Gift ideas for a new family

[CillaBlackFanOnIce]

Some dear friends of ours are about to adopt two children and we would like to give them something as a celebration/marking of the occasion. I don't know anyone who has adopted before and really don't want to overstep any mark. I had thought about a sort of family tree picture with all their names but wanted to run it past those in the know. I don't want to get this wrong!
So, what would be a good present? Or is it best not to give anything at all and play the whole thing down?
TIA

[Ted27]

that sounds like a lovely idea. its a huge moment in your life life, its nice to have it acknowledged, just as you would a new baby

[Jellycatspyjamas]

Things that were really lovely included a framed picture with all our names and the date the DC came home, flowers (my sister sent flowers because “every new mum should get flowers), name plates for their bedroom/bedroom doors and cards - like any new addition. My workplace gave us a family photo shoot which we used about 4 months in - those pictures are so precious to us now, long enough for the kids to look less frightened but still a new family.

[Jellycatspyjamas]

Oh, and whatever you do don’t play the whole thing down - it’s a huge moment in your friends life and I massively appreciated people making a bit of a fuss. When you adopt you don’t have the pregnancy, birth, new baby celebrations the process is so stressful and anxiety raising - it was lovely for folk to find ways to acknowledge our news and welcome our children.

[EightWellies]

Maybe a helium congratulations balloon, a nice card and vouchers? We waited so patiently to get to choose things for our children because we kept as much continuity as we could in the early days. I admit I was a bit gutted when people bought us outfits because I desperately wanted to claim them and put them in things we'd chosen.

[CillaBlackFanOnIce]

Thank you all. I have a friend who makes framed pictures with family names and the date of when the family was established so that is now our first plan. I think vouchers sounds good too as I can completely understand the desire of the parents to choose things themselves.
Thanks again I'm so excited for our friends 😊

[sirlee66]

I have birth 5 weeks ago so different circumstances but the best gift I received was a big box of chocolates!!!

[islurpmyspaghetti]

Best present we got was annual membership to a local attraction. It gave us something to do in the early days. The framed family pictures came later... once we were more established as a family unit.

[sassygromit]

Champagne for parents and a large box of really nice biscuits for everyone.

[CillaBlackFanOnIce]

I love that idea islurp!