FamilyIf you’re just beginning the adoption process, you’re also going to start creating your adoption profile.

This is one of the most important pieces of your adoption paperwork as it is what a woman considering adoption will look at when deciding on a family for her baby.

Standing Out: How To Make A Great Adoption Profile

You may or may not be a creative person by nature, but even if you don’t have an artsy bone in your body, you can still create a perfect profile.

The perfect profile is one that really showcases the personality and uniqueness of your family in a real way. It isn’t about presenting what YOU think a woman is looking for in a perfect family, because that’s a myth. Perfect families don’t exist.

It’s about picking the perfect family for HER and each prospective adoptive family has unique qualities that will draw the right match.

It’s important to remember that the women and men who will read your profile are trying to find a family that they can picture their child with, not just as an infant but as they grow. The adoption profile is a great way for them to get a glimpse at your life and how their child could grow up with your family.

Many birthmothers have said they just “had a feeling” and “knew they were the one” when they found the family to raise their child.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

1. Watch Your Language

Please do NOT start your profile off with the words “Dear Birthmother.” Better yet, don’t even use the word birthmother in your profile. It can be offensive to pregnant women.

At this point, they’re expecting mothers, and are only considered birthmothers if they decide to sign and relinquish their rights.

2. Go Light On Hardship

As you are explaining the reasons you are choosing adoption, it is okay to explain if it was infertility that lead you to adoption.

However, it is not appropriate to include an entire page solely focused on your struggle.

3. Be Sensitive To Cultural Differences

If you’re adopting transracially, an expecting mother often likes to see how you plan on incorporating cultural differences in your everyday life.

Show the diversity in your family, neighborhood, school or church.

4. Make Room For Another Child

If you have children at home, it is important to include them in your profile without them being the sole focus of it. You want the expecting mother to see how there is space in your family for a new baby.

If your child is old enough, having them write a little about themselves and anything about their new baby brother or sister can be a nice touch!

Pictures Make The Difference

Now on to the most important part… your pictures! Let the person who is reading your profile get to know you through the words and pictures that you’ve given them on the page.

1. Make sure that your pictures are clear and not distorted.

2. Crop any photos to make your face clear and try to stay away from scenic pictures or large group pictures unless they have a story behind them that you think will show the reader a look into your life.

3. Use bold titles and captions for your photos and be sure to mention anyone who is in the photo with you, by name or just by relation to you.

For example, if you have a photo of you holding your niece and don’t have a caption, it may be confusing. The person viewing the profile may believe that it’s your daughter, and find it strange that there’s no mention that you have a child in your profile.

4. Pick a background that you like and shows your personality, but make sure it is not busy because it will distract the reader from the important things!

5. The font you choose should be easy to read and you can put your own personality into it.

You may be a Times New Roman family, or you like Andy because it looks like your handwriting. Just remember to make it easy to read and you’re set.

6. It can sometimes be difficult to find a balance in the wording –too much or not enough. The best advice we can give you is to do a combination of paragraphs and bullets while bolding any words or phrases you find important to draw the reader’s eyes to.

Some people find it easy to read with a text box rather than right on the background of the page.

Get An Outside Opinion

Finally, when you are finished with your profile, send it to friends or family to review.

They can help make sure that your personality shines through and catch any thing that you might overlook, like a missing caption, typo or difficult to understand phrasing.

Be Yourself

Our number one advice for people creating adoption profiles is be honest! Don’t worry about leaving something out if you think someone might not like it, and don’t over-embellish anything that doesn’t really exist.

Your profile will be picked by expecting parents who want the real you to raise their child, not a perfectly polished image of you. The one who chooses your profile is your perfect match and if people pass your profile it doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with your family, it just means it wasn’t meant to be.

Keep in mind when they do pick your family that means they passed by other families and yours is the one that personally stood out to them. Don’t lose hope, when you have your child in your arms, you will look back and realize what is meant to be will be.