We're adopting a 10 month old boy - what do we need to buy?!

[HGrace]

Hi I'm new to mumsnet. We've been matched with a 10 month old boy and he's moving in in about a month's time! We're starting from scratch...what are the must-haves for looking after a boy of his age? Any top-tips for making things simpler also appreciated!

I forgot nappy sacks (you can get 300 for £1 in Tesco or some ridiculously cheap price), toothbrush and toothpaste he'll most like have a few teeth

Congratulations on your new baby!

Nurofen and Calpol for babies, make sure to get the ones with syringe rather than spoons (it will say on the outside of the box) very handy for teething or if lo has a fall (happens a lot when they are in the wobbling stage)and it is a lot easier to use syringe than to stuggle with a spoon and a wriggly lo.
Teetha gel and or bonjella
Teething rings
Highchair with the stationary piece in the front (stops lo from sliding off)
Beaker/sippy cups
Bumper tape (to child proof sharp edges like cornors of table)
A jacket and hat
Socks with rubber grips (great when learning to walk before they are ready to be fitted for shoes)
Fireguard

Gro egg room thermometer! Best thing ever!

Seriously, I know I don't know you, but looking in on my little boy before I go to sleep, and I am so happy for you I could actually cry I don't know why!

Have the best time ever being a mummy :)

Hi Slithytove, bless you...thank you for your lovely message.

Congratulations! What an exciting time for you :)

My advice is buy about 20 packs of baby wipes, they will get used eventually and running out of baby wipes is not fun. Have one pack in each room, one under the pushchair one in the car, really useful for blowing his nose, cleaning the cafe floor after meals, cleaning sticky hands and the obvious bum cleaning.

I have a couple of slings and I do enjoy using them around the house, my ring sling is great for when ds wants cuddles but I need to make dinner. I find that I feel more connected with my ds when he is in his parent facing pushchair than when he is in the sling, especially when he's on my back. The great thing about parent facing pushchairs is that you can see what your child is looking at and how they are reacting to a situation and chat about that "yes, that's a very big yellow digger!" "don't worry that dog is big, but he looks friendly" at 10 months he's likely to be not saying alot and I found it hard to read ny child without seeing his facial expressions.

If he is used to swimming pools maybe a reusable swimming nappy, lovely chance for skin to skin, but avoid weekends, especially rainy weekends as it might be a bit manic.

We find our video monitor very useful, we used to have a sound monitor but the problem we had was we went in everytime he made a sound and we were actually waking him up, with tge video monitor we can check that he's ok/happy/not learnt to climb out of the cot without actually disturbing him.

I think 10 months is the time when babies development varies the most, some 10 month olds walk, say a couple of words, some 10 month olds are much more like little babies. Even if your ds isn't mobile yet I think it's never too early to put up safety gates/locks on draws and move dangerous things high up as the day they do become mobile you won't have time to do all the safety things as you'll be too busy chasing him around!

Take tons of photos, I always think a stage is going to last forever but things change so fast! I also write a monthly update for my ds, just a quick note of the new things he has learnt, the firsts and any funny stories. I really love reading these back and I think he'll enjoy them when he's older.

Best of luck!

2 last things!

Sun hats, buy 3 or 4 so you can keep one in the car/nappybag/pushchair if you can find them the ones which tie under the chin are good.

A year ticket to a local petting farm could be a nice coming home present, I found it nice to have somethingfun to do as another option to the park/shops. My experience is that tend to be pretty calm/quiet in the week.

Good idea on baby wipes. You will need lots of packs, but don't buy any until you see what type the FC uses and if your child is allergic to them . Some have perfume which upsets sensitive skin

I haven't read through all of best but I would batch cook a lot of baby meals for him and freeze. That will free up your time for baby cuddles and no harm to cook some meals for the freezer for yourselves.

I would get a CD player and children's CDs. They are loved by my DS and he will become familiar with them.

I wouldn't buy the car seat until you find out his size so maybe you can contact someone, my 9month old is ready for next stage.

Oh, and huge congratulations

Congratulations - thinking back to my ds about a year ago and his peers 10 months can vary a lot. So many great things mentioned things I think worth mentioning without re reading the whole tread

• see if you can get the same bottles as used by FC

• we use kiddicare.com for quick nappy delivery and wipes - cheap cheerful and arrives the next day - great when you don't know what you need
• baby sleeping bags are a joy - see if he has used them before but really practical

- toys my ds loved - elc red bus shape sorter, any car, a push along/pull along, fisherprice musical sea horse that he can learn to turn on himself to soothe at bedtime -a picnic rug for sitting in the park

• a ball (or 4) ;-)

sure start centres are great but lots of nurserys do stay and play - see if your leisure center has baby swimming lessons

enjoy every moment ;-)

Congratulations!

