Essentials for 1 and 4 year old

[HopefulHayley]

Hello,

I am (hopefully) soon to become a parent through adoption. The children we are hoping to be matched with are 1 and 4 years old.

We are trying to prepare our home and get everything we might need for them, and it feels very overwhelming right now!

I was looking for suggestions of things we might need for two boys aged 1 and 4. Their foster carer has told us that they have lots of toys and clothes already, and we know we need to furnish their bedrooms, etc. but I am worried that I will miss out on something essential. Can any parents suggest anything they think would be useful to have for a 1 year old and a 4 year old?

Thank you!

Toiletries
Step (for toilet, toothbrushing)
Towels
Nightlight
Children's cutlery
Low down coat hooks

Oh how exciting op! Hope it all goes well for you.

Off the top of my head, maybe a small table and chairs? The IKEA one is good. A non slip mat for the bath. Depending on what you like to do at weekends, perhaps a walking carrier/sling for the one year old as that can be easier than the buggy sometimes (however this depends whether he is nearer 1 or 2 and how confident a walker he is, so maybe something to get once he's here). Most things can be delivered quickly!

Blackout blinds in bedroom, possibly white noise machine/night light. Stock up on Calpol. Plates which suction to the highchair are very handy.

I'm sure other people will be along soon with better suggestions!

For 4 year old:
Night light - plug in ones and portable. Especially between your room, theirs and toilet.
Step for toilet. Probably a toilet seat also still.

Trixie stainless Steel lidded water bottles are excellent. We have for in bedroom, out and about . Can get different colour for each child so they know who’s is who’s

Magformers toys - good for both ages

LOADS of snacks.

Thank you so much for these suggestions, they are great.
It hadn't even crossed my mind that I would need a step for the bathroom, it's little things like that I have been worrying I would forget!

Oh another idea. Sandpit for garden. Good for both to get outside, and at home if going out is a bit too difficult. Elder can play in it also if younger is napping

If they have lots of toys then it might be worth getting storage such as IKEA kallax.

My boys are 5 and 1. Age appropriate toothpaste, a comb, Calpol, baby Vicks, craft and colouring stuff, portable baby chair for younger one, kids moisturiser, changing mat for younger one. If you don’t already, we find having Amazon echo’s useful for playing music, controlling lights etc when you haven’t got free hands.

Stair gate, cupboard locks for cleaning products...

Craft stuff - paper, pencils, pritt-stick and kids scissors.

Good luck!

Nurofen
antihistamine
thermometer
Night lights
books
stationery and craft supplies
swimming costumes

Thank you so much to everyone, I will need to write a shopping list!

It's more than three years since we started the process to get approved to adopt, so we have been through safety inspections and have lots of safety things in place, so at least that's one thing ticked off the list!

My 4 year old loves baking (and did when he was a toddler) so maybe some plastic mixing bowels, children's whisks and silicone muffin trays so you can all have fun making cakes and things?

A bathroom step stool
kids toiletries
Millions of wipes for sticky messy hands
a sick bowl x2 (a must have 😂)
bath toys
night light
grow clock
snuggly blankets for the sofa
plastic cups
children’s cutlery

Safety gates on stairs.
Socket covers
Whatever you put on the cleaning cupboard so children can’t open it. Can’t remember what it’s called.
A locking medicine cabinet.
A cooker guard?

Lots of love, cuddles and a warm home, they’ll be fine.
Congratulations on your new family. Hope it all goes smoothly. 💐

Sorry got sidetracked during typing, see you’ve got all safety stuff. Just the love and cuddles then.

High chair
Pushchair
Maybe a backpack with reigns for the little one?

A little rucksack. Proper single beds so you can get in. Cosy socks. Bubble machine.

Always cook on the back 2 rings of the hob. A thermos cup for you. Batch cooking for you and hopefully them.

Stair gate and put everything you don't want smashed up high. Honestly though, every child has different interests, so don't get too much or it could all go to waste. As toddlers, mine totally ignored the majority of toys, but spent hours just emptying out the kitchen cupboards and stacking the tins. Explore what they like with them at their pace. Oh, also tommee tippee nail clippers are great!

If you drive I would look into extended rear facing car seats to keep them rear facing in the car for longer. It’s much safer than forward facing under 7 but it’s sadly not widely known and the law hasn’t kept up

I haven't rtft but some things off the top of my head (my kids are 5 and 2):

• Potty for when the younger one gets older.
• Might need a toilet training seat still for the 4yo if they're small/if that's what they're used to.
• Nappies - the 4yo might not be dry at night yet, if not they will need pull ups.
• A few waterproof mattress protectors for both of their beds and a few changes of bedding for both (sheets, duvet covers, pillow covers, blankets, possibly sleeping bags for youngest if theyre used to them). It's always good to have a few changes because kids sometimes leak through their nappies, or have nose bleeds, or vomit or have leaky diarrhea bugs necessitating a few changes a night in extreme circumstances and you don't want to run out.
• Both my kids like their fairy lights and lamps to have a dimly lit room before bed.
• Both of mine have basic lullaby music players next to or attached to their beds. You press a button and it plays a lullaby music for 30-45 mins and mine fall asleep listening to it. But I'd say this maybe depends on what they are used to.
• Looooads of dummies if they use them, glow in the dark ones for at night, and two sleepytot animals each if they have dummies overnight, filled with 4 dummies each so they don't get lost in the night.
• 1yr old might still have bottles of milk?
• Find out what kind of cups they usually drink out of and get the same e.g. sippy cups or straw cups or sports top bottles or open cups etc?
• stuff for when they're poorly! E.g. prune and pear puree pouches and lactulose for constipation, liquid paracetamol and ibuprofen, Snuffle Babe vapour rub, saline nasal spray.

Medicine stuff - calpol, saline spray, vapour rub etc.
First aid kit (! 🫣) incl. fridge ice bump pack things and toddler approved plasters!
Crafty bits crayons paint play doh etc and coverall bib / big shirt or similar
Extended rear facing car seats and mirror for car to see them
Toothbrushes
Duplo
Waterproof mattress protectors (also for your bed!)
Step stool for bathroom and toddler toilet seat for older one
Rucksack/ rucksack changing bag
Cheeky wipes / face cloths for hands and faces that can just be shoved in washing machine
Tonie box
Video baby monitor
Baby sleep bags for baby if still using?
Zip sleepsuits for 1 year old
Bath thermometer and non slip bath mat
Toddler plates bowls cups etc
You may want to consider a learning tower?
Night light
Child appropriate bubble bath / hair and body wash etc
Muslins - still handy for noses spillages etc not loads but a few might be handy
Nice snuggly towels
Dressing gowns for lazy mornings (or at home do nothing days 🤪)
Cosy socks
Slippers
Buggy board for older one maybe?
Baby carrier if you want to baby wear younger one
Thermos travel mug (!)

What an exciting time for you! Wishing you all the best!

Nightlight.
Pull-ups for the 4 year old at bedtime, protective bedsheet.
Even if the 4 year old is currently dry at night, there's likely to be accidents due to having a big move and having to resettle. As above make sure you have comfort objects for night, dummies, bears and so one.

Toilet step, Calpol, sick bowl.

Bath toys. Stair gate(s) for rooms you don't want them to enter unsupervised.
Reins and buggy.
Remeber changes of clothes when going out.

Thank you so much to everyone, you have all been so kind and helpful.

So excited for you op.

Good luck! Lots of great suggestions but one stood out to me that I use a lot with my 3yo. Thermometer! Is a must.