Adoption Baby Shower How-To: Hosting Dos and Don’ts
Adoption Baby Shower How-To: Hosting Dos and Don’ts. Because adoption is often a long awaited celebration, each journey a special and unique story with different considerations than the typical baby shower.
There’s been a hole in our Baby Stationery Shop.
Today we’d like to fix that void.
There’s no excuse for the hole, besides the big glaring fact I have no personal insight on the experience of adoption.
So we researched and asked questions of the people who do know and have experience.
And are experiencing it right now for the first time.
Here’s where I want to say I am in awe of adoptive parents: your love, your commitment, your heroism is above and beyond.
Adoption is so much more involving, on so many levels, than natural birth.
Reading about it inspires me, and makes me wish for things I never had.
But this isn’t a post about adoption.
It’s a post to honor the adoptive parents and host a baby shower for them.
Let’s talk about a few things that might be a little different for this type of shower.
An Adoption Baby Shower How-To
Our Baby Shower Planners are simple, yet thorough.
And when you read these adoption baby shower ideas, you’ll realize the planner doesn’t need changing.
Rather, there’s just some small details and considerations to keep in mind.
1. Let the parents pick the baby shower date.
Do they want the shower before the baby’s birth, like most baby showers, or do they prefer to wait until after the revocation period? They may not be comfortable having a baby shower before they know the baby is theirs to keep.
Never put on a surprise baby shower for adoptive parents.
2. Include details about the child’s age, gender and size on the invitation
Since most baby showers occur before a baby is born, the guests choose any size for any age for shower gifts.
However, for an adoption baby shower, knowing the age is important. No guest wants to give a gift smaller than the current size of the baby or inappropriate for the age level. If the baby is six months old, gifting the family with a newborn car-seat would be embarrassing.
Another thing to keep in mind is the expense of adoption. Perhaps the parents would like a cash shower to help with their ever-growing list of costs.
3. Be considerate of the theme of the baby shower.
This is probably a no-brainer, but avoid any pregnancy-related ideas in the theme of the party. The decision to adopt included a journey for the parents, and that journey may have been difficult.
Base the theme on generic baby decorations, or,
our favorite idea for any shower,
on the mom-to-be’s favorite kid storybook. Like our Mr. McGregor’s Garden theme. You know, we do really love it!
4. Avoid intrusive questions about the adoption journey.
Adopting is a personal journey, different for every family. Just because you know and love the family does not entitle you to ask exhaustive details about their story. If and when the adoptive parents are ready to share, they will. And they will share the details they want the public to know.
The baby shower is not a chance for a big reveal of their journey.
Focus on the baby and the family’s happiness.
5. No horror stories allowed.
Everyone knows about or has heard sad stories about adoption. They may be true, but are often distorted in the telling.
So here again, be sensitive. No horror stories allowed at a baby shower, and definitely not an adoption baby shower.
There are no guarantees with any child, biological or adopted. Don’t indulge in what ifs.
Enjoy the beauty of this story, this baby, this family’s happiness.
6. Pamper the new mom.
Adoption facts are irrelevant. The adoptive mom-to-be is no less excited, and may perhaps be more excited, that any new mom.
Fuss over her, make her comfortable, shower her with love.
She is the guest of honor and deserves her moment in the limelight.
Adoption is a time to celebrate.
Bring on the fun and excitement…
And pin this post to your Baby Shower Board.
(And follow our Pinterest Baby Shower Board.)
