How to Choose an Adoption Gift

You want to celebrate your friend or loved one’s adoption by giving a gift, but don’t quite know what to choose. When the timeframe for the adoption is unknown or the child is older than the typical infant, it can be hard to know what to choose. However, there are a number of great options for adoption gifts that are sure to please.

Instructions

1. Consider the adoption that is taking place. Will it be an infant, toddler or older child adoption? Is the adoption already in process or are the expectant parents waiting to be chosen by a birth mother or to receive a referral from an agency? These answers are important to know before choosing a gift.

2. Think about the different items that the new parents may need for the child. Some things like diapers or gift cards are timeless and needed by most parents. Other items, such as a stroller shouldn’t be duplicated, so be sure to ask what the parents still need.

3. Go to the store or get online to look at your options. Think about gifts that are practical and those that are more sentimental. Decide what the parents and their new child would find useful or what they would enjoy. Keepsakes are always a good gift idea, especially for an adoption gift. However, many new parents are grateful for more practical gifts as well. Just determine the needs of the new family and make the choice.

4. Keep in mind the many nice adoption-related items that are now available in many stores and also online. You can find clothing with cute adoption sayings, adoption baby books, parenting books related specifically to adoption, different types of art and even music CDs with an adoption theme.

5. Decide when to give your gift. Some people want to wait until the child is home to give a gift, while others give the gift while the parents are still waiting. Both options are appropriate, so simply select the timing that seems right to you.