Mummy to a one-year-old overnight!

Ada_Doom

When I was pregnant with my first child I spent alot of time worrying about how I would manage on mine and my partners small income.Wenow have two children and due to a change in circumstances are on less money than we have ever been!

However I no longer worry (much!) as experience has taught me that the most fun things to do with kids are genearlly cheap or free. A walk in the park in any weather, visits to the library where they often have story telling groups and where you will be able to access lots of info about other groups in your area. As someone has already said it can be quite lonesome being a mummy so groups are a godsend.

As for toys tubs and spoons and other interesting things from the kitchen are always popular as is water ie splashing around in the sink with little cups.

The most important thing is to relax as much as you can and trust your instincts... you already sound as if you will make a loving and nuturing mummy.

moneysavingfamilycomp

hi congratulations i think the most important thing to have is a first aid kit including calpol and thermometer. and lots of containers so you can cook while she naps and freeze things. and a camera to record all those memories. regarding toys and clothes check first what she will be bringing with her from her foster home. my sister is in the process of taking a child on a long term foster placement and a friend she has who is also a foster carer has just had a child move on to adoptive parents after 2yrs in her care. all of his clothing and toys/books that had been bought for him were packed up and went with him. obviously this might not always be the case. but i would imagine her clothing and her favourite toys/books will come with her. good luck and just think this time next year you'll be visiting santa and seeing the look of awe on your 2yr olds face lol.

Curious_George_2

Im rubbish with money (hence being here! lol) so i dont think i have too many moneysaving tips,
but i will share one of the most important things for any new parent to remember....
you may have read ALL the baby books... but your child hasnt!
every single one is different and they all have thier own likes and dislikes, no matter what it says in the latest child rearing bible.

to routine or not too? personally im a big fan....i think it makes a child secure, and security makes kids happy,
I did the same with my DD (now a happy popular 8 1/2 year old) as i have been doing with my DS (a smiley mischeivious 13 months) and i would say a little routine goes a long way, im no clock watching nazi... far from it, but id say a regular bedtime script will help you no end,
NEVER wake a sleeping baby!

but as others have said, the most important thing you can give a child is your time, play silly games to make them giggle, go for a walk and point things out... you might not be impressed by a tractor/bus/train but she may never have seen one before, my son loves peekaboo, me finding all his ticklish spots, smelling his slippers and keeling over from the smell, banging anything like drums, sharing books, looking at pictures in magazines, blocks, big lego, bedtime hour on cbeebies (in the night garden will save us all... Iggle piggle is your friend!) pulling the cats tails, pressing the caps lock button on my keyboard, eating anything he can find on the floor (and swallowing it before i can fish it out of his mouth)

so much fun can be found around the house for free,

lastly, I want to offer my congratulations, i think your doing an amazing thing, its something we have been thinking a lot about doing in the future
enjoy every minute as the old cliche really is true, time passes SO much quicker when you have kids, she will be grown up before you know it... so give her the childhood she deserves, good luck and know that there is always someone here if your pulling your hair out!

LilMissEmmylou

http://www.babydaze.org.uk/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=1&Itemid=3

I use the above site for lots of baby chat and in fact used the previous version of it (which was own by handbag but was sold and closed down) when i was pregnant. Hundreds of mums all in the same boat looking after their babies and I know they would all give you great advice as you grow with your baby

Congrats btw!

Rachie_B

awww congrats

it will be a lovely, but tough time for you both initially.getting to know each other and bonding etc
at this age she will be wary of strangers and of course you will both be learning to adjust

for those who said a routine is important i agree, BUT try and do what the foster carers have been doing for the first while.every child differs in how much sleep they need etc

babies need to feel secure and a routine helps that

try and find local groups for socialising and other mums / carers ( benefits both of you!) on www.netmums.com also adoptions board on mumsnet for support / advice from others http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/adoptions


best of luck
x

HGLTsuperstar

Congrats and have PM'd you

Kimberley

Congratulations Jillinoz

Can you give me some information via a PM on this? Like would you still be entitled to child benefit and what happens if you are working and claiming Tax credits, would you be able to claim the child care eliment for an adopted child?

Thank you and well done you.

smarties84

Ahh massive congratulations.
I have a 13 month old daughter and she is such a joy. She is walking now and is to everything. She loves going in the kitchen cupboards, playing with pots and pans, remotes, everything she isn't meant too lol
I would get a car seat, buggy, cot / cot bed, bed sheets, toys, warm fleece pj's / sleepsuits / sleeping bag, my little one always throws her duvet off and a sleeping bag / grow bag is a godsend.
My little one loves the most simple things, ring a ring a roses on her palm, tickles, she loves lights and the xmas tree!!

Good luck, you will do a great job.
Shelley

Ms_Chocaholic

Just wanted to send you my congratulations.

In terms of attachment, having read what has already been said, please don't worry about her ability to form an attachment with you. She never (it appears) formed an attachment with her birth mother but has formed an attachment with her foster carer. The important thing tho is that she can form attachments ; it is just about transferring that attachment from the foster carer to you which will be done gradually over a period of weeks.

Hope that makes sense.

consultant31

Just to say congratulations on the impending arrival of your daughter

I haven't read every post but when my own daughter was pregnant, we found that the National Chilbirth Trust (NCT) have sales twice a year in most locations. We went to two earlier this year and bought almost everything you could want for a child.

Items were reasonably priced and lots of them were almost new. You can get stuff for every age group. The web-site is excellent - input your postcode to find what's in your area http://www.nct.org.uk/in-your-area/nearly-new-sales.

I have two daughter who've been a joy to have around (though some days I've not thought so, lol).

A lifetime of love is yours to give and receive.

Wishing you your happiest New Year yet!