Toiletries You Need

Don't forget flouride-free baby toothpaste :)
If you can go to a thrift or wal-mart and get a few mix and match clothes for each child or some shoes on sale or a gift card for Children's Place (I say b/c they are cheap and have huge sales all the time).

She may be so frazzled that she forgets these things or doesn't think of them when you give a store gift card that isn't for a specific clothes type store... getting out of those situations can make you forget b/c your so emotionally distraught. If you have extra toys you need to get rid of anyways, donate them to her. I'm sure they left toys behind and will get bored without toys at the friend's place which will cause more chaos

Tell her not to even think you are pitying her, but you want to help her so she has support. Tell her it was brave and great she got out. When I left my abusive ex those words would have been great, especially if someone came over with a lot of donations so I knew I wasn't getting a pity party, but they were being helpful about my brave situation. Gift card is a great idea so she can get some diapers and any groceries. Anything is great, even just extras that you don't need in your house. Meals are a great option too. I'm sure the meal toll will be big on the friend who went from 1 mouth to 5 mouths.

You are SO sweet to help her <3

S T. is so right too. I spaced on that stuff like sippy cups! Those are pricey (2 pack is about $6) but if you can swing 1 for each child I'm sure she would be so grateful. If she just ran out of the house to escape I doubt she has that stuff like sippy cups and the little toddler forks/spoons.

First of all -- You are doing a good thing and so is the friend who took this woman and her children in. Thank you.

I bet you've already thought of this but be sure to include some shampoos and toothpastes that are right for the 4-year-olds, as well as adult ones for the mom.

Since you don't know her or the kids, be sure any stuff you buy is unscented if possible, or has very light scents -- she may dislike or even be allergic to strong chemical scents.

You could get her a simple nail set, the kind you can buy at any drugstore: Nail clippers (I'd go with clippers and not scissors), several emery boards (does anybody use the metal nail files? I'd go with emery boards), some pointed "orange sticks" for cleaning out under nails and pushing back cuticles, a buffer, and maybe add a child's nail clippers to that set. You can get these in good-looking bags as well, which keeps it all together and looks nice enough to lift her spirits a bit and seem like a gift more than an emergency supply.

Some hand sanitizer in purse-sized bottles could be useful too. And a gift set of kids' brushes and combs would be nice.

Try to put it into some kind of plastic carrier she can use to take it back and forth to the bathroom from wherever they're sleeping, in case the friend who took them in has little bathroom space for bottles etc. to be around. Then the carrier can be used to haul it away when the mom finds her own place. Packing it all as attractively as you can into a sturdy but nice carrier makes it seem nicer, too.

I'd even include a few new, small toys for the children, maybe new bath toys, some coloring or sticker books, etc.; they surely left their toys behind, and they could use some distraction, no doubt.

-A wide toothed comb (for combing out her and the kids' hair after baths)
-hair brushes (one for mom, one for the kiddos)
-dental floss
-chapstick of some sort (my lips get dried out after crying)
-deodorant
-mousse/gel/hairspray
-Hair bands/clips (especially if the 4 yr olds are girls, some kid ones too).
-emery boards
-disposable razors
-plain jane hand/body lotion (something no frills, that she can use with the kids too.. we like the Jergens Naturals family---not heavily scented and good general purpose for the whole family)
-If you can swing it, a bathrobe for her.

toothbrushes
tooth paste
brush
comb
shampoo
conditioner
baby wipes
a "poofie" (the mesh thing)
liquid hand soap
bar soap or body wash
hand sanitizer

for mom... a ladies disposable razor and deorderant

if the 4 y/o's are girls - some hair accessories

what a wonderful thing you're doing!

Handi-wipes (they are multi-purpose)
Face wash
Face lotion
brushes
combs
hair spray
scrunchies if she has longish hair
Maybe a nice lip balm?

You are an angel, J..

Hi J.-

How sweet of you to think of her/them...maybe some nice ready made meals for ALL of them?

And...if your kindness extends...think of her again when she and kids are struggling to 'set up' in new apartment...when the need for 'everything' wil be at a peak...

Good thoughts to you...and this family!
Michele/cat

I'm so glad you are helping this family! What a blessing you are to them.

Perhaps she could use some deoderant, a hairbrush, hairspray, mousse, or any of the things that might make her feel like herself. If she can keep herself up she and the kids will feel more normal. Also, maybe some ibuprofen or Tylenol. Crying always makes my head hurt, and I am sure she is doing some of that. I'm trying to think of things she might like to have that she would feel funny about asking her friend for. The gift card is a sweet idea because there are always things that come up.
God bless you for being a willing servant and helping this woman. Your kindness will give her strength.

id get the off the wall stuff mouth wash tampons/pads, deoderent, if the baby is still in diapers get her some diapers especially if tyou know how much the baby weighs or about how much the baby weighs get some cheap pillows for her n the kids (like one each)

J., GOD BLESS YOU FOR BEING SO GIVING AND SELFLESS!!! I went through this with my mom when i was little. we were lucky enough to get to go back and get our things after step dad left. but, here is my two cents.
coloring books/crayons for the twins
kid toothpaste
some stationary and stamps so she can stay in touch with family
towels
deodarant
a bag/container to hold her toiletries
a list with lots of phone numbers/websites she can contact for help/support
a bible
nail clippers for her and the kids(i know my kiddos nails grow like crazy)
washcloths
baby shampoo/body wash
tissues
sippy cups for the twins if they use them
hairbrush
mouth wash

I soooo wish i could think of some good stuff, but my mind is a blank. You are such a sweetheart to help, one of Gods angels on earth!

Toothbrushes
Lotion for face and body
sunscreen
Nail polish and Nail polish remover

Let's see....Razor's, shaving cream, Kid's shampoo and body soap, towel's of their own would be nice too!,maybe even some bath toys for the baby, facial lotion's and body lotions or creams. You can get her some make-up if she is into that? Bath robe's? Tooth brushes, dental floss, mouth wash, boxes of kleenex too! That's all I can think of for now!
God Bless you for being such a kind person in opening your heart to a friend in need at this time. I think thats great!

not sure how much money you have spend - this is soo nice of you!!!

set of towels and washclothes...
baby shampoo/body wash for the kids
sanitary supplies (I know I keep extras in my house even though I don't need them anymore)
Diaper wipes
I would also do a gift card for pizza if it's in the budget...

again - really sweet of you to do!!

That is so wonderful of you. I would recommend unscented deodorant, for me scented deodorant makes me nauseus. Others have listed everything I would have said.
Another thing you could do is to get her a gift card to get her hair done. She may also need things like make-up and pantyhose if she is job hunting. If there is a community clothes closet in your area she may be able to get some decent professonal looking clothes for free. I would call your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, and St Vincent de Paul stores many of them have programs for women who left an abusive relationship. If she doesn't have a car she may need bus passes if she has a car maybe gas cards.
She will need an attorney and some counseling a local Domestc Violence shelter will have info for her.
It might be a good idea to make a list of all the places she can go for help.

maybe a washcloth, a tweezers, and a box of light-days? You are a good person, J.!! :)

You are such a good person! I think you got your answer. One other very nice idea may be if the Mom's club members each want to volunteer to make one meal for all of them? Things easy to freeze like lasagna or casseroles or something. Just a thought that would make things less stressful in a crowded house and free up time for her to get things in order.