How to Prepare Your Home for an Adopted Child

Adopting a child is an exciting moment. If you are looking to grow your family through adoption, you may be wondering how to prepare. The wait for your baby can feel endless, and time can crawl while you are anticipating a bundle of joy. There are things you can do while you wait to prepare home for an adopted child.

From babyproofing to designing your dream nursery, there are plenty of tasks to complete to prepare for adopting a child. Read this short guide, as we share tips for getting your home and family ready for the baby’s big arrival.

Safety Measures

Whether you expect your first child or have older children in the house, you may need babyproofing. Babyproofing helps create a safe environment for a growing child, particularly once the child becomes mobile. Even when a baby can sit up, roll, and crawl, they can start reaching for items that can quickly become hazardous to their little bodies.

Here is a checklist of common items to babyproof:

• Install locks on lower cabinet doors and drawers
• Remove furniture that has sharp corners or glass surfaces
• Move glass or fragile items into cupboards or onto high shelves
• Anchor furniture to walls, especially dressers, desks and entertainment centers
• Cover electrical outlets with plug covers
• Ensure fire and carbon monoxide detectors are on each floor of the home
• Attach screens to fireplaces
• Install gates at the top of any staircases

Setting Up Baby’s Nursery

In addition to childproofing your home, you may want to start setting up a space for a baby. If you are adopting a newborn, they will likely sleep in your bedroom for the first year of life. It can be helpful to have the nursery prepared before the baby’s arrival, primarily for having a space to change diapers and clothes, soothe for naps, and even enjoy sweet snuggles. If this is your first baby, or the first in a long time, you may choose to have a baby shower. This can happen before or after a baby’s birth. Some parents prefer to wait until after the adoption is complete to use the event as a shower and introduction to relatives all in one day.

Here are some items to either purchase or register for before welcoming your baby:

• Diapers
• Wipes
• Diaper Genie
• Onesies
• Burp cloths
• Bibs
• Swaddle blankets
• Pacifiers
• Crib, crib mattress and fitted sheets
• Dresser for baby clothes
• Changing table
• Rocking chair
• Stroller and/or baby carrier
• Bottles
• Formula
• Baby bath
• Baby soap and other bathtime accessories
• Highchair
• Bouncy chair or baby swing
• Baby hats and outfits
• Car seat*

*Bonus tip: You can bring your car to your local police station for either an inspection of the car seat or installation or complete installation. This service is free. Just call your local police department before you drop by.

Connect With an Adoption Professional

Emotionally Preparing the Family

In addition to the physical preparation for the baby, it is important to prepare emotionally. If you have other children, you will want to start discussing the upcoming adoption with them. Have open, honest, and age-appropriate conversations about adoption. While a new sibling can be exciting, it can also bring many other emotions. It can spark jealousy, frustration, and a feeling of overwhelm. Children should be allowed – and encouraged – to ask questions to help understand the adoption process. This can be a wonderful teaching moment for any family, as a child with an adopted sibling can learn, first-hand, that a family is made from love, not DNA.

Families can benefit from the many adoption books that are out there. Take your child(ren) to your local library to read up on adoption. There are many picture books about adoption and self-help books for adults preparing a family for the journey.

The grown-ups in the house can also begin to prepare emotionally and mentally for the child’s arrival. If this is your first child, take the time to acknowledge this momentous change. Your life will be changing forever. Soon, you will be living for a baby that relies on you and depends on you for their care. Gone are the days of sleeping in and jetting out the door for a date night at a moment’s notice. Your child-free vacations may be put on hold for a bit. Taking the time to appreciate your life, as it is now, while anticipating the changes ahead is important for your mental health.

If this is your second (or third, fourth or fifth) child, take the time to cherish your child(ren) at home now. The family dynamic is changing – for the better! – but it is time to recognize the shift. You are on the brink of an adventure. Allow yourself the freedom to get excited while honoring the life you have built thus far.

Many adoption agencies, such as Adoptions With Love, offer parenting courses. This can help a prospective adoptive parent or couple prepare for the next steps of the adoption process.

Learn More about Adoption

If you are ready to grow your family through adoption, contact Adoptions With Love today. We can help you find your forever child and build a family that fills your heart with love. Call 800-722-7731 or reach out online for information. We can help you get the adoption process started and walk you through the entire journey, every step of the way.