Mums can you help me make a list?

[ooooooeak]

Hi all,

My friend is about to adopt a little boy who is just 2 years old. He sounds a real delight and a sweetie.

Her little chap is due to arrive in 3 weeks and she is keen to get all the essentials, but its quite different when they are 2 and you have never had a child live with you! So can you help me to make a list of things she should get?

He likes trains and is in nappies. He is a little on the small side but doing really well. That is all she really knows at the moment! Would be really glad to hear any thoughts from you lovely mums.

Thanks again

Potty, carseat, toddler bed (mine were in toddler beds by 1yr, some stay in cots though)

Wellies, raincoat are a must! 2 year old LOVE jumping in puddles.

Play car mat with lots of toy cars (most thing played with in my house)

Umm, playdoh, sippy cups, little knives and forkes, crayons, colouring books, craft things (probably already have these on the list)

nightlight (just in case)

Small backpack, thomas the tank for eg for nappies and sippy cup whn out and about.

Maybe a umberella buggy, their little legs still get tired at this age.

hard to think now, my youngest is 3.

Thats about it I think

Ladies thank-you!

Puddlesuit as well, esp for jumping in puddles. Find out if he has a favourite colour.

Location of nearest parks, soft play ares, surestart centre, toddler groups etc so they can start making some friends together.

melamine crockery
teddy to cuddle in bed
step up stools
childrens nail scissors/clippers/hair brush
toothbrush/paste

bath toys
flannels

If my 2 year old niece is anything to go by, she will need a freezer full of fish fingers!

Crayons and paper/colouring in books and stickers.
A football.
Warm coat, gloves and hat.
Can she find out what his favourite thing is e.g. Peppa Pig, Iggle Piggle? So she can buy him a lovely set of Pyjamas!

And actually my niece seems to catch everything going... So some Calpol might be handy for the medicine cabinet.
She also still has a dummy, might be worth getting dome spares in if he us used to having one.

I'd say a cot side for the bed. It would be daft to buy a cot for this age group, but he may in fact still be in a cot at the moment, esp if he is small, or have only been in a bed for a short while. I never bothered with a cot side myself, but some parents locally felt it helped their children feel more secure when they went into a bed, and a child moving to a new house and new life might easily be a bit disorientated and more likely to clunk out of bed perhaps. Just a thought.

here's one on ebay, I should think mothercare or john lewis would also do them.

Toy box! (storage is important, she will need somewhere to put the sea brightly coloured plastic each evening)

a camera

Brio train set - for this age, focus on the trains and engines plus a few interesting bridges, rather than lots and lots of track. I have never known a child who was not happy to play with this.

big memory card for said camera

a little table and chairs for him to sit at.

Duck for the bath.

little steps for standing at sink etc.

Would be nice to get "my first photo album" and get a pic of him with new parents, in his new room etc. as soon as possible so he can get to grips with his new family.

Have to leave this thread now before I get all teary! wish yr friend tons of luck.

thomas the tankengine railway set - ideally wood (easier for little ones to build) so he can build together with mum/dad, thomas books & dvds,
toddler cutlery,plate,bowl,cups
nursery rhyme cds (songs) - like humpty dumpty cd, wheels on the bus cd, cars and trains, twinkle twinkle little star cd

Board books, ones with flaps like "dear zoo" or Spot are especially good. I get a few at at time by trawling the charity shops but Amazon are good too.

I agree with everything above but would say tell your friend not to over load the house with toys. Which I know will be hard.
It will be over whelming enough to arrive in a home with normal things. And discovering they can play in the pan drawer without being told no.
A great way to bond with a child from a care environment is to allow them to chose toys themselves. So taking them to the shop to buy the train set would be a great start.
The basics would be a free flowing sippy cup, kids size cutlery, a cot bed and comfy chair your your friend to sit on in your child's bedroom for night waking. The rest will come over time.
Do tell your friend to ask a lot of questions about his current routine, as keeping meal and bedtimes the same will help the transition.
Wish her the best of luck from me

Ladies thank -you so so much. All fab suggestions and I even had an idea now for a present for her - the album!

I will add all these ideas to a list for her.

THANK-YOU!!! I am so excited for her!!