by Lisa Milbrand
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Baby stores provide long lists of must-haves for newborns. But if you're selecting the essentials for a toddler or young child you're adopting, planning your wish list can be tricky. Here's how to figure it out.
Ask another mother for help. If you know someone who has a child about the same age as yours will be, find out which items she finds indispensable, and which things her child has already outgrown. For instance, many new mothers request a swing to soothe the baby, but if your child will be eight months old by the time he arrives home, he may be too big to use it.
Err on the side of "too old." If your child could be within a range of ages, aim for things that will suit her at the upper age limits. That way, you can be sure that you'll be able to make use of every gift at some point ‑- even if it's not right at the time of arrival. (It may not seem like it at the moment, but, eventually, that eight-month-old will be ready to try the training toilet.)