ruby7
Bronze Member
Approved prospective adopter
Posts: 96 
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Post by ruby7 on Feb 25, 2015 20:20:04 GMT
Wondering what the current 'fashion' is for bedrooms. The walls are white, do you think we should get some alaphabet stickers? Or is this considered ' too busy' or over stimulating these days? The room is small but not tiny. 3 year old boy with 7- 10 month general devlopement delay. All pointers welcomed!
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Post by serrakunda on Feb 25, 2015 20:53:12 GMT
Can you find out from FC what his favourite cartoon/Disney characters are? A few stickers and matching duvet cover, bedside lamp maybe
Simba was a bit older but I knew he liked cars and trains so just went for some curtains and duvet cover with cars on them. I left the walls plain apart from a couple if fried pictures my god daughter had painted years ago. We have 'accessorised' over the years but he loves those paintings and refuses to gave them moved
Exciting times!
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Post by chotimonkey on Feb 25, 2015 21:33:57 GMT
Think about where FC has stair gates in the bedroom door or on the stairs, what sort of bed and bedding lo has at FC, snuggle sacks, blankets, duvets, any pillows. Are they used to blackout blinds, do they have a night light? Are they used to a quiet or background noise when they go to sleep, my oldest's bedroom was near FC kitchen And she's always liked to hear the noise of someone pottering about before she falls asleep.
Things that have been really valuable...
Snuggly glider chair with blankets for stories and cuddles and comfy for you if you are in there on sleepless nights.
A book box to keep books in.
Neutral walls and maybe some wall decals, we had small size decal photo frames that we put pics of ff and then added ones of them in a kind of trail across the wall and we used to say goodnight to everyone every night for a while to kind of tie us all on to their stories.
We kept their bedrooms really simple, they came with a tonne of stuff and then they kind of evolved as we developed as a family ... V exciting times!!!
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Post by chotimonkey on Feb 25, 2015 21:51:02 GMT
Also my little ones love name letters on the door and I have a teeny owl shaped chalj board on small boys wall that I write him messages/ draw funny pics for him .
On each matching panel we went out and chose a toy for intros that we photographed for intros etc that they each have in their beds
And pracrically drawer dividers are v helpful for nappy paraphernalia and stoping wardrobes from exploding!!
We found that our kids came with loads of clothes, everyone we knew bought stuff and tonnes of friends passed stuff on, so we have ended up with crazy amounts of clotges
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Post by mudlark on Feb 25, 2015 22:33:33 GMT
How exciting, how lovely to be getting his room ready. Keep it simple..even though its tempting to buy lots. Our little 3 yr old boy arrived with his beloved blanket..and we put a monkey knitted by my granny on his bed... that was enough...it was his monkey.
Find out what washing powder was used by the foster carers...
My own view is to keep the bedroom fairly calm, minimal, not too much stimulation as he will be very stimulated as it is by moving to his new home...
He will be scared...keep it cosy and low key.. xxxx He will soon know he has found a loving home...what happy days ..
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Post by nomoretears on Feb 26, 2015 13:33:22 GMT
Lots of excellent advice already. I'd definitely check with FC what will be coming with him - you don't want two of everything. Don't paint walls white - they get dirty in no time, and bogeys show up far too clearly...! (Remembering all too clearly scarping my walls with a knife...) Sorry just seen your walls ARE white! Buy a magic sponge...  Agree with the glider chair, but also be prepared that LO might not want you in their bedroom. Check if he's in a bed or a cot. I always expect a 3 year old to be in a bed, but some still need the security of a cot. He should come with his (unwashed) bedding. Please, please use it at first even if it clashes with everything else in the room. And let him have that stinking, falling apart bit of cloth he needs to go to sleep with, even though it makes you itch to look at it... (sorry if I'm rambling. Just done intros again here so I'm projecting!) |
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Post by nomoretears on Feb 26, 2015 13:34:52 GMT
Also, bring as many of his belongings with you as you can during intros and have them set out ready for his first visit to your house. That way he starts to claim it from the first time he walks in.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2015 13:43:03 GMT
Ditto to what everyone has already said.
Neutral walls with a few stickers are enough. The colour comes from the duvet, curtains, rug, cushions and of course loads of toys and familiar items that will come with him.
I completely second what NMT says about the unwashed bedding and same washing powder/perfume as FC uses.
My YDD was in care recently and even at 13, she commented on how all her clothing/bedding smelt different to when she was at home and she asked me to rewash all of her clean clothing to make them smell like home. I was really surprised when she said this to me, so it must be important to them, even more so when moving for the first time as a LO.
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Post by chotimonkey on Feb 26, 2015 14:30:45 GMT
With the smell, we used all Los own stuff when they came home, but we had also given some clothes, bedding and toys to FC after matching panel, so lo got used to our smell in the safety of FC house and then was familiar and smelt of FC when we brought them home. I think bonding needs help both ways abd it certainly helped me bond with our Los and helped me feel they were mine as they were dressed and slept in things i had chosen for them (with more love and care then I have had time to put into anything I buy for them now they are here!) but they were 'safe' and familiar to lo already. Wee man especially came home in a "worth waiting for" super soft onesie we had bought for him and he'd been wearing at FC... Felt v special and is one we are having made into a soft toy to keep forever
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ruby7
Bronze Member
Approved prospective adopter
Posts: 96
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Post by ruby7 on Feb 26, 2015 16:50:43 GMT
Wow everyone great stuff, we had already planned to do the bedclothes thing and looks like they are coming with loads of stuff. I just wanted to know what to do with the blank white wall which is the first thing he sees when he wakes up and sleeps. He is currently in a room which isn't decked out as a kids room it's an adults room. ( don't ask)
I just thought that alphabet stickers might be considered to teachery or stimulating. But if I got ones that could easily peal off?? Or shall I just leave it wait till he arrives and take it from there?
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Post by nomoretears on Feb 26, 2015 18:07:07 GMT
I'd wait until he arrives unless you already know what he likes. I personally don't find alphabet stickers too teachery, I'd like some here! But decorating the room would be something nice to do together.
If you wanted to brighten the room before he arrives you can get some big , bright frames really cheaply from IKEA which would be simple to hang, and also remove as needed. We use them loads here, for school certificates, achievement awards, nice paintings...
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Post by oogleschnook on Mar 3, 2015 22:57:54 GMT
Aw, I loved decorating our LOs rooms before they arrived, think it was all part of the nesting for me! I bought colourful bunting and fabric letters for their names and sewed that onto it. Easy to take down too once they're a bit older tho mine still have theirs up! Also got a fun noticeboard (vertbaudet have nice ones) that we put photos of FC and their neighbours who had been significant parts of their lives. Then added ones in of us and them together during intros and grandparents when they'd met them etc and they really loved looking at them. Maybe a night light too depending what they are used to...
I've used the room stickers too and they looked great for a few months then started to peel a bit (above radiator and with a little help from LOs!) I loved trying to create rooms that were colourful and cosy and clearly kid focused, there's such a lot of fun stuff out there, I got gorgeous second hand handpainted kids furniture off EBay for next to nothing, fun light shade, colourful rugs from Ikea, bright curtains from charity shop...the problem was knowing when to stop!
Have fun!
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