Adopting a Child: Preparing Your Family Guide

This was the only book that didn't make me feel like I was reading a textbook or a horror story. The checklists alone saved me so much stress before we brought our daughter home. I loved the honest talk about the hard days too—it made me feel less alone. I've already recommended it to two friends starting their own adoption journeys.

I was skeptical because I've read a lot of adoption books, but this one is different. It's concrete—like, actual words to say to my mom when she asks too many questions. The scripts for talking to your kids about adoption were perfect for our chat with our 7-year-old. We brought it with us to the hospital and read the chapter on the first meeting in the car. Worth every penny.

It's a decent overview, but I wish it had gone deeper into the trauma-informed care part. I felt some of the chapters were more about logistics than the emotional stuff I was struggling with. That said, the self-care and sibling chapters had some useful bits. If you're brand new to adoption, this is a fine starting point, but you'll probably need more resources.

As a foster parent transitioning to adoption, I was a nervous wreck. This book took away so much guesswork. The chapter on reading cues and when to get help was spot-on—I even brought the checklist to our pediatrician. It's written by someone who truly gets it, not some fancy expert from an ivory tower. I felt like I had a wise friend guiding me by the hand.

Very practical and organized. I especially appreciated the timeline—from the six-month mark to the first year—it helped me pace myself. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that I wanted even more examples of conversations, maybe for different age groups. But overall, it was a solid, reassuring resource that I'll definitely revisit.

I was hoping for more advice on dealing with the child's trauma, but the book mostly focused on preparing the house and the family. The checklist was thorough, but I didn't find much new insight on attachment issues. It's fine for the basics, but if you're adopting an older child with a trauma history, you might need something more specialized.

It's a good beginner's guide, very reassuring, but not enough depth for complex situations. I had a rocky post-placement period and felt the book didn't offer enough troubleshooting for, say, tantrums that last two hours or severe sleep issues. The tone is comforting, but I needed more tools. I'd still recommend it to friends just starting the process.

I only wish I had read this before we started the home study! The chapters on talking to family and the first month at home were exactly what we needed. The routines and scripts helped our toddler adjust so much faster than I expected. It's like the author knew exactly what we'd go through—and had a plan for it. A true lifesaver.