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The big list of great adoption gifts

May 21, 2019 by Jill 15 Comments

Are you looking for adoption gifts or wondering if you should give gifts for adoption at all? Here’s some perspective and great adoption gift ideas!

Adoption is complicated. It’s a joyful, broken roller coaster of all the feels that is kind of hard to grasp unless you’ve been on that roller coaster. Sometimes it’s hard to know what to say (or not to say) to an adoptive family. When it comes to adoption gifts, you might be stuck on what to get or trying to decide whether to gift or not to gift. 

 

Six Great Adoption Gifts|RIpped Jeans and Bifocals

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Table of Contents

  • Amazon’s Baby Registry
  • What Makes a Great Adoption Gift?
  • 1. Adoption Signs for your home
    •  
    •  
  • 2. Adoption Gifts – Mugs
  • 3. Ornaments
  • 4. Meaningful Jewelry
    •  
  • 5. If you like T-Shirts…
    • More adoption Tees:
  • 6. The simplicity of “Be Brave”
  • 7. Adoption Cards and Stationary to go with Adoption Gifts
  • 8. When in doubt, a modest gift or a gift card probably isn’t wrong
  • You might also like:

Amazon’s Baby Registry

Did you know Amazon’s Baby Registry is great for adoptive families no matter the age of the child. If you are in the process of adopting, sign yourself up! If you know someone who is adopting, share this with them and help them sign up. 

If you’re looking for great adoption Christmas ornaments – check out this post.

What Makes a Great Adoption Gift?

Both of our adoptions were toddler adoptions – Zack had just turned two and Kyle was three-and-a-half at the time they joined our families. Sometimes it’s hard to choose adoption gifts for non-infant adoption. While certainly not all-inclusive, these suggestions for adoption gifts definitely give you some ideas and a jumping off point to help you or the people in your life celebrate adoption.

1. Adoption Signs for your home

There are so many beautiful adoption sayings and quotes and so many ways to display those quotes in your home as art. Grateful Heart Design’s Etsy shop has a ton of pre-made and customizable signs in various sizes and color schemes. An Adoptive family might want to hang a sign like the one below in the common area or in their child’s nursery. The quote “Born in my heart, not under it” is a popular quote for nursery art – it would look great above a child’s crib or bed. I’ve listed more favorites here:

Today is my Adoption Day sign

This is Us – Perfectly Blended sign

Love Makes a Family/Forever Ours sign

It’s not bloodlines, it’s love lines sign

Life gave me the gift of you sign

Prayed for, loved, adopted printable sign

We didn’t give you life but life gave us the gift of you wooden sign w/picture

You may not have our eyes or our smile but from that first moment you had our hearts

Gotcha Day Garland

Not flesh of my flesh or bone of my bone sign

These make wonderful coming home or “congratulations” gifts…or a “just because” gift to buy for yourself. If none of these pique your interest, Etsy has a so much to choose from…I could have put together a dozen blog posts and never capture it all. If you search for “adoption gifts” on Etsy, or just go to THIS PAGE and start browsing, you’ll find so many options. 

If you’re looking for an adoption gift, why not ask the family if they are registered anywhere? Amazon’s Baby Registry can be used for adoption and it’s easy to modify and select gifts more appropriate for an older child.


Six Great Adoption Gifts|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

 

 

2. Adoption Gifts – Mugs

Everyone likes a cute and quirkly coffee mug, right? I know I do. Usually, no one besides my kids see me drinking my morning coffee (and they know to steer clear until I’m done with it!) but there’s just something awesome about a mug that suits my personality or that has meaningful words on it. And, I don’t care what kind of occasion you’re buying a gift for, a mug is usually never the wrong choice.

Here are a few of my favorite adoption mugs from Etsy:

Every adoption story is different but ours is my favorite mug

Love Makes a Family mug, with date

Waiting mama mug

Love crosses oceans mug

Paper Pregnant mug

You didn’t give me life but life gave me you mug

Parenthood requires Love, not DNA mug

Looking at you, adopting a child and shit mug (This one has a thumb’s up symbol and a think it’s supposed to be positive. Obviously, you have to have a certain kind of sense of humor to want this one or want to gift it.)

