Waiting to Adopt? How to Prepare Your Home for a Baby in the Meantime!

Preparing to adopt a child is an exciting step. You are growing your family and finally realizing your dream of becoming parents. However, as with any expectant period, adopting a child can come with a bit of a wait. As you wait to match with a birth mother and baby, try putting your eagerness to action. Start preparing your home! Your home is as ready for baby as you are for all that life with baby brings.  This preparation may help you as you wait.

Just what are the steps to preparing your home for a baby? Read on, as we explore some of the ways you can prepare your home before officially welcoming your child home.

The first big part of the adoption process is the Home Study. If you have not gone through this process already, know that it entails multiple home visits and in-person interviews. Once you have filled out an adoption application, a social worker will contact you to schedule the Home Study.

The Home Study allows your adoption agency to get to know you. It also gives you a chance to get to know your adoption agency. At Adoptions With Love, it is a time to learn about how our program works. It will also ensure that your future child is placed in a safe, stable, and loving home. This is the time to make sure your home is organized and safe, and that your family is equipped to bring a child home.

It is also a great time to start baby-proofing your home. You may want to invest in some plug covers, drawer locks, and baby gates. Move your cleaning supplies to a high cupboard, and check that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. You can also start to think about other safety elements in your home. The glass coffee table in your living room may look chic, but it may pose a threat to a newly-mobile toddler. Your “Mad Men”-style bar may be great for entertaining guests, but it may become a hazard with a curious kid who loves to climb. Baby-proofing will be the next step to prepare your home for baby. Not only for the Home Study process, but for those final months of waiting.

If you are a first-time parent, you may be thinking about what else you need in your home to care for a baby. Many first timers can get caught up in all of the gadgets and baby gear, but the truth is, baby only needs a few basic items to survive and thrive: food, clothing, warmth and comfort. Of course, there are many items that can help make your life easier You will  want to invest in a car seat, bassinet, crib, baby bathtub, highchair, and stroller.

If this is your first child, you may want to consider registering for some key baby items. The costs of car seats, baby swings, and highchairs can be expensive. . Your friends and family will certainly want to celebrate this new addition and shower you with the necessities. You might as well give them a clear idea of the items that will help you the most by creating a registry.

Many new parents today are choosing to have their baby showers after the baby is born and placed in your home. The benefit to having this type of shower is that it gives relatives, friends, and coworkers a chance to meet the baby while showering you, while you – the tired, new parent – can get all of your baby visits done in one shot. It is also beneficial for adoptive parents because it relieves the pressure before baby is born. Oftentimes, for prospective adoptive parents, there is a higher level of uncertainty. There is always an element of “what if” when it comes to the birth of a baby, but prospective adoptive parents tend to hold their breath a bit more until the adoption itself has occurred. If you wait until the adoption has occurred and the baby is in your custody, you can celebrate the birth and adoption all in one grand celebration.

No matter when you choose to celebrate baby’s big arrival, an adoption shower can help you prepare your home – and yourself – for your child. Between bibs, burp cloths and binkies, there are so many precious little items to help you along in your new parenting journey.

For even more helpful tips on preparing for adopting your baby, check out our free eBook, Preparing for Adoption: A Guide for Adoptive Parents in Massachusetts, below.