BONDING. BABY CARE. BABY GEAR.
The newborn care guide
for adoptive parents
A step-by-step playbook on how to care for the newest member of your family when you’re adopting
Enroll Now in Expecting 101: You're Adopting!
"It is the most helpful resource we've had as we prepare to adopt"
It's like you were just talking to us and explaining things in the most basic way and that helped so much because as first-time parents these are the things we've never done before.
John & Beth
The road to adopting a newborn is a long and challenging one for most waiting parents.
But once you’re matched, it’s game on.
... and this is your step by step game plan
"This course is priceless."
I am extremely thankful for Valerie & New Parents Academy! I am a first-time Mama through adoption and joined this course hoping to learn about a thing or two and I learned so much more. This course is priceless. Valerie has a wealth of knowledge and directly supports each client's questions and concerns. I am so thankful I signed up and refer to the course often as a new Mama!
Annie
What if you were able to focus on everything you need to do to become a parent and still have:
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The essential baby gear unpacked, set up, and ready to go on day 1 (and the non-essentials put away for when you need them in a few weeks) |
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Your pediatrician on speed dial for that first visit |
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Your friends and family prepped with instructions for support (so you don’t have to worry about your next meal) |
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Your hotel bag packed and ready to go, even if you don’t know where you’re going and for how long |
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Knowledge about what diapers, nipple size (yup, that’s a thing), formula (even if you’re inducing or doing donor milk), swaddles, and first aid you need for the first few months… |
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A plan for baby’s first week |
Confident that when that call comes, all you will have to worry about is getting to your baby.
When you’re adopting a newborn there are 3 things you need to know to give your baby the comfort, care, and security they need during those crucial first months of life.
Bonding:
You need simple, research-based techniques to lay the foundation for a lifelong bond so that from the moment you meet, your baby feels safe, loved, and cared for.
Baby Care:
From soothing your (inevitably) crying baby, changing a diaper after circumcision, to baby’s first bath and infant first aid…you need the resources to confidently care for your baby without the midnight meltdowns and panicked pediatrician calls.
Baby Gear:
All. The. Baby. Gear. You do need a few extra things around the house to properly give your newborn the care they need...but it’s not nearly as much as the internet is trying to convince you. You need a list, curated for adopting parents, so that regardless of your location, timeline, or circumstance, you have the essential items you need for the road ahead (and not just the expensive stroller showing up in your feed.)
MEET YOUR DOULA:
Hi, I’m Valerie!
I'm a Certified Postpartum Doula, Certified Lactation Counselor, and mom of 3 (including identical twins)...
I’ve spent 8 years showing hundreds of parents what the heck to do with their squirmy little newborns.
Whether you have a partner or you’re a single parent, raising a baby takes a village (even if it’s a socially distant village) and there are many ways to get the support you need.
Traditionally, there is not a lot of postpartum care for adoptive parents even though your need to care for your newborn is the exact same.
And that’s why I took all of my experience serving families in the first few months of their child’s life and I created an adoption-specific newborn care class just for you!
"I took your course over a year ago, it was helpful to be able to log back in and review after I was matched!"
- Courtney
"We learned so much from the course & have religiously used the checklists that you have!"
- Michael & Mark
"Thank you so much for helping us prepare to adopt!"
- Mary & Michael
Meeting your child is a beautiful, complicated, and emotional event. You deserve to save your physical & mental energy for the ups and downs of adoptions…
Instead of furiously Googling “how to bathe a newborn.”
I'VE GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED ALL IN ONE PLACE...
Expecting 101: You’re Adopting!
Newborn care, safety & preparation for adopting parents
Every lesson is broken down into easy-to-digest videos, with printable resources so you can find the information you need when you need it.
Newborn Care & Soothing:
We kick things off with the baby basics. In this introductory chapter, you’ll learn everything you need to know about:
- Feeding your newborn
- Bathing your newborn & when to call the doctor
- Why your baby might be crying?
- And to make learning easy for both you and your partner, you’ll also get:
- A newborn diaper change and diaper cream demonstration
- Different swaddle options so you can buy the one that’s right for you and your baby
- Demonstrations of both a sponge bath & a newborn bath
Bonding with Your Baby:
Your baby needs to connect with you in a deep and meaningful way. Adoptees have a more challenging start to life and whether you meet your baby the day they were born, after they leave the hospital, or in the NICU, with these techniques, you’ll be able to lay a foundation for the connection that will last a lifetime.
We’ll go over:
- Skin-to-skin time
- Baby wearing
- Communicating with your baby
- How to safely bond with your baby while they’re sleeping
- How to bond with your baby in the NICU
Infant Safety
While I truly hope you never need any of these strategies, the safety lessons taught in this chapter could save your child’s life. In an emergency, there may not always be time to Google, so having an understanding of what you need to do to help your baby in the moment is essential.
