What's a thoughtful gift to give a couple who just found out they are adopting?

Question

adopting from ethiopia; not sure if boy or girl yet; process takes about a year; baby will be about 5 months old when adopted

Answer 1

i would send them some flowers or a bottle of champagne and then get the child a gift when they arrive treat it the same as if you just found out she was pragnant.

Answer 2

Hi Alexandra,

Adopting parents need the same items for babies that non-adopting parents do.  Perhaps you could host a baby shower for them.  Places like Toys-R-Us have baby registries so they can register for exactly what they want.

Once the baby is here, the new family will be very busy and stressed while they adjust.  A thoughtful gift might be to make them some casserole style dinners to freeze so they will have some homemade meals they can prepare quickly.  

Do you have any photography skills?  If so, you could offer to do some new family photos for them and later give them to them in a nice frame or photo album.  

If you are really good friends with her, you might offer to help do some shopping, run errands, or do some laundry for her so that she can rest and have some quiet time with the baby.

Hope some of these ideas help.

julie j

reunited adoptee

Answer 3

I know where she can get a really nice t-shirt...Um never-mind :( bad attempt at a joke. Sorry.

How about looking for information on the inter-net about the Ethiopia and put it all together in a scrapbook for the family to share with the child as he/she grows up.

If you are looking for something to give them right now as a congratulations, how about a nice plant and card congratulating them on the new addition to their family.

Answer 4

Since it will be a while before they are matched and a baby comes homes you could get them a pretty diary to record the proses. Hopefully some one will throw them a shower when they are matched and the baby is coming home soon.

The diary can be a place for them to write about the proses, their feelings, anticipation, and dreams for the new baby

Answer 5

How about a scrap book so the parents can make a diary in pictures about the baby growing up or can be used to show where she came from?

Answer 6

There is a guide called "Lifebooks", it is a reference so that AP's can gather information about the child "before" he/she came in to their lives. This has proved to be very helpful with Adoptees when it comes to their insecurities about how they "fit in", or any insecurities/questions they have about themselves.  The smallest tidbit of information that can be gathered can be helpful in the future.

Then, I would maybe put this guide/book in a basket with the true essentials, bibs, diapers, wipes, and or a gift certificate to Target or a Baby Store.

Answer 7

A gift certificate for diapers and basic baby needs.

Answer 8

they have baby book's designed for the first few years that are geared towards adoption.  Basically any gift that you would give a couple who is having a baby would be great

Answer 9

Two gifts I really liked were a handbook on children's medical issues (very handy for a first time parent) and an Ethiopian cookbook along with a set of spices  (Ethiopianspices.com).  

On Ebay, there's a store called Ethiopian Reflections that sells traditional Ethiopian male/female infant & toddler clothing. You might want to look into that once they get their referral.

Answer 10

Hello!  We adopted internationally from Africa (but Liberia, not Ethiopia).  There are many Ethiopia-adoption specific gifts on the web.  

Books containing traditional Ethiopian children's stories might be a good idea.  For the parents, I recommend a couple of transracial adoption books (In Their Own Voices and Inside Transracial Adoption).  I got those as "waiting" gifts.  If the parents are travelling, you can get a book about travel in Africa.  

Another idea would be a journal or scrapbook for the parents to keep all of the memories of the adoption process and those first few years in.  Also, there are adoption "lifebooks" that make excellent gifts.

Congratulations to everyone!

Answer 11

A baby book that is sensitive to adoption.  I think you can buy one on line, or you could buy her some scrapbooking things to make her own.

Most baby books talk about when they found out they were pregnant and such, but they do make keepsake books for adoption!

Answer 12

My standard gift for all new babies is an ear thermometer.  It isn't fun or cute, but very practical.  It is something the parents and child will use for years.  I always include a note saying that I hope they never have to use it.

Answer 13

A parenting book!