How to make a Foster Baby Welcome Baskets

Our entire world changed in 24 hours after answering a phone call.

We went from a family of 5 to a family of 7 overnight. Besides the emotional roller coaster we were feeling of excitement, panic, fear, happiness, and overwhelm; we also realized that we had 24 hours to gather everything we needed for newborn twin girls. 

All we had was one crib and a few blankets. When we were licensed as foster parents we were open to ages 3 years old and younger. We had no clothes, no supplies, no wipes, no diapers, no bottles. NOTHING! 

We ran out and frantically threw bottles, diapers, Nice ‘N Clean wipes and a few other things in our cart and picked up two carseats right before heading to the hospital to pick up the sweetest little girls that have ever been placed in my arms. 

My heart still swells when I look at the pictures of Jon and I holding the girls for the first time. Can’t you just see Jon melting into a giant puddle? 

When the word started spreading that we had been placed with twin girls to our friends and family they immediately began supporting us with the most amazing Welcome Baskets. These baskets that were dropped off made such a difference in those first days with our girls. They needed a lot of attention, love, and bottles upon bottles of milk and lets not talk about the amount of diaper changes! We could not have survived those first few days without those welcome baskets.

Now that our adoptions have finalized and our children are getting older, we are passing along all the love that was shown to us and our family by creating Foster Baby Welcome Baskets that can be easily assembled when we hear of a new placement.

I keep a box with supplies like blankets, stuffed animals, washcloths & towels, baby soap and baby wipes to add to my welcome baskets. Every basket can use a little of those essential supplies. 

H-E-B reusable bags are my favorite Go-To for packing up all the goodies. Every mom I know can use more reusable bags. If I can, I find out the diaper size and stop at H-E-B for more Nice ‘N Clean wipes, diapers, bottles or sippy cups, chocolate for the new foster momma, and an H-E-B gift for those essentials that I didn’t think of! 

Nice ‘N CLEAN Baby Wipes were our favorite when the twins were babies.

They are actually still our favorite even though potty training is finally a success!

 

When the twins were in diapers we went through so many wipes! The large boxes lasted less than a month when they were newborns and being changed every 3 hours or less. 

Ideas for Items in your Foster Baby Welcome Baskets:

• Baby wipes
• Diapers (if you know what size they need)
• Bottles or sippy cups
• Baby body wash
• Baby Lotion
• Small soft blanket
• Baby washcloths & towels
• Small stuffed animal
• Reusable bags
• Gift card to H-E-B for more essentials or formula
• Chocolate for Foster Mom

You have no idea how you will bless both the foster parents and foster baby! If you don’t know of anyone who may be getting a foster care placement in the near future, consider donating several baskets to your local foster closet or social services to distribute to foster families when they are placed with a new little one. 

I promise this small investment will be worth 10 times it’s weight in gold!

If you have been considering becoming a foster parent or adopting from foster care, but feel worried about all the unknowns… I have been there. Read more about being scared to be a foster parent.

Happy Giving, 
Keikilani

Let’s not forget about the ones who come into foster care that are NOT babies! Check out this Make-Up Bag for Teen Girls in foster care.