Find Joy in the Waiting mug  This is another one where you really need to know your giftee. I found the waiting anything but joyful and would probably not have loved getting this as a gift, although I would have appreciated the thought. 

Personalized mug with your kids’ names (Not adoption specific but might make a good gift for a new mama. I’d drink out of this one)

Wonderfully Created Designs shop  WCD has a variety of Africa and Haiti inspired mugs and travel mugs, as well as a few other items that may be of interest to adoptive families or people who are looking to buy gifts. 

3. Ornaments

Adoption ornaments are a great addition to a Christmas tree. You can also find fun things to do with these ornaments outside the Christmas holidays. Here are some of my favorites:

“First Christmas Home” ornament

Best Adoption Gifts|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

Seriously, how adorable is this?

Pink “Happy Adoption Day” ornament with butterfly

“Circle of Hearts” Metal Ornament

“Missing Piece” ornament

Adoption Gifts|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

I love this one.

“Good things come to those who wait” China Ornament

Adoption Triad ornament

Adoption Gifts|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

“I was born in two places” Korea Ornament

“From Haiti with love” Ceramic Ornament

Ceramic Painted Starfish Ornament

Together Forever Ornament (China) with date

Customizable metal ornament (China)

Family Tree Hand-Painted Wooden Ornament

Adoption Triad Glass Ornament

Related: Handling the holidays when you are adopting

4. Meaningful Jewelry

I absolutely love hand-stamped jewelry. It’s simple and not flashy or fussy but it adds something to your look and tells something about you. Most adoptive families know the Starfish Story and this necklace from 2 Pink Turtles’ Etsy shop is such a great, tangible reminder of that story. If you don’t know the Starfish Story you can check it out here.

Six Great Adoption Gifts|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

 

More adoption jewelry I like:

Love is brave bracelet

For this child I have prayed bracelet

Love Makes a Family Gift Set (2 keychains + 1 necklace)

Life Gave Me You leather bracelet with hand stamped plaque  I don’t have this one but it’s on my Christmas wish list…I might buy it for myself, if no one else does. 

Born, Home, Forever baby bracelet

Silver adoption symbol pendant

Oxford Bright’s Etsy Store  She specializes in jewelry made with tiny map inserts and sheet music. She’s got a large selection and you can probably find something that’s meaningful – a place, a song, etc.

5. If you like T-Shirts…

I’m not a hundred percent a fan of adoption shirts, especially on kids who are too young to understand what their shirt says. Our family sticks out enough, so I’m usually not willing to wear something that’s going to make us stick out even more. That said, I know a lot of people like them. 

For pictures, family adoption celebrations, or just to be loud and proud about how your family was made, Etsy is a great place to find graphic and themed tees. Also, my favorite place to go for Disney and Harry Potter tees when we’re visiting those theme parks we love so much.

And, how cute his this onesie from Maley Designs on Etsy? I love the ombre look of this one. 

Adoption Gifts|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

More adoption Tees:

Toddler Gotcha Day tee

“Adopted” tee

“Adoption made me a daddy” tee

“Already in my heart” tee

“Wanted, chosen, loved, adopted” tee

Women’s “Blessed by adoption” tee

Men’s “Officially a family” tee

6. The simplicity of “Be Brave”

This isn’t an adoption gift, specifically, but I still included it because I love the simplicity of the saying “be brave.” If there is anything that’s ever tested my bravery, it’s adoption. I also think my boys are pretty brave, whether or not they realize it.

This is an inexpensive “thinking of you” kind of gift that might make someone’s day when things are a little rough. The adoption wait is one thing that most people outside adoption just don’t fully understand. When you’re going to have a baby, you pretty much know when the big event is going to happen but adoption is different.

You might not think there’s much bravery involved in waiting but there is…and this is such a simple, uplifting “I’ve got your back” message for someone who is special to you.

And, I haven’t mentioned birth mothers or foster parents but many of these gifts would be appropriate. A gift like this water bottle shows love without being overtly adoption themed, which a lot of people don’t like or wouldn’t be comfortable publicly displaying. 

Six Great Adoption Gifts|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

This water bottle is no longer available but I’ve linked a similar one. Also, anyone who makes custom water bottles or travel mugs could put something like this together for you easily.

