If you’re currently waiting for your adopted baby to arrive, we know how exciting this time is! It may be difficult to wait, but there are a lot of things you can and should do to prepare for bringing home your baby. Taking care of these preparations will help make the wait more manageable too. Here are some suggestions.

Get your home ready.

• Purchase and organize the essential items you’ll need for your baby’s first few weeks and months of life. If you’ll be having a baby shower, create your baby registry.
• Read up on the latest car seat safety recommendations, then purchase and install a car seat. If you won’t be taking your car to pick up your baby, be sure to bring a car seat with you on your trip.
• Childproof your home as much as possible while you have the time. Your baby will be mobile before you know it!

Get yourself ready.

• If this is your first baby, do everything you can to learn about caring for a newborn. Read books, utilize online resources, and take a newborn care class at your local park district, community center, or hospital.
• Choose a pediatrician for your baby.
• Take an infant CPR and First Aid class.
• If you work, find out your employer’s policy for family leave and decide how much time you want to take off when your baby arrives. Think about how you want to handle child care after you return to work.
• Have a bag ready for your trip to pick up your baby. Pack everything you can ahead of time. Include a list of everything else you will need to pack when the time comes. That way, you won’t forget anything important, especially if you need to pack in a hurry.
• Choose a name for your baby. If you don’t know your baby’s gender, have one picked for both genders.
• You won’t have much time to prepare meals while caring for a newborn. Purchase non-perishable fixings for quick and easy meals, and prepare meals to store in your freezer that easily reheat.
• Research baby adoption announcements. Have your list of names and addresses prepared for when you are ready to send them out.
• Start an adoption story video or journal for your baby.
• Take advantage of your free time. Do a few of the things you have been meaning or wanting to do.
• Take a short vacation if you can afford it. Don’t go too far away and don’t be gone for too long — your baby might surprise you by arriving early!

Keep in mind that some birthmothers don’t choose an adoptive family until they go into labor or after their baby is born. In that case, you won’t have much time to get all the necessary preparations done before you get your baby. So try to be proactive and do as much preparation as far in advance as possible.