$10 Webinars for National Adoption Awareness Month

DID YOU KNOW?

More than 102,000 children & youth are awaiting adoption.

To help promote National Adoption Awareness Month, each week we'll feature discounted prices on popular webinars and courses.

Check our website every Monday to see what's new, and make sure you're following us on Facebook and Twitter, where we'll share even more deals and resources.

THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL: $10 NUTRITION WEBINARS

THURSDAY, November 6, 7:00 PM CT

For This Week Only, Purchase:

Live Webinar: Healthy Eating Habits & Beyond: Strategies for Mealtime Challenges

FEATURED PRICE: $10 - Buy Now

Recorded Webinar: The Scoop on Nutrition &  the Adopted Child

FEATURED PRICE: $10 - Buy Now

Recorded Webinar: Snack, Play, Love

FEATURED PRICE: $10 - Buy Now

         

Questions?

Email Mandi and Shane >
Co-sponsors

10 Tips on Nutrition to Help Your Child Catch Up and Thrive

The Scoop on Nutrition and The Adopted Child

Tuesday, November 5, 2013
7:00 PM Central Time

After welcoming a child home, adoptive parents often struggle to make up for nutritional deficiencies.  

What You Need to Know to Help Your Child 

Dr. Dana Johnson, renowned international adoption physician, gives parents his top 10 tips to help children catch up and thrive! He will also explain the impact of nutritional deficiencies and how to recognize warning signs.

REGISTER!

An opportunity to learn with SPOON: Upcoming Classes

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview - Live Webinar   

Event Date: Thursday, December 6, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) 

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

When adopting a child who has been identified as having a special need, there is more to consider than just the medical or behavioral diagnosis. One of the basic, foundational issues that must be addressed immediately is the child's feeding and nutrition, which will almost certainly be more of a challange than for a child without an identified need.

The goal of this presentation is to offer parents an overview of the aspects of feeding and nutrition that are unique to children with special needs including those with Sensory Processing Disorder, low muscle tone, cerebral palsy, and cleft lip and palate.

 Learn More & Register...

An opportunity to learn with SPOON: Upcoming Classes

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview - Live Webinar   

Event Date: Thursday, December 6, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) 

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

When adopting a child who has been identified as having a special need, there is more to consider than just the medical or behavioral diagnosis. One of the basic, foundational issues that must be addressed immediately is the child's feeding and nutrition, which will almost certainly be more of a challange than for a child without an identified need.

The goal of this presentation is to offer parents an overview of the aspects of feeding and nutrition that are unique to children with special needs including those with Sensory Processing Disorder, low muscle tone, cerebral palsy, and cleft lip and palate.

 Learn More & Register...

An opportunity to learn with SPOON: Upcoming Classes

Nourish, Nurture, Attach: The feeding relationship and adoption

Nourish, Nurture, Attach: The feeding relationship and adoption - Live Webinar   
Event Date: Thursday, November 8, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) 

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

Even parents with thriving biological children get frazzled when their kids refuse to eat or limit their diet to a few select foods. This frustration is compounded for adoptive parents who have the additional pressure of getting their children nutritionally “caught up.” Unfortunately it is not uncommon for children who are entering a new family through adoption or foster care to have difficulty eating, develop rigid eating patterns, or refuse food all together (a.k.a. food aversion). On the other end of the spectrum, it is also not uncommon for post-adopted children to hoard food in the initial period home.

The goal of this presentation is to provide parents with practical, research-based information on ending the power struggles and restoring a positive feeding relationship that promotes attachment, trust, good nutrition and healthy weight.

Learn More & Register...

 

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview - Live Webinar   

Event Date: Thursday, December 6, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) 

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

When adopting a child who has been identified as having a special need, there is more to consider than just the medical or behavioral diagnosis. One of the basic, foundational issues that must be addressed immediately is the child's feeding and nutrition, which will almost certainly be more of a challange than for a child without an identified need.

The goal of this presentation is to offer parents an overview of the aspects of feeding and nutrition that are unique to children with special needs including those with Sensory Processing Disorder, low muscle tone, cerebral palsy, and cleft lip and palate.

