweight sleepwearT-shirts/long-sleeve shirtsPantsOverallsDressesSun hatShortsBathing suitsHooded sweatshirts or fleece jacketRain jacketWinter coatSnow bootsSnowsuitShoes/sandalsSocks/tights Fun and Games Here is a partial list of items that are developmentally appropriate for 1- to 2-year-olds. You may want to buy a few toys and books before your child arrives, and then purchase others once you have a sense of your child's tastes and personality. Nesting and stacking toysSimple wooden jigsaw puzzlesShape-sortersBuilding blocksPull toys, push toys, and riding toysBallsStuffed animalsDollsToy cars, trucks, and planesMusical toysCrayons and finger paintsWater and sand toysBooksCDs of children's songs RELATED: Best Gifts for One-Year-Olds Shopping List for Children 2 Years Old and Up For the Bedroom Toddler bed or junior bed, with mattress (depending on child's age)Quilted mattress padGuardrail (for junior bed)Fitted sheets (in flannel or cotton, depending on the season)Blankets (light weight, medium weight, or fleece, depending on the season)Changing padDiaper pailDiapers or training pants (for older toddlers ready to be toilet trained)Diaper wipesDiaper rash ointmentBaby powderChest of drawersNight-light Bathing and Grooming Tub seat (for younger children)Bath toys Baby soap or bath liquidBaby shampooBaby lotionSoft towelsSoft washclothsChildren's nail clipper or nail filesSterile cotton ballsBrush and combChildren's toothbrush and toothpasteChildren's potty seat (for those who are toilet training) Feeding Booster seatToddler spoons and forksSippy cups or plastic cups (for older children)Plastic bowls and platesPlastic or washable bibs (for younger children) RELATED: The 54 Best Snacks for Kids Medicine Chest ThermometerNasal aspirator/saline nose dropsMeasuring spoon for medicineChildren's acetaminophen (Tylenol)Children's ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)Children's decongestantRehydration fluid (such as Pedialyte)SunscreenHydrocortisone creamHydrogen peroxideAntiseptic creamSterile bandages and gauze padsActivated charcoal (if recommended by your local Poison Control Center)Cool mist humidifier RELATED: Is Miralax Safe for Kids? Experts Explain Travel Gear Stroller (for younger children)Stroller blanketRain shieldDiaper bagTravel changing padCar seat Safety Safety gates (for younger children)Safety latches (for drawers, cabinets, closets, toilet seats, etc.)Outlet plugsWindow guardsCord shorteners (for blind or drapery cords)Corner guards (for sharp edges of furniture) RELATED: Toddler Car Seat Buying Guide Clothing This is a basic list of items that a toddler or preschool child will need. (You'll obviously want to adapt this list to your child's gender and the season in which you're adopting.) In general, buy clothing at least one size ahead of what you'll need, as kids this age tend to outgrow their clothes pretty quickly. Don't guess on shoe sizes, though. Wait until your child arrives and can have his feet measured correctly. UndershirtsUnderpants (for kids who are toilet trained)Footed pajamasLightweight sleepwearT-shirts/long-sleeve shirtsPantsOverallsDressesSun hatShortsBathing suitsHooded sweatshirts or fleece jacketWinter coatSnow bootsSnowsuitShoes/sandalsSocks/tights Fun and Games Here is a partial list of items that are developmentally appropriate for 2- to 3-year-olds. You may want to buy a few toys and books before your child arrives, and then purchase others once you have a sense of what your child enjoys. Character figures or plush toys (from storybooks, TV shows, etc.)DollsToy typewriters, cash registers, shopping carts, tool chests, etc.Toy trucks, cars, and planesHand and finger puppetsSimple wooden puzzlesShape-sorters and pegboardsBuilding blocksArts-and-crafts materials, such as crayons and paintsAlphabet blocks or magnetic lettersMusical toysWater and sand toysBooksChildren's CDs and videos RELATED: 5 Ways to Trick Out Your Kid's Backpack Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! 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