7. Adoption Cards and Stationary to go with Adoption Gifts

Finding adoption cards in the stores are hit or miss. Sometimes, a larger store like Target or Walmart will have a very small selection, sometimes not. I absolutely adore Etsy for adoption cards and announcements and unique stationary in general.

Six Great Adoption Gifts|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

More adoption announcements and cards:

Fiddle Thread Studio These personalized cards are 100 percent stinkin’ adorable and so reasonably priced for the artistry that goes into making them. 

Congratulations on your adoption day card

Yay it’s Official congratulatory card

Congratulations on your adoption card

Yellow Chosen, Loved, Adopted card

Family tree card with personalized word art

Patchwork heart Love Makes a Family card

Holy #$*! The judge made you parents? Obviously not the tone of card for everyone. 

Waiting for our Perfect Pair adoption announcement card

Additionally, there are a lot of Gotcha Day Cards on Etsy. I haven’t included them but you can start your search here if that is what you’re looking for. If you like the card design and don’t like the “Gotcha” you can always ask the Etsy store owner if they can adjust the verbiage or do a custom card.

8. When in doubt, a modest gift or a gift card probably isn’t wrong

If you’re ever in doubt as to whether an adoption gift is appropriate, ask the family or someone close to them. Sometimes, there’s a concern about timing and buying a gift before the adoption is complete.

Sometimes, newly adopted kids are experiencing trauma or the family is feeling stressed and it might feel weird to give them a congratulatory gift when you know they’re struggling. That said, most families are going to appreciate something tangible in celebration of their addition. You cannot put a price tag on that feeling of validating that comes from someone thinking of your family enough to select a gift or sign a card. 

Related: Why you should give an adoptive mom a shower

These gifts aren’t fancy or expensive but all offer a way to let someone know you’re thinking of them and celebrating them. Adoptive families are often overlooked when it comes to gifts, showers, or meal trains and I promise, even a simple card or note will mean a ton.

Also, your gift doesn’t have to be adoption themed. Adopted kids need and like the same kinds of things as any other kid: Clothes, toys, books, games, subscription boxes. Often a new child means a new room  decor so ask the family if you can contribute to that. And, no one is ever going to turn down a gift card from Amazon. You can buy all the things kids need on Amazon. 

Adoption-gifts-adoption-gift-ideas

Six Great Adoption Gifts|RIpped Jeans and Bifocals

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You might also like:

Things I wish someone had told me before I adopted

I’ve always wanted to adopt, BUT…


15 Comments

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Comments

  1. Lilly Gorman says

    July 25, 2017 at 10:58 am

    These are perfect! It is kind of tough to know what to get for adoptions, so this is perfect. Thanks for sharing! I look forward to reading more about your adoption journey. I’m hoping that we will be able to adopt one day, too.

    Reply
  2. Wendy says

    November 24, 2019 at 5:55 pm

    Hello, you wrote a very nice article, so I was surprised when you mentioned cards, that you spelled it “stationary,” which means: ‘not moving or not intended to be moved.’ What you needed to spell was “stationEry.” Stationery is: ‘writing paper, especially with matching envelopes.’ They are two different words that sound exactly alike but have completely different meanings, and one is spelled with an “a” – the other is spelled with an “e.” They are not interchangeable.

    Reply
  3. Jennifer says

    December 23, 2019 at 3:20 pm

    Bookmarking this. Thanks for the list! These are some great ones.

    Reply

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All About Jill

I'm a digital content creator and essayist who copes with parenting and most other situations with humor and snark. Just so you know, if this weren't the internet, I'd be smiling awkwardly and answering simple questions like "How are you today" with gems like "I like pockets."

I really do love pockets, though.

I spent 26 years in the USAF, which went by really, really fast. I'm very proud of my service but I'm loving my second act even more. Writing gives me the opportunity to flex my creative muscles and that's what makes me happy. Welcome.

