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I just bought stuff as I got good deals!

Newborn to 5 years is a huge range though, so I'm really not sure.

Someone told me that an extra bag will always be a must, so I would think buying a diaper bag is a safe bet!

Wipes are also something you'd use regardless of age. Actually, anything you are planning to make yourself would be a good idea now. If you're not sure of exactly when you will be fostering (sorry not familiar with the process so I'm sorry if I'm way off base here) you may suddenly end up with so much less time to do those projects!

For a stroller, maybe an umbrella stroller? It seems like those get the most use from around 6mo to toddler age. (We're at almost 6 mo and thinking about getting one in the coming months, and I see parents of toddlers out and about with them all the time.)

Carseat is difficult. I really like to take the infant seat out of the car and use it in the stroller so that is handy, but if you find a great deal on a convertible one you like with a high weight limit that could be worthwhile.

Toys will be age-related, so I would hold off on that and things that are very age specific.

So exciting!!

First off, yay! 2.5 months isn't long at all!!

As for what I'd have now:
1. I would start your CD stash bc you'll need to prep your dipes before you can use them & you could have anywhere from nb to ~2 y/o in dipes
2. If a carseat/booster isn't provided upon getting the child I would start shopping for that
3. A place for the child/bebe to sleep. Do you have to have a crib for an infant? We actually considered doing a floor bed for P, but I knew we'd need to do more child proofing right from the start than we were prepared for... That could save on purchases though! Either way I'd get sleeping arrangements taken care of with sheets for the crib & bedding for the bed. Oh I just reread your list & you already have the crib!
4.wrap & then stroller just incase you get an older infant or toddler
5. I don't think a high chair is immediately necessary if you have something else like a bouncer or other something for lo to sit in.

I would wait on the car seat and stroller until you know the age of the kid you'll be fostering. If you get a toddler or an older child, you won't need an infant seat. Infant seats expire after 5 years. I'd make sure you were getting an infant before purchasing. If you do end up needing an infant seat, you can buy a travel system and save a little bit of money. I'd go ahead and start shopping for a highchair. That can be used for a variety of ages. Oh, and I'd get a small trash can instead of a diaper pail.

@anonysquire: I had no advice because haven't got a CLUE what I need - I'm going to stalk this thread to get an idea - but I just wanted to say:

1) You passed your home study, then?! Yay! I knew you would!

2) June or July! Eeeeek! That's so soon - which is so exciting but also, like, so quick!! You're on the same timeline as me now - and it's creeping up fast isn't it?!!

3) I'm so pleased for you! You're going to be a great mamma and giving the gift of a loving home - for however long - to these kids is such an awesome thing to do!

No advice but I've got tears welling up for you, i'm so thrilled for you and your husband to be going on this adventure. When will you know how old of a LO you will get?

I would get
*unisex clothes in all sizes and seasons
*a pack -n- play because you can use it for baby-toddler
* a highchair (don't know how hold they'll be)
* a crib that can convert into a toddler bed and even into a full bed
* bottles/sippy cups/baby plates + spoons

I don't have many ideas for you, but damn I am so happy for you, friend.

@anonysquire: Yes, we used a PNP with bassinet in our room and now we just took the top bassinet feature off and can use the regular PNP when we travel or when I need her safely contained.

I would just be really careful about a car seat not knowing what age you will receive. I assume you don't necessarily want an infant bucket seat since those are usually short lived (0-12 months) but a convertible seat can hold up to 65 lbs. After that a booster seat may still be required.

How exciting! Since there is the possibility that the child will be mobile, I would suggest baby proofing gear. Gate, outlet covers, etc.

@anonysquire: Honestly, most kids won't hit a booster until age 5 so you may not have a need for that.

If you are going to buy a car seat, I would get a convertible that can be RFing for infants and FF up to a high weight limit. The Graco MyRide 65 is a good example. They do have an expiration date though (I think 3 years after manufacture date). So if it was made last fall, and you buy it now and don't use it for another 6 months, you have lost a lot of "life" of the seat.

I would focus on items for a child older than infant, especially if your state tends to support family reunification because it is probably much more likely you will get an older child than a newborn. Many places are very reluctant to take newborns/infants from bio mothers, even with histories of drug use, domestic violence in the home, etc.

Do you have a child-sized table and chairs for older kids to sit at to eat, play, craft, etc.? What about craft stuff: paper, crayons, washable markers, stickers, etc. Toys geared towards older children? Books? DVDs?

I would start scouting out big garage sales and consignment sales and try to pick up everyone on sale if you can!

Good luck, and thanks for caring about the kids that others often forget about!!

I agree with people about holding off on things with an expiration date (carseats) and that are super age specific (strollers?). So maybe a cheaper umbrella stroller which would work for a wide range of ages, and pick out but don't buy the carseat you would want and an infant stroller you'd want if it comes to it (like, the snap and go base you would want with the infant carseat, maybe). Other people probably have better ideas than me on other things though!

I see the baby k'tan on NoBetterDeal all the time for $22, so even though that would only be for an infant, it's a good enough deal that you could snag that and have it on hand. But I don't think most people use that past 6 months or so?

Good luck! I hope that placement comes through quickly!

It isn't my favorite place ever but a lot of Walmarts are open 24/7 so in the event that you need anything very quickly and in the middle of the night you have the option. It might be worth checking out what car seats they stock and figuring out how to install them.

I know people seem to be able to get formula samples easily, maybe look into getting done of those to get you started if you wind up with a baby.

I am so excited for you!

Oh, and as far as burp cloths, we made some and got a pack of osocozy prefolds...the prefolds were much more absorbant! They don't look as cute, but they are better at their job!
http://www.amazon.com/OsoCozy-Prefolds-Unbleached-Cloth-Diapers/dp/B003AJHDQW

This is so exciting for you!!

I'd say a Carseat that you can use FF or RF depending on age. I would never have thought about the overnight phone call!

Diaper bag and a mama clutch for you! I have found I can no longer manage my mammoth bag + diaper bag so I bought myself a new clutch for my essentials

New nursery crib sheets, curtains, rug and twin bedding &Twin bed. Id want to have the room ready!

Also, anything that you want to DIY do now. As much as I want to make things for G I just can't find the time!

Keep us posted!!!!!

@anonysquire: caaaaaaats perfect perfect!!!!!! lol!! we put our dogs into our stroller first thing when we got it. heehee.