When did you....

K8-B

start buying things for baby?

DH and I are somewhat split on this one issue. He seems to think that we should wait till we've finished the HS to even think about buying anything. I've already started researching and pricing, thinking that we should really be looking right now and comparing prices to be ready once our HS is complete and our profile is out there.

What did ya'll do?

Alicia_22

I've been researching and looking already. We haven't bought anything yet but I plan to in the next few months while we are working on our homestudy! You never know how fast you will be matched and I'd rather be prepared than running around trying to get everything quickly. Plus for me I think it would be harder if the match fell thru if the nursery furniture was all purchased for that match. 

maurisa74

Originally I was going to wait, but then there was a big consignment sale in my area. I ended up buying a lot of stuff. The more we thought about it the more we decided to put the nursery together for whatever God brings us rather than a specific child. So now we have everything. When they come to do the homestudy they will see we are really ready. I think you should do what you are comfortable with. Every person I know that has adopted has done what is comfortable and has never expressed regret about their choice. Good luck!

 

Jessie*J

Once we decided adoption was our way to go we started buying stuff. We now have the nursery almost all the way finished besides trim and decor.

I don't buy too many clothes b/c I know I will want to by gender related later on, but I have an assortment for the first 3 months. I also need to finish my cloth diaper collection --- but I am waiting until we start showing our profile. (Still waiting on our HS to be signed)

maddieg78

I have a crib already.. but that is because my mom bought it when we did our initial IVF cycle (as an optomistic gift).  Luckily it is one of those cribs that converts to a toddler bed and then to a full size bed, so we can use it in the meantime.

But we plan on putting the nursery together prior to the homestudy, because we want to pictures for it for our profile.

ColoRxGirl

I bought nothing until the homestudy was done and we were ready to wait.  I bought a ton of stuff in the first month or so post-approval, and now our nursery is pretty much done.  The only stuff I haven't bought is our cloth diaper stash.

BchBrde

I chose to wait.  I didn't think I would be able to walk past an empty nursery everyday.  We were called on a Tuesday afternoon that our daughter was born the day before and was ready to come home with us the next day. Needless to say, the rush was definitely on to aquire baby stuff.  Luckily, our friends loaned us most items until our baby shower. We did go out to the store that Tuesday night to buy bottles, blankets and a couple of outfits.

Amy720

It's totally up to you.  I chose to not buy much.  We didn't do a nursery or anything.  When we were matched the first time, I bought a few onesies and a lamp, but when the match fell through it put them away.

When we got the call about Ben, he was already born.  We didn't have anything.  We stopped at Wal-Mart on the way out of town for diapers, pacis, wash cloths, socks, more onesies, bottle warmer, and a car seat.  Thankfully, newborns don't need much.  We had a Wal-Mart nearby while we stayed the 10 days in another state.  When we got home, we set up the nursery and registered and had showers. It wasn't stressful to us to wait.  We got home on a Wednesday and my mom kept Ben on Friday and we had a blast at BRU.  They even gave us a twin discount because we were buying 2 of most things because my mom lives across the street and needed the stuff too.  We didn't get the nursery set up until Ben was 6 weeks old.  We didn't do much to the room except put up the crib,the changing table,  a few plaques, his name in white letters and some Nemo stencils.  The nursery was really for us to look at because Ben slept in a PNP in our room.

Just do what you feel comfortable doing.

K8-B

BchBrde:

I chose to wait.  I didn't think I would be able to walk past an empty nursery everyday.  We were called on a Tuesday afternoon that our daughter was born the day before and was ready to come home with us the next day. Needless to say, the rush was definitely on to aquire baby stuff.  Luckily, our friends loaned us most items until our baby shower. We did go out to the store that Tuesday night to buy bottles, blankets and a couple of outfits.

This is what I'm afraid of. I know or friends will help us out in the event that this same thing happens to us, but I really like to shop around for the major things we need.

Plus, I think having some photos of items to put in our profile would be cute.

Thanks for all your input so far!

