Get Your Home Ready

Once it appears certain that a baby or toddler will be joining your family, you'll want to prepare your home for his or her arrival. Here's a suggested list of things you may need to buy (or borrow) for children of various ages.

Babies Under 1 Year

For the Nursery

Crib/crib mattress
Quilted mattress pad
Waterproof pad
Bumpers (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 table
Diaper pail
Diapers (either disposable or cloth)
Diaper wipes
Diaper rash ointment
Baby powder
Chest of drawers (for storing baby's clothes)
Rocking chair or glider
Night-light
Baby monitor

Bathing and Grooming

Baby tub
Tub seat and bath toys (for when baby graduates to the big tub
Baby soap or bath liquid
Baby shampoo
Baby oil and/or lotion
Soft towels
Soft washcloths
Hooded terry robes
Baby nail clipper or nail files
Sterile cotton balls
Baby brush and comb
Cloth diapers (to be used as burp cloths)

Feeding

High chair
Bottles/nipples
Wire brush bottle washer
Accessories basket for dishwasher
Drying rack for bottles
Formula
Baby spoons and forks (for feeding older babies)
Plastic or washable bibs

Medicine Chest

Thermometer (ear and/or rectal)
Nasal aspirator/saline nose drops
Medicine dropper/measuring spoon
Baby acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Baby ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)
Baby decongestant
Rehydration fluid (such as Pedialyte)
Sunscreen
Hydrocortisone cream
Hydrogen peroxide
Antiseptic cream
Sterile bandages and gauze pads
Gas drops
Cool 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

Stroller
Stroller blanket
Rain shield
Baby carrier (front pack or sling)
Diaper bag
Travel changing pad
Car seat
Portable playpen/crib

Safety

Safety gates
Safety latches (for drawers, cabinets, closets, toilet seats, etc.)
Outlet plugs
Window guards
Cord shorteners (for blind or drapery cords)
Corner guards (for sharp edges of furniture)

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 sweaters
3 bodysuits
4 to 6 rompers
3 pullovers
4 to 6 footed coveralls
3 to 5 side-snap undershirts
2 to 4 pairs of booties/socks

Fun and Games

Mobile (for young babies)
Baby swing (for babies older than 6 weeks)
Activity gym
Musical toys
Stuffed toys
Stacking cups
Books
Soothing baby CDs

Babies 1 to 2 Years

For Baby's Bedroom

Crib or crib that coverts into a toddler bed
Crib mattress
Quilted mattress pad
Waterproof pad
Fitted sheets (in flannel or cotton, depending on the season)
Blankets (light weight, medium weight, or fleece, depending on the season)
Changing pad or table
Diaper pail
Diapers (either disposable or cloth)
Diaper wipes
Diaper rash ointment
Baby powder
Chest of drawers
Rocking chair or glider
Night-light
Baby monitor

Bathing and Grooming

Tub seat
Bath toys
Baby soap or bath liquid
Baby shampoo
Baby lotion
Soft towels
Soft washcloths
Hooded terry robes
Baby nail clipper or nail files
Sterile cotton balls
Baby brush and comb
Baby toothbrush and toothpaste

Feeding

High chair or booster seat
Toddler spoons and forks (for self-feeding)
Sippy cups
Plastic bowls and plates
Plastic or washable bibs

Medicine Chest

Thermometer
Nasal aspirator/saline nose drops
Medicine dropper/measuring spoon
Baby acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Baby ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)
Baby cold medicine
Rehydration fluid (such as Pedialyte)
Sunscreen
Hydrocortisone cream
Hydrogen peroxide
Antiseptic cream
Sterile bandages and gauze pads
Activated charcoal (if recommended by your local Poison Control Center)
Cool mist humidifier

Travel Gear

Stroller
Stroller blanket
Rain shield
Diaper bag
Travel changing pad
Car seat
Portable playpen/crib (for younger children)

Safety

Safety gates
Safety latches (for drawers, cabinets, closets, toilet seats, etc.)
Outlet plugs
Window guards
Cord 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.

Undershirts
Footed pajamas
Lightweight sleepwear
T-shirts/long-sleeve shirts
Pants
Overalls
Dresses
Sun hat
Shorts
Bathing suits
Hooded sweatshirts or fleece jacket
Rain jacket
Winter coat
Snow boots
Snowsuit
Shoes/sandals
Socks/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 toys
Simple wooden jigsaw puzzles
Shape-sorters
Building blocks
Pull toys, push toys, and riding toys
Balls
Stuffed animals
Dolls
Toy cars, trucks, and planes
Musical toys
Crayons and finger paints
Water and sand toys
Books
CDs of children's songs

Children 2 Years and Older

For Baby's Bedroom

Toddler bed or junior bed, with mattress (depending on child's age)
Quilted mattress pad
Guardrail (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 pad
Diaper pail
Diapers or training pants (for older toddlers ready to be toilet trained)
Diaper wipes
Diaper rash ointment
Baby powder
Chest of drawers
Night-light

Bathing and Grooming

Tub seat (for younger children)
Bath toys
Baby soap or bath liquid
Baby shampoo
Baby lotion
Soft towels
Soft washcloths
Children's nail clipper or nail files
Sterile cotton balls
Brush and comb
Children's toothbrush and toothpaste
Children's potty seat (for those who are toilet training)

Feeding

Booster seat
Toddler spoons and forks
Sippy cups or plastic cups (for older children)
Plastic bowls and plates
Plastic or washable bibs (for younger children)

Medicine Chest

Thermometer
Nasal aspirator/saline nose drops
Measuring spoon for medicine
Children's acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Children's ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)
Children's decongestant
Rehydration fluid (such as Pedialyte)
Sunscreen
Hydrocortisone cream
Hydrogen peroxide
Antiseptic cream
Sterile bandages and gauze pads
Activated charcoal (if recommended by your local Poison Control Center)
Cool mist humidifier

Travel Gear

Stroller (for younger children)
Stroller blanket
Rain shield
Diaper bag
Travel changing pad
Car seat

Safety

Safety gates (for younger children)
Safety latches (for drawers, cabinets, closets, toilet seats, etc.)
Outlet plugs
Window guards
Cord shorteners (for blind or drapery cords)
Corner guards (for sharp edges of furniture)

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.

Undershirts
Underpants (for kids who are toilet trained)
Footed pajamas
Lightweight sleepwear
T-shirts/long-sleeve shirts
Pants
Overalls
Dresses
Sun hat
Shorts
Bathing suits
Hooded sweatshirts or fleece jacket
Winter coat
Snow boots
Snowsuit
Shoes/sandals
Socks/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.)
Dolls
Toy typewriters, cash registers, shopping carts, tool chests, etc.
Toy trucks, cars, and planes
Hand and finger puppets
Simple wooden puzzles
Shape-sorters and pegboards
Building blocks
Arts-and-crafts materials, such as crayons and paints
Alphabet blocks or magnetic letters
Musical toys
Water and sand toys
Books
Children's CDs and videos