Preparing for your adoption can be stressful and exciting. You've been approved, but you don't know exactly when your baby will arrive. It could be a month, or it could be a year. Your concerns and stress are very similar to what birth parents feel while they wait for nine months. There are many preparation you can make to keep yourself busy while you wait.
Window Shopping
Do a lot of window shopping, and go online to search the safety of products you have found. Start making a list of the items you plan to buy for the baby, but don't buy before you know when the baby will be yours. Because some babies are small and some are big, don't buy too many clothes. The baby you receive may be a new born or possibly a month or two old.
Safety Preparations
According to Web MD, you can start making safety checks of your home, check your alarm system, install child locks on below counter cabinets, and block all floor level electrical outlets with plastic plugs. Safety gates will be needed, and pet food must be placed where a baby can't crawl to it.
Read
An adoption agency will supply you with plenty of reading material and other adoption services. You should also check out books from your library and read mother's blogs online. It is helpful to read childbirth books and watch a couple of videos if your baby will be a newborn. The baby goes through a lot to be born, and the first few weeks infants sleep a lot. Knowing what to expect will help ease any concerns you have.
Choose Your Pediatrician
Have you pediatrician all picked out before the baby arrives. If possible make an appointment and discuss any concerns you have ahead of time. Make an appointment for the baby as soon as you know the date it will be given to you.
Pamper Yourself
Once the baby arrives, your personal time for the first few months will be sporadic. Get your hair cut and colored, enjoy a spa day, buy a new outfit, and have a manicure and pedicure. Spending a little time on yourself now will keep you from feeling deprived of personal time once the baby arrives. After a couple of months, you and your spouse will have all the schedules figured out.
There are lots more things you can do to prepare for the arrival of your baby. You'll think up some and friends and family will suggest others.
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Hi Michelle, Thanks for the article. Those were good suggestions. For me, the most important thing I tried to do when we adopted our kids, was to take time to pray and quiet my thought each morning.
Thanks,
April 11, 2016 - 8:21amVal
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