 Learn More & Register...

An opportunity to learn with SPOON: Upcoming Classes

Nourish, Nurture, Attach: The feeding relationship and adoption

Nourish, Nurture, Attach: The feeding relationship and adoption - Live Webinar   
Event Date: Thursday, November 8, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) 

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

Even parents with thriving biological children get frazzled when their kids refuse to eat or limit their diet to a few select foods. This frustration is compounded for adoptive parents who have the additional pressure of getting their children nutritionally “caught up.” Unfortunately it is not uncommon for children who are entering a new family through adoption or foster care to have difficulty eating, develop rigid eating patterns, or refuse food all together (a.k.a. food aversion). On the other end of the spectrum, it is also not uncommon for post-adopted children to hoard food in the initial period home.

The goal of this presentation is to provide parents with practical, research-based information on ending the power struggles and restoring a positive feeding relationship that promotes attachment, trust, good nutrition and healthy weight.

Learn More & Register...

 

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview - Live Webinar   

Event Date: Thursday, December 6, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) 

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

When adopting a child who has been identified as having a special need, there is more to consider than just the medical or behavioral diagnosis. One of the basic, foundational issues that must be addressed immediately is the child's feeding and nutrition, which will almost certainly be more of a challange than for a child without an identified need.

The goal of this presentation is to offer parents an overview of the aspects of feeding and nutrition that are unique to children with special needs including those with Sensory Processing Disorder, low muscle tone, cerebral palsy, and cleft lip and palate.

 Learn More & Register...

An opportunity to learn with SPOON: Upcoming Classes

Nourish, Nurture, Attach: The feeding relationship and adoption

Nourish, Nurture, Attach: The feeding relationship and adoption - Live Webinar   
Event Date: Thursday, November 8, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) 

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

Even parents with thriving biological children get frazzled when their kids refuse to eat or limit their diet to a few select foods. This frustration is compounded for adoptive parents who have the additional pressure of getting their children nutritionally “caught up.” Unfortunately it is not uncommon for children who are entering a new family through adoption or foster care to have difficulty eating, develop rigid eating patterns, or refuse food all together (a.k.a. food aversion). On the other end of the spectrum, it is also not uncommon for post-adopted children to hoard food in the initial period home.

The goal of this presentation is to provide parents with practical, research-based information on ending the power struggles and restoring a positive feeding relationship that promotes attachment, trust, good nutrition and healthy weight.

Learn More & Register...

 

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview - Live Webinar   

Event Date: Thursday, December 6, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) 

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

When adopting a child who has been identified as having a special need, there is more to consider than just the medical or behavioral diagnosis. One of the basic, foundational issues that must be addressed immediately is the child's feeding and nutrition, which will almost certainly be more of a challange than for a child without an identified need.

The goal of this presentation is to offer parents an overview of the aspects of feeding and nutrition that are unique to children with special needs including those with Sensory Processing Disorder, low muscle tone, cerebral palsy, and cleft lip and palate.

 Learn More & Register...

Food Obsession

A common question we receive from parents is what to do about newly adopted children who are obsessed with food. Some kids are extremely stressed around food and may even eat to the point of vomiting. See our "Ask the Expert" section on AN.org for a recent response to this issue.

Read More: http://adoptionnutrition.org/faq/#food_control

Adoption Nutrition

A little over a year ago something really important happened. We walked into a place that would change our lives forever. We met two sweet angels. This is the first time we met Francesca. Francesca was exactly what I expected. A friend of mine had met her when she adopted her little one, so I knew a lot about her.

And little Victoria, who never, ever smiled. The orphanage director described her as having no spirit. When I first saw her, I was stunned. She was totally shut down and showed no emotions. We had to decide within a day if we wanted to adopt her. We could choose to leave her. In my mind, there was a huge risk involved.

Victoria’s eyes haunted me. When we left the orphanage that day, I couldn’t get her eyes out of my mind. We made the decision that we couldn’t leave her. No matter what her abilities would be, she deserved more.

Read more...

