Babies & Toddler Information

The addition of a new child to a family is a wonderous occasion! An adopted baby is just as much a miracle as any other and should be celebrated as such.

And all babies need "stuff", even an adopted child, so having an adoption baby shower for this child is not only acceptable, but necessary.

There are some differences you should consider when attempting to plan this a baby shower for adoption. You will need to know the age of the adopted child first of all. Some couples may have adopted a baby, butothers may have adopted a toddler or older child.

You will also want to find out if the family wants to celebrate the baby shower for adoption before or after the baby/child is adopted.

For infants, the basic necessities, such as diapers, clothing, feeding items, and nursery décor are appropriate for adoption baby showers. The parents-to-be of an adopted baby/child should register for baby shower gifts just the same as any other parents.

Though it is rare, some adoptive mothers are able to breastfeed their infants, so you should take care to find out what this mom-to-be will be doing. If she will be bottle feeding the baby, gifts of baby formula will be helpful, though you may want to wait to find out what type of formula she will be using, since there are so many.

Some families choose to acknowledge the adopted baby's birth mother in some way. In some cases, they have formed a close bond with the birth mother and may choose to include her in the adoption baby shower festivities.

Or they may want to give the birth mother a gift. Discuss with the parents (tactfully, since it is a delicate subject) if this is their wish. Then consider asking guests to bring a gift to the adoption baby shower for the birth mother.

Because this baby is adopted and the mom-to-be is not pregnant, stay away from any maternity-type games at the adoption baby shower, like "how big is Mom's tummy" or any other such games. You can however, play games to guess the baby's sex or birth date (if they have not yet been born) for adoption baby showers.

It is important to know the age of the child being adopted in order to know what types of baby shower gifts to purchase. Buying rattles and baby booties for a 3 year-old is not helpful to Mom and Dad!

Parents can still register for an older child at any retailer that has a baby registry for the baby shower. Make sure you have an idea of not only the child's age, but also what size clothing they wear.

For families adopting an older child, a fun idea is to have a "welcome" party for the child after he or she comes home. Find out the child's sex, age and what toys or types of entertainment they like.

You can have a sort of birthday party for the new addition incorporating a theme that they will enjoy, for example, Winnie the Pooh or The Wiggles. This is also a great way for everyone to meet the child and allow them to instantly feel like part of the family.

If you are having a baby shower after the adopted child is brought home, pay careful consideration to the family's needs. Adopting a child is a unique experience and can be a difficult adjustment,especially with an older child. Discuss with the parents when they would like to have this baby shower for adoption, as they may want a few weeks to settle in with the new little one.