Suggestions for photo books and toy for introductions

[flowerpowerlondon]

Just wanted to canvas some ideas from other adopters on how you made or put together photo books for introductions? Trying to work out if we should make them, use a printed photo book or use a photo album. Also how may people did a dvd? I've also looked at the Tommy talking album (butterfly) but it looks quite babyish and I wondered the maximum age people have used this or if anyone can suggest a similar product available which would be better for slightly older children? Also what sort of teddy or toy have most people used for the the book and to give their child/ren for introductions?

Sorry if this is repeating a thread on the same subject but I could find it so any suggestions on what worked and what didn't or ideas will be gratefully received.

Thanks!!!

We did a DVD for DD1&2 aged 8 and 2 at the time. (They had done us a video so we felt obliged.)

We just used an 8inch square scrapbook album for our intro books.

We did the tomy talking photo album and laminated photos for ds he was 20months.

We went on holiday a couple of months before intros and my older dd picked out a teddy for ds. We put the teddy in the photos of our house and then dd gave it to him when they first met.

We did a DVD and a photo book however we let out teenager shoot the DVD to make him feel included also we felt another child would know better what another child would want to know and we were right

flowerpowerlondon good luck.

We did a Tomy book for a child of 3 and a half, almost 4, but added appropriate stickers to make it a bit more for older child.

We did DVD, a scrapbook and a blanket. Then we brought soft toys for the introductions, we asked foster carers what would be appropriate.

Ask me by pm if you need more info, we chose quite specific things for specific reasons.

It is good to make sure the things you buy are specific to the child, we had already bought a toy but it was not really age appropriate. He did get it later but for intros we chose specific items.

Fishwife we let our 9 year old direct the video and shoot some of it, made her feel included.

Thanks for the info and suggestions. We have decided to go for the tomy butterfly books and personalise with stickers etc as suggested. Now having opted for this it seems they are going out of supply pretty much everywhere and after a lot of searching I could only find one place apart from 2nd hand on ebay to buy them from. Seems silly that they are not stocking them in shops anymore. I've also ordered some story books which we can record messages on for our children to listen to while they are reading them. Thanks again and any other ideas or suggestions would be fab!!!