An opportunity to learn with SPOON: Upcoming Classes

Feeding the First Year Home

Feeding the First Year Home: How to transition adopted children to the next stages of feeding while transitioning them to the diet of a new culture - Live Webinar   

Event Date: Thursday, October 4, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time)   

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

Feeding children healthy snacks and meals on a daily basis is a challenge for any parent, but transitioning an undernourished child from their traditional diet to yours can seem like a huge undertaking. Parents often feel pressured to get their child nourished ASAP, and attempting to do so only adds stress to an already delicate situation. There are no hard and fast rules to do this right. Feeding guidelines and expert advice on child nutrition is largely based on research and experience with families who have biological children that share a similar culture. You may get lots of advice from well-meaning family, friends, and even health care professionals, but understand there’s little to no research to validate this advice. If possible, develop a relationship with an international adoption health care expert, a sympathetic pediatrician, or a registered dietitian specializing in child nutrition to assist you and your child through this difficult time.

The goal of this presentation is to help parents understand what feeding and nutrition challenges they may experience when their child first enters their home and ways they may be able to address the challenges. Participants will become knowledgeable about:

• transitioning stages (formula, complementary foods, solids) and how they might be different for adopted children
• tips for transitioning to culturally new foods
• implications of post-adoption growth spurt

Learn More & Register...

 

Nourish, Nurture, Attach: The feeding relationship and adoption

Nourish, Nurture, Attach: The feeding relationship and adoption - Live Webinar   
Event Date: Thursday, November 8, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) 

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

Even parents with thriving biological children get frazzled when their kids refuse to eat or limit their diet to a few select foods. This frustration is compounded for adoptive parents who have the additional pressure of getting their children nutritionally “caught up.” Unfortunately it is not uncommon for children who are entering a new family through adoption or foster care to have difficulty eating, develop rigid eating patterns, or refuse food all together (a.k.a. food aversion). On the other end of the spectrum, it is also not uncommon for post-adopted children to hoard food in the initial period home.

The goal of this presentation is to provide parents with practical, research-based information on ending the power struggles and restoring a positive feeding relationship that promotes attachment, trust, good nutrition and healthy weight.

Learn More & Register...

 

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview - Live Webinar   

Event Date: Thursday, December 6, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) 

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

When adopting a child who has been identified as having a special need, there is more to consider than just the medical or behavioral diagnosis. One of the basic, foundational issues that must be addressed immediately is the child's feeding and nutrition, which will almost certainly be more of a challange than for a child without an identified need.

The goal of this presentation is to offer parents an overview of the aspects of feeding and nutrition that are unique to children with special needs including those with Sensory Processing Disorder, low muscle tone, cerebral palsy, and cleft lip and palate.

 Learn More & Register...

An opportunity to learn with SPOON: Upcoming Classes

Feeding the First Year Home

Feeding the First Year Home: How to transition adopted children to the next stages of feeding while transitioning them to the diet of a new culture - Live Webinar   

Event Date: Thursday, October 4, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time)   

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

Feeding children healthy snacks and meals on a daily basis is a challenge for any parent, but transitioning an undernourished child from their traditional diet to yours can seem like a huge undertaking. Parents often feel pressured to get their child nourished ASAP, and attempting to do so only adds stress to an already delicate situation. There are no hard and fast rules to do this right. Feeding guidelines and expert advice on child nutrition is largely based on research and experience with families who have biological children that share a similar culture. You may get lots of advice from well-meaning family, friends, and even health care professionals, but understand there’s little to no research to validate this advice. If possible, develop a relationship with an international adoption health care expert, a sympathetic pediatrician, or a registered dietitian specializing in child nutrition to assist you and your child through this difficult time.

The goal of this presentation is to help parents understand what feeding and nutrition challenges they may experience when their child first enters their home and ways they may be able to address the challenges. Participants will become knowledgeable about:

• transitioning stages (formula, complementary foods, solids) and how they might be different for adopted children
• tips for transitioning to culturally new foods
• implications of post-adoption growth spurt

Learn More & Register...

