Are you looking at a domestic infant adoption, but are somewhat overwhelmed at the possibility of finally becoming a reality? Choosing adoption to build your family is a magnificent act of love. It will, however, need a lot of preparations on your end.

Here are some simple ways to help you prepare yourself and your home for your baby’s arrival:
– Find support in your area. Sometimes, family and friends may not be your best source of moral support in your decision to adopt, particularly if they are not on the same page as you with regards to adoption. You can look for a support group composed of parents who chose to adopt in your city. This support group can be an excellent resource as these parents give you practical insights about their experiences with regards to working with adoption agencies (such as A Act of Love Adoptions), preparing for the home visit, caring for the baby and more. You can also get your full dose of encouragement as you see these parents love and raise their children in a caring environment. To find a support group, you can look at newspaper advertisements, social networking sites and search websites for such groups in your area.
– Attend parenting seminars, especially those dealing with babies. If this is your first time as a parent, you need to be prepared as you take on the vital responsibility of caring for a baby – knowing how to bathe, change and feed him, performing critical emergency measures such as CPR or what to do when your baby gets sick. You can find parenting classes at community centers or local hospitals. If you opted to work with an adoption agency such as A Act of Love Adoption, you can inquire about any available workshops.
– Get your baby’s medical history. Be sure to ask for your child’s medical information, especially the birthparents’ medical histories so that you can be put on alert about possible allergies or to take preventive measures towards certain types of chronic illnesses that may run in the family such as diabetes.
– Check to see if your baby is included in your health insurance cover. If you don’t have insurance coverage, now is the best time to get covered, so that your baby’s healthcare needs are covered. If you already have coverage, you may need to enroll your baby within 30 days of placement to ensure that he is included in the coverage.
– Educate yourself about your baby’s cultural heritage. If you are adopting transculturally, now’s the time to saturate yourself with knowledge of his culture – its traditions, distinction from other cultures, special days and history. You can celebrate and appreciate your child’s cultural heritage together through his growing up years. You should also know about any medical needs your baby may have, such as any remaining vaccinations.
– Prepare the nursery. Once you have legally confirmed the adoption, you can start with the cleanup of the room designated for the nursery and its decorations. Buy furniture and décor with your baby’s needs in mind. Your local baby needs store can help you get the basics. Ask about the safety of any adornments for baby’s room. For instance, teddy bears may look cute inside your baby’s crib but its sewed on plastic eyes or nose can pose a choking hazard.
– Prepare other family members. If you have friends and loved ones, now is a good time to teach them about the right way to deal with your family situation. Educate them about appropriate adoption language that they will use as your child grows up. One of the best gifts you can give your child is to provide him with a loving environment, which includes your loved ones and friends. If you have pets, make sure that your baby is safe from their curious investigations.
– Make a plan about how you will get in touch with the birthparents. If you are opting for a semi-open or open adoption, agree with the birthparents as to how and how often you will communicate, if you haven’t done this already.
– Schedule some time off and consider alternatives for child care. Get some time off to bond with your baby. Check on how many days of leave you are eligible for due to your adoption of a child. You should also think about child care, if both parents are planning to work outside the home.