K8-B

BchBrde:

I chose to wait.  I didn't think I would be able to walk past an empty nursery everyday.  We were called on a Tuesday afternoon that our daughter was born the day before and was ready to come home with us the next day. Needless to say, the rush was definitely on to aquire baby stuff.  Luckily, our friends loaned us most items until our baby shower. We did go out to the store that Tuesday night to buy bottles, blankets and a couple of outfits.

This is what I'm afraid of. I know or friends will help us out in the event that this same thing happens to us, but I really like to shop around for the major things we need.

Plus, I think having some photos of items to put in our profile would be cute.

Thanks for all your input so far!

FinallyMrs.G

We haven't bought much. We have some small things like sleepers and onsies. Also, a friends gave us her glider so that's in the nursery as well. We've been officially waiting for a month. I think after Christmas we will really start setting up the nursery.

kmkaull

I would do what you feel comfortable with.  I am a hard-core planner, and wanted to have some things on hand in case of a fast placement.  I then had a (private) wish list at Babies R Us with all of the things to buy after the match.  I felt better knowing things were in place, and it kept us excited and reminded that there was eventually going to be a baby in that nursery.

 One thing I didn't do (just my preference) was to buy specific items for a specific baby.  Q's birth mom knew she was having a boy.  But I didn't feel comfortable buying boy things until after he was born and placement looked like a sure thing.  

Dr.Loretta

We had only done our first HS meeting, and someone asked on this board. Everyone who had a quick placement urged buying a few necessities ASAP, because you never know. A friend of a friend who adopted said the same thing. A few weeks later we decided we would at least get a crib, PnP, stroller (though we could have probably held off on that) and carseat. We researched them for a few weeks and started buying.

amberfernandez

We started buying the big things to get the nursery set up in case we have a quick match once we go active on the 24th.  I found great deals for furniture on Craig's list.  In fact, I got a crib, changing table, armoire, and glider/ottoman all in awesome condition for $350.  We're painting the nursery this weekend and putting up the wall paper border, then each month I can slowly start filling up the furniture.  A friend of mine gave me over 100 articles of boy clothing so it's a great start for us.

In our case, we started setting aside in cash the amount of money we'll be spending on daycare once our baby arrives, and then using that money to start purchasing items for the baby.  I'm going to try to stick to the large items, as we probably won't receive anything large during the shower.

Do what you feel comfortable with.  For me, it gives me something to do while we wait, and I can feel actively involved.

Good Luck!

mrsdrkwaver

this was tough for us. we started to set up the nursery when we got our first match but i still kept it neutral just in case it fell through. I painted and bought a few clothes and 1 package of diapers a carseat and formula, i figured thats what i need to bring her home but was nto too much if it fell through which it did. the room is green we had put up shelves and lights and my aunt gave me my glider cause she wanted me to have it when the baby came home. when we got matched my neighbors through me a small shower so I would have the basics to bring her home. the room still has not furniture except the glider. it has basics now from the shower. I really want to buy more stuff to finish the room but we know we will have 3 showers when the baby arrives so i am torn buying stuff or not. so I wait and decided we what we need if we get that last minute call, all I need is a bassinet or pack n play it to sleep in so I think we are good forr now but it is soooo hard with the cos tof adoption free is good so I guess i will wait for the showers even though i dont want to

LadyRed7

for the most part, our nursery is done! We actually bought our crib even before we signed with the agency.

Like pp said, you have to do what you are comfortable with.

We look at is this way... we will be ready in an instant situation and can focus on the baby and not stress at that point. Also, after doing multiple IF treatments and not knowing if they were going to work, adoption will work. We will be parents. It makes us feel good to look and there and gives us positive energy. We feel pregnant like a bio parent, we just don't know our due date. 

lisanjay

We chose to wait. We only bought a few onesies/sleepers at Once Upon A Child (probably a month before due date). We had our Shower about a week before Shelby was born.

I just didn't know if I could handle having a nursery set up if the match failed. Plus you don't need much when you first bring a baby home. We got a lot of our necessities at the shower: car seat, strollerpack n play. diapers, bottles etc....

I would say buy what you are comfortable with and leave other stuff for a big shopping spree/shower for later.

speak-ez

I bought a diaper bag when we started and then we planned to buy something at the end of the home study. After that our plan was to have the essentials picked out but wait till placement to buy.