 

Nourish, Nurture, Attach: The feeding relationship and adoption

Nourish, Nurture, Attach: The feeding relationship and adoption - Live Webinar   
Event Date: Thursday, November 8, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) 

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

Even parents with thriving biological children get frazzled when their kids refuse to eat or limit their diet to a few select foods. This frustration is compounded for adoptive parents who have the additional pressure of getting their children nutritionally “caught up.” Unfortunately it is not uncommon for children who are entering a new family through adoption or foster care to have difficulty eating, develop rigid eating patterns, or refuse food all together (a.k.a. food aversion). On the other end of the spectrum, it is also not uncommon for post-adopted children to hoard food in the initial period home.

The goal of this presentation is to provide parents with practical, research-based information on ending the power struggles and restoring a positive feeding relationship that promotes attachment, trust, good nutrition and healthy weight.

Learn More & Register...

 

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview - Live Webinar   

Event Date: Thursday, December 6, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) 

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

When adopting a child who has been identified as having a special need, there is more to consider than just the medical or behavioral diagnosis. One of the basic, foundational issues that must be addressed immediately is the child's feeding and nutrition, which will almost certainly be more of a challange than for a child without an identified need.

The goal of this presentation is to offer parents an overview of the aspects of feeding and nutrition that are unique to children with special needs including those with Sensory Processing Disorder, low muscle tone, cerebral palsy, and cleft lip and palate.

 Learn More & Register...

An opportunity to learn with SPOON: Upcoming Classes

Nutrition and Institutionalized Children

Event Date: Thursday, September 6, 2012 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm

While foster and adopted children may appear healthy on the outside, they may very well be deficient in key nutrients that could impact future growth and brain development. These deficiencies develop because many vulnerable children do not receive proper nutrition in their early years. The most common culprits include insufficient prenatal nutrition, malnutrition in infancy and post-adoption growth spurts.

 The goal of this presentation is to help parents learn to provide optimal nutrition once their children are home in order to boost their children’s development and overall health. Participants will become knowledgeable about:

• common nutrient deficiencies
• contributing factors to nutrient deficiencies in institutionalized children
• nutrition information specific to different countries
• how nutrient deficiencies can be identified upon adoption

Learn More & Register...

 

Feeding the First Year Home

Feeding the First Year Home: How to transition adopted children to the next stages of feeding while transitioning them to the diet of a new culture - Live Webinar   

Event Date: Thursday, October 4, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time)   

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

Feeding children healthy snacks and meals on a daily basis is a challenge for any parent, but transitioning an undernourished child from their traditional diet to yours can seem like a huge undertaking. Parents often feel pressured to get their child nourished ASAP, and attempting to do so only adds stress to an already delicate situation. There are no hard and fast rules to do this right. Feeding guidelines and expert advice on child nutrition is largely based on research and experience with families who have biological children that share a similar culture. You may get lots of advice from well-meaning family, friends, and even health care professionals, but understand there’s little to no research to validate this advice. If possible, develop a relationship with an international adoption health care expert, a sympathetic pediatrician, or a registered dietitian specializing in child nutrition to assist you and your child through this difficult time.

The goal of this presentation is to help parents understand what feeding and nutrition challenges they may experience when their child first enters their home and ways they may be able to address the challenges. Participants will become knowledgeable about:

• transitioning stages (formula, complementary foods, solids) and how they might be different for adopted children
• tips for transitioning to culturally new foods
• implications of post-adoption growth spurt

Learn More & Register...

 

Nourish, Nurture, Attach: The feeding relationship and adoption

Nourish, Nurture, Attach: The feeding relationship and adoption - Live Webinar   
Event Date: Thursday, November 8, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) 

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

Even parents with thriving biological children get frazzled when their kids refuse to eat or limit their diet to a few select foods. This frustration is compounded for adoptive parents who have the additional pressure of getting their children nutritionally “caught up.” Unfortunately it is not uncommon for children who are entering a new family through adoption or foster care to have difficulty eating, develop rigid eating patterns, or refuse food all together (a.k.a. food aversion). On the other end of the spectrum, it is also not uncommon for post-adopted children to hoard food in the initial period home.

