Parents who bring home newborns need lots of support. Taking care of an infant can be daunting, especially for first-time parents who aren’t sure what to expect. When you adopt a newborn through Friends in Adoption, you’ll have access to caring and knowledgeable professionals who will walk beside you throughout the adoption process. They happily answer your questions and address your concerns once you’ve brought your baby home.
The Basics of What to Know About Adopting
Where to start!? You’re probably thrilled and a bit overwhelmed to be bringing your new baby home. Maybe you’ve read every child-rearing book you could find. Maybe you’ve been inundated with “helpful” advice from family and friends. Take a deep breath and know that confidence, love, and compassion will see you through.
That said, here are some essentials we think you need to know if you’ve adopted an infant.
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed and unprepared
Choosing to adopt is life-changing and so is bringing home an infant. It’s completely normal and expected for adoptive parents to feel nervous, uncertain, and overwhelmed. You may worry you won’t know how to care for your baby or that you’ll make mistakes. All new parents struggle with these fears.
Use the time prior to bringing your child home to prepare as much as you can. All prospective adoptive parents interested in adoption through us participate in a Get Acquainted Workshop (GAW). Attending a GAW is a great learning opportunity that gives prospective adoptive parents the chance to meet with adoption professionals and families who have adopted.
Talking to other adoptive parents and our counselors can go a long way toward helping you feel more confident about what to expect throughout the adoption process, including what it will be like to bring home an infant. But know that no parent ever feels entirely ready to bring home a newborn, and that’s okay!
You have expert, lifelong support
When you find yourself going down a rabbit hole of worries about what becoming a parent will be like, remember that by selecting us to facilitate your adoption journey, you’ll have access to resources and support throughout your and your child’s lifetimes. When you decide to pursue adoption with us, you’ll be assigned a case manager who will work with you throughout all stages of the process.
You’re going to fall in love with your baby
For prospective parents looking to start or grow their families through adoption, waiting for a newborn to arrive can be an exciting time. It may also be anxiety-provoking for some, knowing that you’re on the brink of a major shift in how you live your daily life.
Some waiting parents are concerned about how they’ll feel when they meet their baby for the first time. Babies do change things, but plenty of seasoned parents and our own alumni will readily share about the nearly immediate positive impact their children have had on their lives.
Many of our alumni families describe how they felt instantaneous affection upon meeting their new baby. According to one adoptive father of a toddler, “Fear is understandable, but it’s not gonna happen that way. You’re gonna fall in love immediately.”
There’s much that can be said about the wide range of emotions and experiences new parents go through. However we think another alumni parent beautifully captured how it felt to bring home her newborn in just one word: “Finally.”
Help adopting a child
The process of adopting a child is complex. Having a compassionate, experienced professional on your side helps you through the complexity and means you’re better prepared.
Friends in Adoption is a licensed, non-profit newborn adoption agency. We partner with you and make sure you know what you need to know about adopting a child. Our Get Acquainted Workshops get you started. Your assigned case manager will walk you through the adoption process. Our lifelong support means your partner is always there for you.