How to prepare your home for a foster child

Being a first-time foster parent can be both scary and exciting. Naturally, you will want to make your home as comfortable and safe as possible for the arrival of your new foster child – which is why we’ve put together a helpful guide to prepare your home for your foster placement.

What to buy for foster care

Before your foster child arrives, you might have a lot of planning to do. There are a few extra things you may want to purchase in order to create the most inviting atmosphere as possible. To get on top of the basics, a few things you may start with include:

 Bed and bedding

In order to initially pass the requirements to foster a child, you will need to have a spare room. It is important to have a comfy bed and appropriate bedding for your foster child to make their room as comfortable and welcoming as possible. If you are expecting various foster placements, it might be best to decorate the room in neutral colours to allow for some personalisation when your foster child arrives.

 Toiletries

You may want to ensure that your foster child’s personal hygiene items are purchased ready for them to begin using. To make them feel at home as quickly as possible, some of the bathroom essentials may include:

•    Toothbrush
•     Hairbrush
•    Towels
•   Shower gel

Shampoo and conditioner

If your foster placement is a teenager, you may want to purchase hygiene products, such as deodorants, or feminine hygiene products if you’re fostering teenage girls. Alternatively, if you are fostering babies, you should be well-stocked up on nappies and bibs.

Comfort items:

Making the child’s room as comfortable as possible will require some extra items to make them feel at home. It’s a good idea to take your child shopping once they arrive so that they can pick out things they would like to personalise their room with.

Clothes

Try to gather as much information on your new foster child as possible so you could buy them some nice clothes to fill the wardrobe before they arrive. Or, if you prefer not to risk buying the wrong clothing, you can always take them on a shopping trip when they arrive – which could be a good way to connect and bond.

Making your home as comfortable as possible

   Clean home: making sure you provide a clean and tidy home is the best way to help your child feel as relaxed as possible.

• Medications and dangerous items: lock away any potential items which could put your foster child at risk. This includes medicines, cleaning products or any DIY tools.
•  Move sentimental items: any valuables that hold any form of sentimentality is best stored in a safe place out of the reach of any young children you may be fostering.
• Stock the cupboards: it is essential that you keep a wide variety of foods to cater to your foster child’s needs, or adhere to any dietary requirements they may have.

If you would like to find out more information about fostering – you can find out more information by contacting our helpful team. Find out more about the fostering process by reading blogs on our knowledge centre.