Adoption Specific Newborn Prep
Use your waiting time to prepare so you can relax &
bond post-placement
SAY NO MORE, I'M IN!
"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
Adoption specific newborn education
New Parents Academy for Adopting Parents
There are many things about caring for a baby that are the same no matter how the baby came into your life. But, there are some things that should be spoken to differently when baby is welcomed through adoption. This on-demand class will walk you through what you need to know to safely care, feed and soothe a newborn. By preparing before you’re matched you can enjoy bonding post-placement without anxiously googling.
- Newborn Communication and Soothing
- Newborn Care
- Feeding Your Baby
- Newborn Sleep
- Newborn Safety
- Traveling to Baby and Home
- Baby Gear: what you need and what you don’t
* 6 hour certificate of completion for adoption education
New Parents Academy for Adopting Parents includes . . .
Module 1
Newborn Communication
and Soothing
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20+ baby cues explained (with video examples)
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The 4S's of soothing and why they're important
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Understanding newborn crying and how to respond
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Video examples of typical newborn behaviors that often alarm new parents
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Step-by-step videos detailing my go-to soothing techniques (with real babies
Module 2
Newborn Care
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The confusing world of newborn poop (trust me, this is important)
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How to know if your baby is eating enough
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Hiccups, spit up and what most parents don't know about burping
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Dressing your baby (how many layers?) and sun protection
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Step-by-step videos walking you through bathing in a baby tub, sponge baths, bottle feeding, pacifiers, burping, bottle feeding and more
Module 3
Feeding Your Baby
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Knowing where to start when it’s time to feed your baby
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Understanding when (and how) to wake a sleepy baby for a feeding
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Deciding between formula and donor milk with confidence
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Learning what’s in baby formula and how to prepare it safely
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Exploring the option of inducing lactation as an adoptive parent
Module 4
Newborn Sleep
In this module you will learn:
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A.W.A.R.E. formula for good sleep
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Importance of maximum wake and sleep times
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Naps as a newborn: when & where
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How to help your baby distinguish between sleep & awake times
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Step-by-step tutorial of what to do if your baby wakes as soon as you lay them down
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Safe sleep guidelines to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
* This is not a sleep training course.
Module 5
Newborn Safety
In this module you will learn:
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Learn infant CPR techniques every parent should know
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First aid steps for common newborn emergencies
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What to do if your baby is choking (clear, simple instructions)
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Car seat safety tips so you feel confident every ride
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Ways to lower the risk of SIDS and create a safe sleep space
* This is must-know info but not a certification
Module 6
Traveling to Baby
and Home
In this module you will learn:
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What to prepare if you’ll be traveling for your baby’s birth
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Tips for making the trip home with your newborn less stressful
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How to set up your home so you feel ready the moment you arrive
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Simple ways to ease into new routines in those early days
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How to begin building a strong bond with your baby right from the start
"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
"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
plus you get these BONUSES . . .
"Having a program that was created for adoptive parents that we could do in short sections either together or separately was perfect."
We had been waiting so long for our miracle and yet did not feel fully prepared. Having a program that was created for adoptive parents that we could do in short sections either together or separately was perfect. We were even able to pull up the sponge bathing video a second time when the time actually came to do it. So very helpful to take some pressure off and set us up for success. Then during those first few weeks Valerie was even there to be a sounding board and a voice of experience and support. Priceless. Thank you Valerie!
"You can't help but feel like you're sitting across from a friend."
The New Parents Academy for Adopting Parents course is so detailed and engaging. You can't help but feel like you're sitting across from a friend as Valerie explains what to expect and anticipate on this journey. She shares tips for every stage along the way.
The information this online class provides will make any parent-to-be feel prepared. We loved that she uses a very approachable, down-to-earth, and easy-going method that is relatable and genuine. It is totally worth the investment. Also, the customer service is outstanding.
Hi, I’m Valerie!
