5 Adoption Profile Do’s and Don’ts

Your wedding was most likely (and hopefully) one of the best days of your lives. Of course you want to share pictures of the day you said "I do" with someone who could potentially be your child's birth parent. But be careful. Sometimes an expectant mother considering adoption may be in a situation where she herself wishes she was getting married. Wedding pictures may be hard for her to look at, just like seeing pregnant women can be hard for infertile women to see.

Pictures at the lake or beach may be important to show what you like to do together as a couple or with family, but try to use pictures where everyone is covered appropriately. It can be uncomfortable to look at people half dressed with a case worker while trying to choose a potential family for your baby.

It's fun to show your personalities in your profile. Halloween pictures can be fun, as can pictures of you being silly. But don't go overboard on this. Crude humor should not be used in profiles. Pictures of you pretending to do something you shouldn't should also not be used. Just keep in mind that a photo that may be funny to you or to those who know you may just look like you are a crazy person to someone who does not know you.

If you already have kids, of course include pictures of your kids. And also include pictures of just you two as a couple. But if you do not have kids yet, don't use a ton of pictures of you with your nieces and nephews or friend's kids. A few is cute--a bunch can get to be too much.

You want your profile to stand out. One of the ways you can do this is by using the right colors. It's been said that red heads look great wearing the color green. It's because they are complementary colors. Use these to your advantage in your profile.

If you have a dog, tell about your dog. Talk about how long you have had him, what his name is and how he fits into the family.

Expectant parents looking at your profile want to see who you are. You want your main picture to show you up close and look nice. It is worth the money to get professional pictures taken and pick one for your main profile picture. Candid shots are fun, too, but not for your main picture.

Talk about your hobbies. Whether it be hiking, playing tennis, going to movies, skiing or scrap booking, it is good to include this information. Potential birth parents may want to know what your family does in your spare time. They may find that you have hobbies similar to theirs and that you participate in activities they want their child to participate in.

How does your family like to vacation? Do you love going to the beach and relaxing, or are you the type of family who loves to go all day to amusement parks? National parks? Cruises? Families like to vacation very differently, and it is a big part of who you are as a couple or a family.