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If this was a Facebook page I would be ticking "like" for your post ! For us as adoptees of schoolchildren, never having had any birth kids, there was also the list of expectations for getting them ready and supporting them for school, including what we needed to buy in the way of clothes and equipment,since our own schooldays are many years gone and styles have changed.Actually though lists are helpful, it is a bit woolly round the edges. We were told , during original assessment, that if a child of under 8 was placed, we would have to cover over our pond. Ds2 came just before his 7th birthday and nobody said anything about the pond! But we did have to buy a car seat for legal reasons.I am sure, if someone with more experience of younger children ( such as a foster carer) put together a list, AUK would post it, in the appropriate place. Keep up the good ideas.!

Some people have created cyberlists on things like Amazon, so you can just press "pay" when you know for sure what age your children will be. My son was 5 on placement, and we have 2yrs olds in the family, the difference in equipment is huge. So its quite difficult to know what you will need. DS went straight to a single bed, perhaps a 2yr old would be in a junior bed? I bought some spare sheets and a pillow and duvet in advance. I ordered things like stools for the bathroom and the kitchen so a child could reach into cupboards and to the sink, picnic blankets, car blinds, some water toys. I also purchased craft things. Someone put a suggestion of buying lots of household things before placement, loo roll, kitchen roll that type of thing. It might help with a nesting instinct, or reduce running around in the first few months of placement.Sorry its not that helpful, but I do think its a tricky one.

Who knew there were lots of different buggies, chairs etc etc and it's an unknown as to what the children will prefer/need to have before they are placed with us, or just before let alone how tall and how much they weigh which also affects what you need to get. Not having any nieces or nephews means no hand me downs. I'll have to ask my friends with kids for advice and do a massive shop run closer to the time (fingers crossed!)

We adopted ours at five and three. They were in a junior bed and a cot. But, now that I have a toddler, I'm finding that a lot of people move their toddlers into a bed before three. So, even with children the same age there is a lot of variety. We bought beds, car seats, stair gate all as similar to the ones the foster carers were using as possible. Which did mean that we did a lot of last minute shopping during introductions. I know it doesn't seem great advice, but your children's foster carers would probably be the best people to give you a kit list. Our three year old never rode in a buggy, so that would have been a waste of money for us, though a lot of three year olds still go in one from time to time.One thing I would suggest is getting a few baby toys to have in the house. Most children like to play with younger toys from time to time, and you probably won't want to buy your child baby toys as gifts. So, consider just getting some basic baby toys to have in the house 'for visiting babies'; so your little ones can regress at times.

School PE kit was the one I forgot! Also sun cream and a sun hat, especially for littlest being placed at this time of year as you may be want to be outside from day one! Also three times more school uniform than you think you'll need - mine has done 4 weeks at school now and has managed to destroy two school dresses already lol.

I bought alot of stuff before my children arrived and some of it was not needed. You will probably have a meeting with foster carers a while before any introductions start so use that as the basis for essentials. I also stocked up on washing powder, loo rolls etc. Make sure there is enough time built into your introduction timetable to do any last minute shopping. I remember going to Ikea at 9pm one evening!!Check around for friends with children of similar ages who will be willing to pass things down to you. My children also came with alot of stuff from the foster carers but this can vary so it's best to check what they will and will not be bringing with them.Good luck

Thanks everyone for your very useful advice, there's some stuff I can get now and as you all say, wait till we've spoken to the foster carers. I'm just chomping at the bit to get on with something!