"Please submit a picture of the child's bedroom."

[ProtoLawyer]

My sister and her husband are working with an agency to adopt internationally, and this question showed up on the home study form. She called the agency for clarification, and they do want a picture showing it as close to ready for the child as possible (and not just a picture of the current guest room, which shows the available space, safety, exits, etc.).

Problem is...at this point, they have no idea whether their child will be a boy or a girl--or, more importantly, how old the child will be (they're open to a pretty good range). So, they have no idea whether they will need to furnish the room for an infant or a pre-schooler.

Anyone have experience in this regard? Is there a good way to "stage" a room for a home study?

[BeckC]

That's strange, I've never heard of that. I've heard of paps getting rooms ready ahead of time (we're doing that) but I've never heard of it being required.

Is their room cleared out? I would say get a convertible crib that can be either a crib or toddler bed. Set it up as a crib and explain that it turns into a toddler bed if they need it for that. They could always get a plain colored crib sheet to put over the mattress. I'd get a dresser and put a changing pad on top. Take down blinds if any and put up a cheap plain valance. I think that pretty much covers any needs for an infant or toddler. The agency can't really fault them for not having the room "decorated".

[EmmysMama]

Saw this in New Posts and for some reason felt the need to click ...

ITA with a dresser, and a changing pad on top. To make it feel more "decorated" (IDK if it would feel right to photograph an empty room to me, either!) ... I'd put down a rug in a neutral color, whatever shade they might want to use, maybe green? And of course sheets on the crib/bed, maybe the same color. Curtains/valance.

If they want to go ahead and "fill it out", I'd add a comfy chair (rocker maybe), a toy box, a bookshelf maybe. It would be nice to hang pictures too, I think photos of relatives grouped together in matching frames would be great wall art.

I think that would be fine no matter the age or sex. Those things would be useful through that whole range of infant through preschooler.

[marsupial-mom]

Who knows what your agency is looking for, but basic requirements for most agencies are:
bed/crib
dresser
fire safety (extinguishers, smoke alarms etc)
first aid kit
closet space
other safety issues (outlet covers, kid-safe blinds, medications stored put of reach, etc)

[Diane B]

Originally Posted by ProtoLawyer

My sister and her husband are working with an agency to adopt internationally, and this question showed up on the home study form. She called the agency for clarification, and they do want a picture showing it as close to ready for the child as possible (and not just a picture of the current guest room, which shows the available space, safety, exits, etc.).

Problem is...at this point, they have no idea whether their child will be a boy or a girl--or, more importantly, how old the child will be (they're open to a pretty good range). So, they have no idea whether they will need to furnish the room for an infant or a pre-schooler.

Anyone have experience in this regard? Is there a good way to "stage" a room for a home study?

Please, have them just ask their agency - this seems like reasonable question for them to have. Countries have requirements, which can change over time; some agencies will have additional requirements; and there may be state-specific requirements too.

[Triciabn]

we had this request.
We just put two toddler beds together and put toys on it...then took a pic of our play room. (we were adopting kids over 2)

So I would set up any type of baby bed in a corner with some generic idea of baby stuff surrounding it.

I was given the impression it was more about the adopting parents then it was about anything else.
Tricia

[excitedtobeamom]

We just had to take pictures of the bedrooms in our house along with the other parts of our house (front, backyard, kitchen, living space etc.). I am guessing that would be suffice. We already have a girl and a boy so we just said they would go into whatever room matches their gender after sleeping with us for an undefined amount of time.