Sling at 10 months? Depends on size/weight. My (weighty) baby has been in a backpack for about 3 months now!

Toys for this age: Musical instruments - drums, xylophone, shakers and bells.
Sensory ball - a rubber ball about 15 cm across with spikes which makes it easier to catch,
Stacking cups
Building blocks
Teethers like a Sophie Giraffe
Duplo popular here (though it says 2-5 years)
Chunky crayons (supervised use only!)
Car type electronic games that have big chunky steering wheel, buttons to press etc, makes car noises.
Books - Sandra Boynton books and the touch and feel, and lift the flap books about animals.
Bath toys - ducks, pourers etc.

You'll also be needing stairgates, a playpen (not for general use, just safety when you go to the loo or something), baskets/boxes to tidy toys into, soft tipped spoons, a Beaba babycook if you have money to burn, some sort of foam padding for floor if you have wooden floors, possibly a wooden walker full of bricks if he's close to walking, metanium for bad nappy rash, calpol, calprofen, teething gel, an electronic ear thermometer, high chair (I prefer the Stokke trip trap but it's a matter of taste and cost), sippy cups, open beakers and maybe a Doidy cup, bottles and steriliser (check what he's used to as teats vary, and you'll need size 3 teats at this age), sleeping bags in 2.5 tog (winter) and 1 tog (summer), muslins, lots of bibs for both feeding and dribble, a BrushBaby rubbery toothbrush/teether, 0-2 age toothpaste, vitamin drops.

I have a 9 month old. He's starting to cruise round furniture, crawls everywhere, sits, rolls etc. His main interests are electric cables and mobile phones, and radiator taps.

Poll - my 4 year old still fits in the boba sling on back if needed

Also you may not need many of these things so I would wait any see for many. Ie we have never had room thermometer just tell by body if rooms hot or cold. Never had playpen, walker, stair gates, plastic beakers, baby cook books etc.. So you can save lots if not needed

HGrace - DS was 11 months old when I met him and 13 months when he moved in with me.

I know this sounds obvious and perhaps less of an issue in this country particularly if he's been with one set a foster carers but check how big he is. DS was teeny tiny (premmie) and in 3-6 month clothes and was very delays so was really more of a 6 month old than a stereotypical 11 month old.

Sling was essential and very good for bonding in our case.

Don't start making and freezing food until you know what he's eating at FC's.

I think I still have a (huge) sling suitable for older baby/toddler and suitable for some one with a bad back buried somewhere if you live accessible to west London.

Check whether he uses sleeping bags - DS loved them as he was a wriggler.

Oh and brace yourself because adopting at this age feels like you start with a newborn who turns into a toddler within weeks!

I just wanted to say congratulations you must be so excited.

I know it's a while since I posted and since many of you answered but I'm still so grateful for all of the idea and advice you all shared. It made such a big difference to us feeling prepared for our little boy. You are all amazing and what an invaluable resource. Thank you all sooooo much.

Glad it's going well

Congratulations!!! So exciting for you!!

Congratulations.

Congratulations

I wouldn't go overboard buying toys and clothes until you know what he already has, he'll most probably have favourite cuddly toys he takes to bed already. I foster babies, little one who I have at the moment who is 14 months and who has been here since he was 10 days old has loads of toys I have bought him and so many clothes. He has activity table and crawl around car, lots of toot vtech things, noisy toys and they will all be sent with him when he goes to his forever family, which hopefully will be soon. I always send the sippy cups, bottles and dish/spoon they use also, not saying all foster carers do this mind but I do as it all helps them settle quicker.

His foster carer should tell you all the things he likes to eat, creams she uses and soap powder etc

Everything else mentioned you will need though, stock up on the wipes and nappies if you see them on special offer.

And oh I didn't spot the date!! duh

How's life as a mum? how was his first birthday and first christmas with you?
Xx

It's going really well thanks. Haven't logged in for ages but just found your msg!! thought I 'd answer even though it's another year on! His first two Chrismases have been lovely. He's such a gorgeous boy and such a blessing to us. Thanks for your messages and help x