I am about to adopt a little girl from Guatamala, any hints on helping her, a 6 month, old adjust?

Question

I am about to adopt a little girl from Guatamala, any hints on helping her, a 6 month, old adjust?

Answer 1

Love her. At that age you're not going to be worried about a language barrier. Just love her, and take good care of her. She will adjust.

Answer 2

she's only 6 months.  just treat her the way you'd treat any 6 month old, expect a little time for her to get to know you where she may be confused, grouchy, unresponsive, she'll need to bond with you like any baby, and then you'll be fine!

Answer 3

Great question and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

I adopted my daughter at age 9 months from India. While love, consistent care, and gentleness with her anxiety/grief are all important, I found there are a couple of practical things you can do as well. Keep in mind that for a lot of babies, stranger anxiety starts to kick in around 6 months, so it's likely to be a tough time for her as she leaves her home environment and caregivers.

If you can, ask the foster mother/orphanage caregiver to give you her baby blanket or a toy she sleeps with. No matter how dusty or dirty, don't wash it - but let her sleep with it, cuddle with it, and snuggle with you holding on to it. It is helpful to have a transition object like a blanket or favorite toy to ease the separation from all things familiar to her.

Try to get her feeding schedule from the caregiver, as well as the foods they were feeding her -- and maintain this schedule with her for a couple of weeks. Even if you long to get her off of that cow's milk and onto the healthier baby formula, just keep her on the feed schedule/menu that she is used to. Wean her off her old foods slowly while transitioning her onto "American" foods and liquids.

If her caregivers spoke Spanish or sang to her in Spanish, it would be helpful if you could do the same, even a little bit. Regardless, as she grows older, it is a wonderful gift to a child to know her family has incorporated her birth culture into their own lives.

If you can stay in Guatemala for a week or so, it would be helpful for her to not have to travel immediately -- but I know that right now travel in Guatemala is tenuous. As are Guatemalan adoptions. Be careful of yourself most of all!

Would love to hear how you're doing once you are home with your little one!

Answer 4

Being that she is so young it shouldn't be too hard. The best thing you can do is provide a stable place for her. Show her any way necessary that you are there and will always be there. Luckily for you and her she is at an age that the only thing she will remember as an older child and adult is your family. It will help, though, to find out what kind of formulas she has been getting and keep her on the same to avoid any allergies. Also if there is a way that you can find out what her living quarters and bedding look like now, you could make her room to resemble that. It will make her feel like she isn't far from what she has called home. Also, if you have other children or a lot of family, and she isn't used to being around a lot of people, it might be a good idea to slowly introduce people into her life. Babies can get scared when they are in a big group. Especially if it is many other, older children that are typically loud. All the noise and excitement may make her nervous. Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 5

i think that is amazing. props 4 u. most ppl dont adopt or wont adopt esp from another country. idk what to tell u except to treat her as ur own, and love her. good luck n congrats on ur new baby!!!!

Answer 6

Always remember to be patient..things will be dramatically different here than at her home.

Maybe try to find out her schedule and try to stay as close as you can to it.

Also, just be loving, and nurturing and I'm sure she'll adapt prettyquickly.

Good Luck and congrats!

Answer 7

All a child needs consistence and love. At six month, she should quickly attach to you as her new consistent caretaker and then just surround her with loving people.

Answer 8

you'll treat her as you will any baby. She's young so it wouldn't be long before she'll adapt  to you

Answer 9

Lots of love, hugs and attention. At 6 months old it won't take long, the baby will be comfortable in your home almost immediately. Good luck!

Answer 10

Every child is different so you will need to follow her lead. She might need extra cuddling or extra space. Don't overwhelm her with too many new people so limit the visitors. (This is hard!) Same goes for too many new places, new toys, TV, and so forth. Just let her acclimate at her own pace and congratulations!

Answer 11

Learn a spanish lulabye, buy a spanish storybook, learn spanish(at least little things), and just give her love love love!

Answer 12

A client of ours adopted two (2 year & 9 month) from Guatamala and she has gone just as she would with any other adopted children.  Just do what your would do with a normal baby, love, love, love!

Answer 13

Just love her and, and be there for her , a six month old adjusts very easy,

Answer 14

She is 6 months.She will adjust fine.

Answer 15

I'm glad your adopting, but I don't understand why people from the United States aren't helping their own country.  There are a lot of kids needing to be adopted right now.  

I thought home was where the heart is.  Why not start from home?

Answer 16

I just read an article on the website   soulofadoption.com    It was about bonding with a new adopted baby particularly an international one. They said for the first few months allow only Mommy and Daddy to hold, feed, cuddle,or change the child. You want him/her to get attached to you. No babysitters for first few months either. Because some babies were in orphanages and have no attachment to any one.

Answer 17

We adopted both of our children from Korea, and both came home just before they turned 6 months old.

Promoting attachment is so important for these babies, even at 6 months. One thing we've done that really helped is to "wear" them in a carrier or sling around the house and when we go out. Also try to make good eye-contact when giving the baby a bottle, and playing games like peek-a-boo.

We also were advised not to have any visitors for the first week or two, and to not have anyone hold or care for them (feed bottles, change diapers, etc) for the first 6 weeks.

Both of our boys have adjusted well, it just took a while to get them to sleep on our schedule. Good luck, and congratulations!

Answer 18

That is so cool!  We are getting our son from Guatemala in July. . . he is six months old too!

We have adopted before, and with an infant it's really easy because they are not talking; you don't have to change her diet that much.  Just give her lots of love, she will feel that love and be the happiest little girl ever.

Best wishes!

Answer 19

Because she is so young you shouldn't have too much of a problem.  Guatemala's system can be really painful (emotionally).  My old neighbors adopted their son from there he was officially their's at 4wks old but they didn't get him until he was about 9 months old.

Love her, hug her, let her get to know you and it goes quick.  As long as you are loving, 98% of babies will attach themselves to you because they feel safe.  Good luck hun!

As for Jaimee* adopting in the states costs more and you can lose your child because the bio mother suddenly decides they want the kid back.