How should I prepare for my child to come home?
There are several areas of preparation that should be addressed in the pre-adoptive period. Families should choose their child's Pediatrician before the child comes home with them. They should make sure that they have the supplies and equipment, such as clothing, age-appropriate toys and bedroom furniture, etc. necessary for their child after homecoming. They should examine their homes for safety issues, such as poison hazards and baby-proofing in general, before the child enters it. Families should prepare siblings for the arrival of the new brother or sister. Extended family should be made aware of the need for attachment during the first few weeks at home, and expect limited visiting and a simple lifestyle until attachment is well underway. Each of these issues should be addressed in detail. More information can be acquired at our pre-parenting classes, which are held three times each year. For information about our pre-parenting classes, click here.
What should we do when we get home?
A routine within a low-key lifestyle that meets the child's needs is best, since routine is comforting to young children. Parents should be cautioned against exposing their new child to overwhelming experiences, such as large gatherings (the shopping mall, church, family reunions, etc.) at first. Attachment to the parents and immediate family members is the priority immediately after adoption, and anything that will serve to foster attachment is recommended. We at the Adoption Health Service will work in conjunction with your Pediatrician to provide health care and referrals to specialists as needed. Everyday issues such as feeding and sleeping will be addressed during our visits.
Should my internationally adopted child be seen at the Adoption Health Service?
The Adoption Health Service is a specialty clinic. Just as a child with, for example, chronic ear infections would be seen by an ear, nose, and throat specialist because of their identified needs, children who have been adopted from another country should be seen by a specialist who is an expert in addressing their set of unique circumstances related to their internationally adopted status. The Adoption Health Service addresses the issues created as a result of the adopted child's circumstances and can help to meet their documented needs.
How can the Adoption Health Service help?
When a child is adopted from another country, they arrive with many needs as a result of their previous life and the changes they are currently experiencing. Because the Adoption Health Service is a specialty clinic, its focus is on the issues specifically related to internationally adopted children. These concerns include attachment issues, sleeping and eating matters, growth and development, nutrition, other behavioral issues, and infectious diseases. We typically see the children in our Landerbrook office four times during the child's first year in the United States to monitor for progress and the need for intervention, and we work in conjunction with your child's Pediatrician. We allow 90 minutes for our first visit and 45 minutes for subsequent visits to make sure that the child's needs are being met. Referrals to therapy, such as speech therapy or occupational therapy, may be made to guide and enhance the child's development when necessary. A written report is sent to the family and their Pediatrician after each visit to communicate our findings and recommendations. For more information, please contact our clinical coordinator, Kate Kilbane at (216) 844-3224.
INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION FAQS
What age child is "best" to adopt?
There is no "best" age across the board. Prospective parents should consider that certain risks (such as infectious disease, developmental delays, growth delays, and attachment issues) increase in proportion to the time spent in an orphanage. Also, prospective parents need to think about whether or not they will be able to care for a young baby, or if an older child would be more suited to their abilities. When making their decision, the complete circumstances of the child should be considered, regardless of age.
What country or area do the healthiest children come from?
The circumstances under which a child lives vary greatly, even within individual countries or regions (including the United States of America). While countries may differ in how childcare is provided, variances in the quality of care cannot be predicted. There are no statistics supporting one area as compared to another regarding health and international adoption. Again, prospective parents must carefully consider their abilities and resources as part of their decision-making process, since not much of the information about a child can be disclosed before adoption.
What can I do to prepare for my internationally adopted child?
The level of preparation is up to you. Some families find minimal knowledge acceptable; some desire to know all that they can. There are many areas to explore, including integrating your child into your family, as well as more basic subjects such as safety issues, supplies needed, and choosing a Pediatrician. Many resources exist to help you with this. Our Adoption Health Service offers pre-parenting classes to address these concerns, as do various adoption agencies. For more information about our pre-parenting classes, please click here. There are many websites for information, and plenty of good books out there. Prospective parents should be cautioned about becoming overwhelmed with information and realize that regardless of the effort put into preparation, unforeseen circumstances will present themselves. Accepting that there will be surprises is essential.