[2boysmom]

If all goes well we should be called next week to go to Arizona from NJ to adopt our baby girl. Has anyone from NJ adopted from AZ? How long were you there? Any advice? Thanks for your help.

[tobeafamily]

I can't help you with the NJ-AZ specifics, though here are a few general tips for traveling interstate to adopt:

1. Research extended stay/business stay hotels and short-term corporate apartments. Rates are competitive and it's nice to have a kitchen. When you get there, mention it's an adoption - the manager gave us the weekly rate at Extended Stay America even though we couldn't 'guarantee' the rate and we got extra housekeeping (I think because the staff loved to see him).

2. Plan on spending 14 days waiting for ICPC, may be longer, may be shorter but it's not predictible.

3. Bring only your carseat, 8-10 onesies, a few soft blankets and a few bottles. Buy everything else - diapers, baby wash, ointment, etc. when you arrive. It's easier that way. Don't bother with toys, newborns do not care about them.

4. Check with the airlines you'll most likely be flying to find out:

1. Do they offer discounted rates for adoptions?
2. What's their minimum age to fly requirement? This varies and is unevenly enforced so be careful. FAA requires physician cert if the baby is less than 14 days old when you fly.

HTH, best of luck.

Regina

[nycfsa]

We live in NJ and adopted from Arizona in 2003. Our son was born on a Monday evening, birthmother signed the papers on Thursday, went to court the following Wednesday, and we came home on Thursday, so we were there about 10 days.

We stayed at an Extended Stay America hotel. It was OK, but I wished we had a place with a separate bedroom, like some of the other suite-hotel chains. That would have been more expensive, though, and the place we stayed was just down the street from the hospital so it was really the best choice.

We had to take our son to a pediatrician in AZ for a check-up a couple of days after he was released from the hospital. The hospital told us where to take him, but we had to pay cash since it wasn't our regular doctor.

I'd be glad to give you more info about our experience if you PM me.

Mary Elizabeth

[2boysmom]

Thanks for the information. We will be staying in a two bedroom suite at an extended stay Mariott. We will travelling with our 3 year old son, and know we need that extra room. I've been planning on 10 days, hopefully it will go faster.... Thanks again.