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rippedjeansandbifocals

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Jill Robbins
Here’s something you’ve probably never seen be Here’s something you’ve probably never seen before: my bottom teeth.
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I always hide my crooked bottom teeth in pictures and I’m super self-conscious when I talk. So I did something about it.
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I wore braces as a kid and my top teeth are straight but my bottom teeth are shifting and one tooth is traveling into the back of my mouth and I have some crowding. My orthodontist said it’s very unusual to put braces on just half your mouth but my bite is still aligned so they didn’t have to put them on my top teeth - my wallet is thankful.
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Questions I’ve already been asked:
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1️⃣ At your age? Yes, at my age. I still care about my smile. 
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3️⃣ How long do you have to wear them?
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6-9 months.
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3️⃣ Do they hurt? 
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My teeth are sore and my mouth is tender but not to the Tylenol level so I guess the answer is “Not too much.”
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Other questions? Advice?
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#braceface #adultbraces
Little things can really be big - do you agree? M Little things can really be big - do you agree?

My husband gets up with our kids twice a week and does their breakfast and morning routine and takes them to school so I can sleep in. I don't laze away the morning in bed - it usually amounts to about an extra hour of sleep for me and a little more peace and quiet as I start my day. 

This probably seems like a little thing but this is huge for me. The mental benefits of not having to set my alarm on a schoolday is truly my love language. I would rather have sleep than flowers or presents. 

On those morning where my husband takes my kids to school, I will inevitably find the kitchen not "just so." There will be spills on the table or something that didn't get put away. I resist the urge to be sarcastic or to ask "Um, is there a reason we have four boxes of cereal just sitting on the counter?" or point out that it would take less than 30 seconds to wipe a tabletop or put a box back on the shelf. I resist saying stuff like "I guess if I want it done a certain way, I have to do it myself." I don't even say that to myself. 

My husband isn't "doing me a favor" by taking care of our kids. When I talked about being stressed and tired during an argument last year, he offered to take some things off my plate and giving me two mornings where I don't have to set an alarm was one of his ideas. It's part of the give and take of marriage and even though it makes me clench a little when I see spilled milk or stuff that hasn't put away, I appreciate having a partner who shares the load with me. 

My marriage definitely is not perfect and I'm in no position to give relationship advice. But for us, this one little thing is a really big deal. 

And, as I've recently discovered, a cereal box can sit on the counter for several days and the world doesn't explode. Who knew.

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Anyone else having massive “This time last year” moments?
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2020 started out so fine. We extended our kids’ winter break to take them on a Disney Cruise- no better reason than that, amiright- and I was excited about all the Disney Cruise blog posts I was going to write. Disney Cruises are (errr...were?) one of the most searched terms on my website and how a lot of people found me.
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Early 2020 was such a time of hope and light that pretty much everyone took for granted.
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You know...the good stuff.
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We got our first Raddish Kids box right before the We got our first Raddish Kids box right before the holidays and finally dug into it this weekend. Our box had a cold-weather theme which was perfect for this cold weather we're having (flurries in San Antonio can you believe it?!)

Each box contains three recipe cards, a culinary tool, an iron-on patch and Table Talk conversation starter cards. A shopping list is included and also emailed to you in advance in case you want to be ready to cook as soon as your box arrives. You buy all the groceries yourself. 

We made homemade chicken and dumplings this weekend and they turned out amazing. If you need modifications (i.e. gluten or dairy free) you can hop on to the @raddishkids website and go to the "Bonus Bites" section. You'll find modifications, food videos, extra recipes, parent info and more fun stuff. 

The price ranges from $20-$24 per box depending on what type of subscription you choose. Boxes are designed for kids 4-14+ with varying degrees of supervision needed depending on your child's skills and age. Kyle and i have done two meals from this box - we still have cookies left to make - and worked together about 50-50. It was a lot of fun. 

To order yours, here's my affiliate link https://raddish-kids-monthly-delivery.sjv.io/edoAr or read my full review (link in bio)

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I think today would be better if I could hang out I think today would be better if I could hang out with donkeys all day. 

There's a reason animals are used in therapy - they are both comforting and fun. This picture was from our October outing to Wassermann's Wranch outside of Alpine (in West Texas.) I love my beautiful state and the landscape of West Texas fascinates me because it's so different than what I see every day here near San Antonio.

Wassermann's Wranch is located just a few miles outside the city. It's a private hobby farm that sees visitors by reservation. It's absolutely worth planning your day around and you can check out more in my blog post linked in my bio.

I didn't realize I liked donkeys until I got to know these guys. The owner, Heidi, told me "I think you might be a donkey chick."

I think I'm OK with that. 

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