The goal of this presentation is to provide parents with practical, research-based information on ending the power struggles and restoring a positive feeding relationship that promotes attachment, trust, good nutrition and healthy weight.

Learn More & Register...

 

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview

Feeding and Nutrition Considerations for Children with Special Needs: An overview - Live Webinar   

Event Date: Thursday, December 6, 2012 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) 

Intended Audience: Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Professionals   

Fee: $15 per participant; separate registration required for each participant.

When adopting a child who has been identified as having a special need, there is more to consider than just the medical or behavioral diagnosis. One of the basic, foundational issues that must be addressed immediately is the child's feeding and nutrition, which will almost certainly be more of a challange than for a child without an identified need.

The goal of this presentation is to offer parents an overview of the aspects of feeding and nutrition that are unique to children with special needs including those with Sensory Processing Disorder, low muscle tone, cerebral palsy, and cleft lip and palate.

 Learn More & Register...

United Nations World Food Day

This year Joint Council is participating in the United Nations World Food Day on October 16, 2012. As part of our contribution and desire to raise awareness of worldwide hunger and nutrition, Joint Council is designing and distributing placemats, with an international food theme. We would like to personalize the placemats by asking children to describe the food of the country from which they were adopted: anything from food facts, trivia, or even favorite dish of their native country. This will not only raise awareness of international hunger and proper nutrition, but also make the project personal by showcasing some of the adopted children we advocate for.

If you could pass this request along, and send any response with the age and country of the child noted to partners@jointcoucil.org we would greatly appreciate it. We would ask for all response by August 15, 2012.

Also, if you have families who are interested in participating or getting involved, World Food Day is offering a poster contest for children ages 5 to 17. The deadline for the poster is September 30, 2012. To view the details, click here.

Thank you for your participation and help in advance.

Exciting News From SPOON

This spring has been an exciting season of growth for SPOON - see below for a link to SPOON's newest online nutrition resource, news of our team's recent trip to China, and diverse (and delicious) new info for families of adopted kids.

In the midst of all of this, our hearts are centered on Kazakhstan, where our work began. This month, our dream of reaching children in KZ baby houses with improved nutrition comes true - we'll be on hand for the unveiling of a new national baby house menu based on our groundbreaking study and advocacy there. And we're planning for the long-term to ensure that the new menu is effectively implemented. Read more below!

We are so grateful for the opportunity to improve nutrition for these little ones - and we couldn't do it without your support. Thank you!

Cindy and Mishelle
SPOON Co-Founders


The Latest Nutrition Profile

'From the day Zachary came home, he struggled with getting enough quality sleep...Several parents told me about the connection between low ferritin levels and sleep problems...and encouraged me to have him tested. Zachary's ferritin levels came back at an 11. They should be 30 or higher...' Read more…

Nutrition by Country: Mexico

Recently, in the Nutrition by Country section, we have added comprehensive nutritional information for children adopted from Mexico. Included in this section is a snapshot of the diverse, flavorful cuisine of Mexico, some deficiencies common among children born in Mexico, and a few delicious and nutritious recipes to try, like Mexican Brown Rice and Black Bean Tostadas. Yum!


The Orphan Nutrition Project

Kazakhstan: We began our work in Kazakhstan with the dream of creating change on a national scale. That dream is coming to fruition on May 29th and 30th, when a team of SPOON staff and advisors will be in Almaty to share in the announcement of a new nationwide diet for Kazakhstan's baby houses and to facilitate an initial training for baby house directors from across Kazakhstan and four other Central Asian countries. The new menu and feeding norms, based on SPOON's work in Kazakhstan over the past five years, have the potential to improve the lives of thousands of children without families to call their own. Stay tuned for reports from the field, later this month!

Our global reach: Springboarding from our orphan nutrition work in Kazakhstan, and as part of our "A Child's Best Start" partnership with Joint Council, SPOON staff members recently returned from their first trip to learn about child welfare institutions in China. Through initial observations and meetings, our team began to develop meaningful relationships and opportunities that will lead to improved nutrition for so many orphaned children in China.

