[Jenn33199]

She has not received her referral yet, but anticipates it sometime this spring! Any suggestions about particularly useful items she might need- either on the trip or afterwards? Thanks!!!!!!!

[dvona]

As the children adopted from China are a little older, my friend found it useful to have a backpack style baby carrier, it has lightweight aluminum framing for more support for the child. It is a great hands-free way to carry the little one around. A bigger gift that she would like (if she doesn't already have one) would be a camcorder to record her trip and as much of the child's history as possible.

What a great friend you are!

Donna

[Sandyy]

I had several showers when my daughter came home. One of my favorite things was a turtle sandbox. We also got a wagon that was great. Some toys for younger babies are good also since sometimes our children missed getting to play with toys when they were younger.

[MelN]

I am in the process of adopting no 2 from China. My daughter is now 4 1/2. My shower was great! It probably is a good idea to wait for the referral, however, because you will get information about the size of the baby (for clothes, especially).

Things I needed (and really didn't):

Umbrella stroller (big one too much of a hassle when traveling)
Boiling Pot (must have for disinfecting everything)
Little toys and Books (my daughter had nothing when she arrived)
Lots of warm clothes and sleepers (depending upon time of year/the Chinese people dress their babies with A LOT of clothing and will look disapprovingly of you if your baby's skin is showing)
Cheerios: if you can bring them with (they saved my life at times)
Blankets, Little pillows, Even sheets
**BLOW UP BATHTUB!!** It was so nice to fill it up in the hotel rooms,you can pack it easily and my daughter was very scared of the hotel room baths.
Also, a medical kit would be a great gift.

I didn't really used my "Snuggly" She was too big.

Good luck. And congrats to your friend.

[Jenn33199]

I definitely will make note of them all! The blow up bathtub was a really great idea!

[banfam]

How great of you to throw your friend a shower!

Many people still don't acknowledge adoptions as they due the birth of bio children...how sad.

Parents of adopted kids are just as excited and anxious for the the arrival of their children.

I found a book that would be a great gift for families adopting from China...I love you like crazy cakes ....is the title. I bought for my son, he doesn't fit the profile the babies in the book ( Chinese and female) . It is also available in board book...great for little ones!

[Jenn33199]

bookcloseouts.com- and it does look great!!! I have a book tucked away for her already- a friend of mine found a site online about adoption- where 50 percent of sale proceeds from books went to fund an operation for a little girl (who is an orphan) needing a heart operation in China.

Adoptions deserve every single bit of attention that a birth would have. An adoption into the family IS the birth of a new family- and that child AND family should be celebrated.

I hope to adopt internationally someday- I have 3 biological children at the moment, but dont' feel that my family will be complete until I *find* my little one overseas.