Gifts for Adoption

Depending on the age of the baby - an age specific toy or Baby Einstein DVD's or Baby Einstein Books are always a perfect gift.

I also like this toy from Baby Einstein: http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-18486313259... http://www.angelbabybedding.com/baby-einstein-toys.html

Baby Blankets are always a very nice gift as well.

Anything... he is now their son! Something with his initials (or full name with last name) embroidered is always so special, and in this case even more so. A strong denim baby bag or soft blanket... always great gifts!

Depending on the boys age, I would say that any sort of "welcome baby" gift would appropriate, with the exception of something to do with breast feeding. Jsut because the adopting parents didn't conceive the baby, nor the adopting mom carry and deliver the baby, it is still going to be just like bringing your new baby home from the hospital to them. I have 3 adopted cousins that my aunts all had baby showers and registered as though they were giving birth so I really don't see that there is much difference. I hope this helps.

I was adopted and I know that my parents were given a shower just like if they were having a baby. I don't know if they were given this as a gift or if they bought it but one of the things that I really enjoyed growing up is a book called "The Chosen Child". To this day having been read that book growing up makes me feel special. It can be difficult as a child to know that you are different than your friends and something like this makes you feel like it is okay to be different.

Looking through the responses I'm wondering... If you do adopt a baby why wouldn't someone give you a shower like they would for a normal arrival? I have never been in that situation but I would think they should do a shower.

I would buy a gift age appropriate.

L.

I am an adoptive Mom. I guess it all depends on a couple things, 1) how old is the child being adopted and, 2) if it's a newborn, will they have notice ahead of time of the birth.

In our case, we got a call at 9am that our daughter had just been born and we had to drive immediately from KC to OK City to pick her up. We had NOTHING since it was a surprise. Because of this, we needed everything. Thank goodness for a Target & Wal-Mart close to our hotel. Now if they have had a birthmother choose them ahead of time, they may have already bought some things.

Regardless, don't think of the adoption as an issue in buying a gift. Buy what you normally would for a biologically born child. The big variable is always the age of a child being adopted. Buy appropriately for the age and not the adoption.

Sending my best wishes to your friends. Adoption has been the most wonderful thing to happen in my life. I'm sure they will soon agree.

Hi S., my favorite baby gift to give is a kit that the parents can use to cast the childs hand or foot. They are available anywhere and are safe and easy to use.

Good Luck!!!

There is a great website that you can buy one share of stock - I know that seems silly witht the current financial crisis but you can buy one share of Disney stock...I think it is a very cute idea. I think it is called oneshare.com but you can google it and find it easy. YOu can buy all sorts of stock on there and can get neat frames for them.

I'm all for keepsakes. You didn't mention how old this child was so I'm assuming an infant. Some of my favorite keepsakes from when I was a child that I passed on and used for my kids was my nightlight (a ceramic baby with a light bulb that went in underneath him and had a cord with a flip swich on it) and music boxes. Another neat thing that you could do is to buy her a small scrapbook, a few of the decorations (i.e. paper cutouts of baby booties, onsies, written things like Welcome Home or Welcome Baby), some of the acid free glue and a disposable camera. That will start her on scraping her memories of those first days at home. Or you could just hand her the camera and tell her to call you when it's full and you can start the scrap book for her....do a couple of pages and let her take it from there.

Everyone does clothes so I would suggest steering away from that. One of my favs to do for a baby shower was to make up a basket of all the things I found I couldn't live without for my kids (J & J lavendar night soap for baths, Little Tummies Gas Drops, Tylenol, Motrin, nose snucker, Huggies washables (washclothes that are presoaped...you just add water), etc.)

If all of that is over the top, why not head to your local bookstore and pick up a couple of books like Robert Munsch's "Love You Forever" or Jamie Curtis's "Tell Me Again About the Day I was Born" or something else on being adopted. You can sign the inside cover so they will remember why the book was given to them and maybe they'll make it a keepsake too.

Hi S.-
We have an adopted son also. Anything you would normally get for a biological child works - clothes, blankets, etc. Little memory picture books or scrapbooks are also super! Although how we get them into our families is different, once they're here, it's just like everybody else. I'm sure they are appreciative of your thoughtfulness - please pass along all of our congratulations!

The same thing you would get someone having a baby.

Books are always a great gift. They can be used for a long time and you don't have to worry about sizes. Many times adopted children aren't the average size (our friend adopted an 18 mo old boy and he was wearing 12 mo clothes).

I would think you would treat it just as any couple having a new baby and get them something appropriate for use with the child? I don't know his age, but something they can use with him, or he can use (if he's older?). Perhaps gift certificates to carry out places so they don't have to worry about cooking for awhile while they are all adjusting to their new situtaion? Clothing, age appropriate books...

Hi S.!
I would suggest anything you would have liked to have gotten when you had your children. I have never adopted (we want to one day), but it is just like when a baby is born - their family is growing!
If you are looking for a special momento I would find a figurine (Precious Moments has some beautiful figurines).
You are a good friend for thinking of them durring this new page in thier lives!
God bless!

Anything that is age-wise for the child being adopted. We've had several friends who have adopted and any gift is appreciated. If it is a younger child from a foriegn country, loveys are good. A slightly older child, new clothes or a toy or both. I hope this helps. Good luck and God Bless.

Hi S., One of my cousins adopted 2 kids, a boy and a girl, and we had a baby shower for her like any one getting a new baby. Her kids were like 6 months and one was almost a year (I think) when she adopted them, but friends a family threw a shower and bought toys and clothes that were for the ages of her kids. The one thing we did do was wait until she had the kids before haveing the shower and buying anything. She had had 2 previous adoptions fall through so that would be the only advice I would really have is wait until you know its a done deal. Good luck to your friend!!

How about an endraved picture frame, so they can have a family pic made.

Well I would say anything appropriate for the boys age that they don't already have. although if it is a boy who is older you might just give a gift card.

Good Morning S., what a great friend you are. You didn't say what age the boy is? infant, toddler, or older?
What ever the age, a gift would be age appropriate for the child. Stuffed animal, Books, monster cars etc..
If your meaning the parents a gift card to a nice restaurant, a nice bottle of wine to celebrate this wonderful occasion. A collection of Childrens books they can read to their precious child.
Let your mind wonder you can come up with alot of things.
My brother in law and his wife tried Vas reversal and shots 3 times a day to get preggers for 2 yrs. They adopted two little boys (non siblings) from Russia. Nathan was 11 months, Noah was 7 months. Both are thriving 5 yr olds,most of little Noahs disablitys have vanished(abandanded baby syndrome)He was healthy so he was left in a crib untouched at the orphanage. Nathan was sickly little guy so he was doted on constantly.
We loaded them up with Books and toys, disposable camera's. Journal books etc. So they could record each milestone in their adoption. They do have baby books for adopted children.

God Bless you S., give your friends a Big HUG from us.
K. Nana of 5

How old is he? Clothes would always be good. Some people have showers for adoption.

If the little boy is an infant, I would handle it exactly as I would with any other birth. If the child is older then think of something age appropriate, there are some wonderful books out there that are written specifically for children of adoption, that might be a great choice no matter what the age of the child.
If you want to get something for the new parents, just do what you would do for them for any other joyous occasion. Think of what their interests are and let that guide you or think of something they are going to need now that they have a child that they didnt need before.