I'm a Certified Postpartum Doula, Certified Lactation Counselor, and mom of 3 (including identical twins)...
Over the past 10 years I’ve had the amazing privilege of helping hundreds of parents prepare so they know what the heck to do with their squirmy little newborns!
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.
Often classes include information for biological parents that leaves you feeling othered, left out, and might bring up difficult emotions.
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 classes just for you! Whether you are adopting with a partner or as a single parent, raising a baby takes a village (even if it’s a socially distant village) and I’d be honored to be a part of your village!
"The most useful thing about the course is the ability to watch and re-watch it as it becomes real to you."
The most useful thing about the course is the ability to watch and re-watch it as it becomes real to you. I watched them as I was waiting for birth mom in labor and it was helpful to figure out a swaddle and safely give him a bath. I also really enjoy the Facebook group for real time questions!
"Your series has been the most beneficial."
We've learned a lot! Out of all of the adoption trainings we've done in the past, your series has been the most beneficial.
I want to be sure you're happy!
New Parents Academy for Adopting Parents 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.
SEE WHAT ADOPTION PROFESSIONALS ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM!
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
Our families love the checklist on what to bring to the hotel room with them when traveling for the birth and staying for the ICPC process.
“New Parents Academy has helped our families prepare for life with a newborn. Bonus is that it is catered to adopting families specifically, no more sitting in a room full of pregnant women. Our families can learn from the comforts of their own home.”
- Steffany Aye, Adoption-Beyond
Our families loved that they didn't have to feel awkward by attending a newborn care class.
“After attending the New Parents Academy online course, we have had waiting adoptive families share how confident they felt when bringing their baby home. They loved that they didn't have to feel awkward by attending a newborn care class at their local hospital with all pregnant families and also loved that they could go back and rewatch the webinars when they needed a refresher.”
- Meredith Shepard, Heart of Adoptions
She is a walking handbook for new parents and the tips she provides are amazing!
“I wish I would have known about Valerie when I adopted my son. I recommend New Parents Academy to all of the families we work with and for anyone preparing to welcome a newborn into their life.”
- Rebecca Gruenspan, RG Adoption Consulting
Families consistently report finding the course highly valuable
“Hello Baby confidently recommends New Parents Academy to all of our adoptive parent clients. Families consistently report finding the course highly valuable as they navigate their new role as parents through adoption.”
- Amy, Hello Baby Adoption Consultants
Our families have loved the content she provides and feel more prepared for the exciting moment when they become parents.
“It can be hard to for prospective adoptive parents to find expecting parent workshops that focus less on birthing and nursing and instead include more information on infant care and the first weeks home. An adoptive parent’s journey to parenthood is unique and Valerie’s on-demand infant care class is designed specifically with the needs of adoptive parents in mind.”
- Kristy Galbraith, Adoptions From The Heart
The choice is yours. . .
I'm so glad that in this crazy online world we found each other and I'd love to help you prepare to welcome your baby.
But obviously the choice is yours.
You can wait until you’re matched to prepare for the baby’s arrival. But let me tell you what I have seen happen for so many adopting families.
They get THAT call and then life is a whirlwind. Sometimes the baby is being born and they’re busy booking airline tickets and boarding the dog.
Sometimes there are a few months until the due date but life is suddenly chaotic. They work to buy last minute gear (often spending money on items they don’t even need), packing their bags (spending hours searching for the right swaddle or steam bag) and doing a few youtube searches so they understand how to soothe the baby when he’s crying or what the heck a sponge bath is.
You can do that, you can wait to prepare.
But, after all the money and time and prayers it has taken you to get to this point you deserve to have a better experience. If you are ready to invest time now, while you’re waiting, so that you understand how to safely care for and soothe and feed your baby I would be honored for you to join me and the hundreds of other hopeful adoptive parents inside Expecting 101: You’re Adopting.
Simply click the button below and I look forward to getting to know you!
