[aspenhall]

Wel, hows that for customer service! Wal Mart got my email and a rep just called me for advice and suggestions that are more specific as to what we would like them to do different. I need all of you help on this one. She will be coming to this forum and reading threads and I told her I would start this one, to give all of us a chance to contribute!!!

To start, I suggested getting ANY adoption related books into the baby aisle, or at least SOMEWHERE in the store.

Help, Help, Help!

[Pblair]

What email? What kind of suggestions are they looking for? More details please
Pat

[aspenhall]

In the thread titled "What to expect when you're adopting"
We discussed our dissatisfaction with retail stores and multiple other threads discuss how adoptive parents feel uncomfortable in baby sections and as my analytical mind merged with my Advertising mind, I realized that the total and absolute lack of adoption related items anywhere in any dept store subliminally supports the irrational fear that "we don't really belong here".
I then suggested we complain officially, and then I emailed them using the feedback section on Wal-Mart's website.

When she called, she said she was under the impression that adoption was hush hush and that it should be treated as a regular bio (pregnancy formed) family.
She wants to know what types of products we prefer/need and also how to change the baby registry to be more accomodating to an adoption situation and anything else we can think of.

[BeckyS]

I wholeheartedly second the suggestion of adoption related books & cards !!!

[lambeausam]

Especially some well-wishing cards for those of us that adopt kids that are no longer in diapers. When I adopted my yongest son, several relatives and friends complained that they were unable to find cards that celebrated the adoption of a child that wasn't an infant.

[Cleopatrick]

I agree with the congrats for older child adoption cards, but also, there are very few cards to be found for ANY adoption. Also, lifebooks and baby books for adopted children are great, my mom found me a baby book for an adopted child for my son but it took her a long time to find it. I would love to see cards for bmoms on the shelves since I, myself, am not very poetic and can't express myself nearly as well as I would like too. So far, I seem to pretty much be listing off things for Hallmark though, not Walmart, lol.

[aspenhall]

Oh, yeah, and keep this thread on top so that she can find it easily....HEre's our chance to make a difference!!! WAHOOO

[AMom2Two]

Cards (announcements, congratulations) Books (For the child and adult) and Journals (Birthparents and Adoptive Parents)

[amom4life]

Cards, journals, and books for adults and children are at the top of my list!

[taggrr2]

Announcements would really help. I found one with our first adoption and it said, "She wasn't expected, she was selected". Well, that's not the way it works anymore but it was the best of the very few choices.

Books, books, books. There's got to be a top 5 or 10 most sought adoption books w/o having to go to amazon or tapestrybooks.

I was also trying to select an appropriate gift for a birthmother. I ended up making a cross stitch but it doesn't really say what I would like it to say and again, had no alternative.

To Wal-Mart: Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for interest. Adoption is definitely not hush-hush anymore. It is joyously celebrated. Particularly with the increased number of interracial adoptions, openness is absolutely necessary.

[Linny]

I'll second the announcements too.......and let's add MAGAZINES that talk about adoption too! Let's add adoption magazines that speak to those of us who have adopted transracially.
I read about a magazine called, 'Raising black and bi-racial children'. I don't know if it's still out there........but it would be helpful to many of us to be 'on top' of the latest info about hair, skin, etc.
Concerning books.......I just saw a review on a book called, 'Brown Skin' (I hope I have the title correctly.) This one speaks to women/men/children about skin, hair care, etc.

Finally, books that explain adoption (I suppose someone's already suggested this).......other than the 'gee, we went and picked you out'. stuff.

And.....carry ornaments/figurines, etc., that could be used to commemorate the adoption day. People have special 'things' for birthdays........how 'bout stuff for adoption days. (And please, NOT (emphasis only, folks) just something from Precious Moments! ....sigh.......We're Christians.....but I'm weary of them!)

Sincerely,

Linny

[wanttobeparents]

What would have helped me the most when I was adopting the first time would have been a baby registry that I could sign up for without putting a due date. Or at least having a due date a year or two in the future. I loved looking at the baby things and had a list of what we needed, but all the registries required a due date of less than 9 months. We had 7 days notice that our baby was on the way and the last thing I needed was to take a leisurely stroll around a baby department to make a baby registry. I would have loved doing it 6 months before.

If an adoption falls through, it is also nice to be able to delete the registry easily. I also like being able to update it online so I don't need to leave my baby or get in the car and make a trip to do it in person.

Easy return policy in case of an adoption falling through or in the case of 50 0-3 month items. I couldn't use any of my son's 3 month items since he was in a hip brace and could only wear t-shirts, but boy, I could have used twice as many 9 month clothes after he got the brace off and grew like a weed.

Peggy

[kmalay]

I second all these suggestions and really stress the adoption annuncements, cards and gift registry. Please make the registry usuable for those adopting older children as well. I just went through participating in giving a shower for someone who adopted two boys over the age of 8 and it was tough because many registries not being appropriate.

Walmart I to would like to say thank you. The more help we can get the better. Any education you would like to do would be great too. I know the store near me does special events and such to help different causes it would be wonderful to see something sponsered by you on adoption to make people aware of it more.

[jleasterday]

I would like to see adoptiion magazines. I have went into many different stores and bookstores trying to find Adoptive Families magazines and could never find them ( I finally ordered them online). Also, I would like to see adoption books for adults and children and definitely cards and announcements! I am from Indiana and Wal-mart is where I always go for everything!

Thanks,
Jennifer

[ladyjubilee]

I'd like to see "child" shower gift packs.