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Adoption: The First Few Days

Being a parent is perhaps the most wonderful experience in the world, and yet, it is also the most daunting, difficult, and awe-inspiring task. After all, everything you say and do can impact your child; it’s surreal the power parents actually hold when it comes to influencing their kids’ lives.

For adoptive parents, the challenges of parenthood can be even more challenging since they have not had the experience of preparing for the baby for nine months. Let’s face it, even biological parents are never prepared, but at least they know when they will be having a baby. Sometimes, for parents waiting to adopt, it can be years, or it can be you pick up the phone and the next day, you have a baby!

AIM Adoptions is a non-profit, Christian adoption agency in Houston. We help birth mothers and adoptive parents alike with the sometimes overwhelming process of adoption. For birth mothers, we offer caring support and help with basic needs, such as food, housing, medical care, and transportation. For adoptive parents, we offer them a chance to have a baby that they’ve always dreamed of. Below, we’ll go over some tips for adoptive parents for the first few days with their new bundle of joy. Contact us today to get started!

TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME ADOPTIVE PARENTS

Spend the First Few Days at Home Alone Bonding

As an adoptive parent, you are probably over-the-moon excited that the big day has finally arrived. You want to announce to the world that you are now parents. While this is a splendid idea and something you should most definitely do, AIM Adoptions in Houston recommends that you hold off a week or so before you celebrate with the world.

In the first few days, it’s important that you spend as much time as you can bonding with your baby. You’ll want to clear your to-do list, order in food, and let the house go so you can sit, holding your baby, getting to know each other. It’s hard to say if your baby knows you are not the one who carried them for nine months, but the important thing now is to show your baby your undying devotion and love. And to do that for newborns, it’s all about meeting their daily needs. This includes feedings, sleep, and lots of holding. Holding a newborn makes them feel safe and secure. You want to establish this connection and feeling right off the bat.

This doesn’t mean that your closest friends and family can’t come over and see the baby. But minimize the visits and the visit time. This is the moment you have been waiting for; let it be yours.

Create a Routine

Children (and adults) thrive with routine, and so do babies. In the first few days with your new baby, you’ll want to establish a loose routine. We say “loose” because your baby will take a bit to settle into a normal eating pattern. Still, everyday activities such as baths or walks in the neighborhood, as well as nap time can begin to take place. This lets your newborn internally know that things are secure in their world. That being said, you’ll want to allow your newborn to set the routine, not you. Don’t get so hung up on routine that you disrupt your newborn’s routine. For example, while it is recommended that newborns eat on average about once every three hours, it’s okay if your newborn sleeps for five or six hours at a time without being woken up.

If you are planning on going back to work after the first days or weeks even, you’ll want to begin to establish the day care routine as well. You might want to try a trial run for a day while you are still off for a half day just to see how it goes and what you can do to make the transition smoother. You’ll often discover things you could bring from home that can help, such as a favorite blanket.

Forgive Yourself

You will make mistakes; all parents do. There will be days where you may forget to change your baby’s diaper, and they end up with diaper rash. You may forget your baby’s bottle while out and about, and your baby may have to go longer without a bottle. You may even forget to schedule your baby’s wellness checkup exam until months have gone by. Know that it’s okay. The world is not going to end, and your baby is not going to die. You may be tired on days, and so your baby sleeps longer. Or, you may forget to feed the dogs because you are feeding your baby instead.

Your overarching goal is to raise a child in the Christian faith, knowing and believing in Jesus, teaching them morals and values for the world, and teaching them how to live a God-centered life. You will fail, as everyone does, at times. However, it’s how you parent — what you say and do — that matters most.

Adoption Agencies in Texas - Begin The Process Today

CHOOSE AIMS ADOPTIONS IN HOUSTON

AIMS Adoptions has been helping birth mothers in Texas through the incredibly-hard task of dealing with an unplanned pregnancy for over 30 years. We’ve been helping adoptive parents have the baby they have hoped for for years. We believe that every child has a purpose, and we believe every family is pre-planned, meaning you will have the baby you were meant to have when you are meant to have them. In the meantime, you can reach out to us anytime. We answer our phones 24 hours a day, and in the first few days after you take baby home, you can call us anytime with questions, even if they seem silly to you. We’re here to make your life easier. Contact us today to get started!