Adoption gifts?

[illbeinthegarden]

My dear friends have been matched and are very near to having children move in. I am so thrilled for them and wanted to get them something special to mark the occasion when they become a family of 4. Is that a thing? If so what's appropriate? Any ideas?

The adoption process has been such a journey, they won't ever get the gifts etc you'd have for a newbie or baby shower so I want to do something special for them. I don't expect to visit for a while anyway so maybe something I could post?

Yes, it is a lovely thing to do.
Difficult to make suggestions without knowing ages and without knowing budget, but a soft toy each or a book or a personalised name thing for their room or their bedroom door maybe?

The cards matter most. Gifts for the kids can be tricky to navigate, but a family gift would be lovely- if your budget would stretch then gift vouchers for a local zoo, or activity or something, that they can use later would be good?

Wine and chocolate. Lots of chocolate. For the parents. If you can, a genuine offer of a non-judgemental ear and support would be good, too.

If nothing else, then a 'new family' or similar card. These children may have been brought home the first time with no cards, no fanfare for their arrival, and this is their chance to have that. The cards really matter.

And you sound a lovely friend!

Our friends threw us an adoption shower/party (how very unmumsnet!), they bought generic things our daughter could wear/use, a crate of lager and a wine subscription for six months. They did also make a little goody bag type thing that had a few personalised things, like lovehearts, chocolate etc that said “Mr and Mr ‘SJT’s adoption shower” so we kept some of those for her memory box for when shes older. They all wrote cards to our daughter rather than us, which was quite nice.

Sometimes softplay memberships are quite reasonable or membership to a local petting farm.

I guess you’d buy things as though its a baby shower but for the appropriate age of the child/ren.

Thank you for the replies some lovely ideas. I like a gift voucher for a day out and something nice for the children each.

I don't really know any of their other friends so can't organise anything in terms of a 'do' but it's a nice idea too!

Im just pleased it's ok to do... I'm so excited my lovely friend and her husband are going to parents.

Oh they are preschool age 😀

A nice book is lovely, or we really liked getting a voucher for Next - our DD came with loads and loads of clothes & toys but has already grown out of most of the clothes so having a voucher is lovely. If looking at a book you could try Nancy Tilman, such as Ive loved you since forever etc, they are lovely.

Definitely a card.
Photo frame / memories box for the parents.
Craft supplies unwrapped for the children (but given to parents) such as paint, paper, stickers.
Or books. Can never have too many books.
Or dressing up outfits.

Skills may be under developed so stick with age ratings or go younger.
Nothing more frustrating for parents and child than your child being given a craft kit or game they can't do.

A personalised Xmas decoration was our favourite ‘the smith family 1st Xmas’

I cried xx

What a lovely idea! When my husband and I adopted our son (4 years ago) and our daughter (2 years ago), we were so touched by the thoughtful gifts our friends and family gave us. It was definitely the though that meant more than the gifts though. When people give birth they are showered with gifts and I remember feeling so relieved that our kids weren't being left out just because we adopted them instead of birthing them.

Our kids were toddlers at the time so we got some age appropriate gifts like a scooter, train set, clothing, cuddly toys, etc. One friend got a special book and stuffed toy that went along with the book. It was also lovely that when we adopted the second time, most people got a gift for our daughter and one for our son becoming a big brother, so he didn't feel left out. That was super sweet!

My work colleagues actually threw me an adoption shower when my son arrived. My son, my husband and family were all invited and they clubbed together to buy lots of gifts. It was so unexpected and kind of them, I was in tears!

Other great adoption gifts are things you can do as a family, as those first few months are focussed on bonding and spending lots of quality time getting to know one another. Gifts like soft play vouchers, zoo pass, pottery sessions, etc, are brilliant gifts. Toys like lego and things to build or craft together are also great.

Our friends got us a voucher for a family photo from Buy A Gift. There was no cost to us (but we chose to buy extra prints when we were there). It had a long expiry date so we did it when we were ready and its something we've put in a frame, we've been able to get it copied for family members, as well as keep a copy in a memory box to mark our little one's significant court date :)