You will learn:
- Infant CPR
- Infant First Aid
- Choking
- Reducing the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
* this is taught by a Red Cross Certified Trainer, but this training does not qualify as certification.
Baby Gear: What you Need (and What you Definitely Don't)
When you’re adopting, deciding to register, or have a shower is a very personal choice. No matter how you decide to prepare for a baby, there are some things you need to consider before making that Amazon wish list.
And while your best friend has the list of “everything you need that was a life-saver for their kid,” and Pinterest is filled with long and expensive lists…The truth is, every baby is different.
We’ll go over:
- What items you'll need to bring when you go to meet the baby
- What essentials you will need for the first month
- Some things to consider before you register or shop for your baby
- When, where, and what to register or shop for
- What these products are and why you need them (or why you don't)
11 Things You Can do to Prepare While You Wait
As new parents, the first few months are the time when you and your baby first get to know each other. It’s exciting, challenging, exhausting, and beautiful...all at once. You’re learning what it means to become a parent, your baby is learning what it means to live outside of the womb, and you’re doing it all while you’re more exhausted than you’ve ever been.
In this chapter, you’ll learn what you can do while you wait to make your first few months go as smoothly as possible.
THESE BONUSES TO MAKE LIFE WITH A NEWBORN RUN SMOOTHLY!
Newborn Sleep Chapter:
You can’t sleep train a newborn, but there are things you can do to set all of you up for nighttime success.
In this mini-workshop you’ll learn:
- Why your baby is waking
- Strategies to help your baby understand that night time is not hang out time!
- Questions to the questions I'm most often asked about sleep.
Members Only Facebook Group
You were never meant to do this alone! You’ll have a community where you can ask questions, get advice, share what’s working for you and vent, without judgement!
This is a Members Only Facebook Group of other adopting and expecting parents and I’m in there too, to answer your questions!
4 Helpful Printables:
Because sometimes you just need a grab ‘n go list, you’ll also receive:
- Hotel Stay with a Newborn
When you're getting ready to go meet your baby you want to have the essentials without overpacking. - Pediatrician Q&A
Your pediatrician is an important part of your village. I feel strongly that you should choose your pediatrician before your baby arrives and meet with him/her to be sure they are a good fit for your family. This list covers what you'll want to ask (and how to find a pediatrician to interview). - 30 Day Must-Have List
Many adoptive parents I have worked with don't want to buy ALL.THE.THINGS until after the baby is here and ICPC is complete. If that's you, you're going to love this list of the essentials you'll want to have for the first month! - Baby Gear Must-Haves & Maybes
Registry lists can be overwhleming. My years of experience and obsession with baby gear have helped me to understand what new parents will be happy to have and what is a total waste of money and space. This list is full of all those must-haves and the maybes you will want to consider if you have the budget and space.
"That 30 day list is critical! Having someone else make that list and take some of that pain away from that process is really valuable."
- Mini & Ken
"Probably the biggest thing that we found helpful is the list of necessary baby items, it’s going to be a life saver!”
- Valerie & Bryce
"The most useful thing about the course was the ability to watch and rewatch it as it becomes real to you."
- Fernanda
I want to be sure you're happy!
Expecting 101: You're Adopting is a comprehensive course that covers a ton of information. As far as I know, there isn't anything like it!
If for some reason you go through the course and are not satisfied, please send us an email within 14 days of purchase.
How long do I have access to the course materials & Members Only Facebook Group?
Is this really just for adopting parents?
What if I'm not matched yet?
What if my state has a long revocation period?
Valerie's program is not like anything I've seen offered in the adoption world!
"She is helping people prepare for life with a newborn and speaks specifically to adopting families. Previously, adoptive-parents-to-be had to attend classes full of pregnant women where the topics weren't geared to their circumstances. Now they have a choice that has been created just for them. "
- Nicole Witt, The Adoption Consultancy
The ongoing support piece after completing the course is what I like for the families we serve!
“Our families have had the option of using the New Parents Academy training for some time. It is a great opportunity for those without a lot of newborn experience to learn and get tips from the pros. You can never have too much support when you are a first time parent!”
- Amy Imber, Connecting Hearts Adoption Services
She thought of everything new adoptive parents need to know about newborn care, bonding with baby, moving through life after bringing baby home, and more.
“Adopting a baby can feel like a totally new thing, even for seasoned parents or families who have adopted before. Hopeful adoptive parents in our program have only great things to say about their investment in Valerie’s course, how it helped to prepare and educate themselves while they wait to adopt. ”
- Libby Denniston, Lifetime Adoptions