OrphanNutrition.org goes live: SPOON is excited to announce the launch of OrphanNutrition.org – the companion website to our work with Joint Council to improve nutrition and feeding for children living without permanent parental care. At the heart of SPOON's mission is the understanding that proper nutrition is critical to every child’s growth and development, so we’re excited about the role that this new resource will play in helping caregivers meet the nutritional needs of orphaned children around the globe. Read more…


May Highlights

Join us in sending well wishes to SPOON co-founder Mishelle Rudzinski, who is leaving this week for China - she'll return in a few weeks, bringing home a sweet new addition to her family. Congratulations, Mishelle and big sister Bakha!

On May 3rd, hear from members of the SPOON team in an informative webinar: Introduction to Nutrition and Feeding for Internationally Adopted Children will take place on Thursday, May 3 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT. Register here.

Mothers' Day is May 13th! This Mothers' Day you can give a gift that supports SPOON, with a purchase of gorgeous jewelry from adoptive mom TS at Popli.

Hopscotch Adoptions List of Questions for Your Child's Caregiver

The biggest moment of your life is before you.  Taking final custody of your child, far from the support of family and friends, can feel intimidating.  It's natural to feel anxiety, doubt, excitement, and even fear, when thinking of meeting your child's needs, seamlessly from orphanage or foster care, to your waiting family.

Becoming a parent comes with a lot of sudden responsibility and we hope you feel supported and prepared.

You have probably already consulted with an International Adoption Specialist if you are matched with a referred child.  You can also count on your  International Adoption Specialist to provide you with a list of questions before you travel.

Hopscotch has a few suggestions, too.  When you travel to bring your newly adopted child home, be sure to take a list of questions for your child's caregiver.  Your child's transition will be less traumatic, the more you know from the caregiver.  If your child is attached to a particular caregiver, this person would be the best source of information about your child's needs and habits.
Suggested Care Giver Questions:

1. Is your child attached to a particular caregiver and if so, whom?
2. How much food or formula does your child need?
3. How often does your child eat and on what schedule?
4. Does your child feed from the bottle easily?
5. Does your child drink fast or slow?
6. Where can similar bottles and nipples be purchased locally?
7. Are there any issues  with spitting up after feeding?
8. Does my infant have any issues with gas? How do you burp your infant?
9. What temperature do you serve food or bottles?
10. What brand of formula is your child currently drinking?
11. What ingredients are in your child's food and how it is prepared?
12. Ask if your child has any known food, medication or seasonal allergies?
13. Is your child currently taking any medications and if so, what medications, how much and how often are they administrated, where can they be found and for what purpose is the medication given?
14. If your child has a special need, ask to meet with your child's doctor(s) before you depart the country to learn the most about your child's current treatment plan.
15. What is your child's sleep schedule?
16. Does your child take naps and if so how long?
17. What time does your child go to sleep at night?
18. What time does your child typically wake in the morning?
19. Does your child have any favorite games?
20. How is your child typically clothed in the day and evening?
21. Is your child dressed in layers?
22. Does your child rely on a pacifier?
23. Does your child typically wake up happy or crying?
24. What position does your child like to sleep in?
25. Is the sleeping room noisy, quiet, light, dark, warm or cool?
26. How does your child like to be carried or held?
27. Has your child been recently sick with congestion, stomach or fever?
28. How much does your child currently weigh?
29. How many stools does your child typically produce per day?
30. How often does your child bathe and does your child like or dislike bath time?
31. What is your child's general temperament or disposition?  Is your child happy, fussy, calm, active, etc?
32. Is your child soothed by music, quiet, movement or stillness?
33. How is your child calmed when crying?

Of course, you will have many more questions.  Hopscotch hopes this general list will help you with a smoother transition once you take custody of your child.  Knowing the answer to these questions, specific to your child, will reduce your child's trauma in experiencing change and alleviate your sense of helplessness in finding your child's place of comfort.

Bonding starts when a child feels safe and comfortable in your care.  So don't miss out on this opportunity to jumpstart your family bonding.  When abroad, don't hesitate to contact your International Adoption Specialist doctor or agency if you are experiencing any concerns related to your child's transition.  We are here to help.