There is an abundance of information available on the general issues that arise in the course of adopting a child from a foreign country and there is no substitute for thorough preparation. A number of books and other materials are referred to at Infopac which will give good overall guidance.

The experience of Irish adoptive parents in Thailand has generally been very good. However, as is often the case, matters may arise which were not foreseen and which might have been avoided or in some way prepared for. The following is a list of items which Irish adoptive parents experienced in the course their journey to Thailand to meet and collect their child. Undoubtedly other unforeseen experiences will arise in the future and when they do, we will add them to the list.

Air-Conditioning: What a place to start! Your Thai child will most likely not be used to cool rooms and will probably find air conditioned hotels chilly. Have a couple of sweatshirts available for your child when indoors. At night, if air conditioning is on in your hotel room, your adopted child may well be vulnerable so either wrap the child up well or if that is not possible (and it may not be!), turn the air conditioning down as low as is tolerable.

Health Care. To date, only a couple of the children being adopted needed medical attention when in Thailand.  Children adopted from Thailand are mostly healthy and we have never heard of a case where a child has developed any serious illness after adoption. Needless to say however, this is an area where some basic precautions are very advisable:

a. Medicines: Even though most medicines are available in Thailand, it is much easier if you go to your local pharmacist and ask his advice.

b. Should you need a doctor for you or your child when in Bangkok, The Samitive Hospital on Sukhumvit Soi 49 is used by the expat community so you should be able to find good medical care and English speakers. Others include The Bangkok Nursing Home on Convent Road between the Silom and Sathorn Roads and the Bumumgrad Hospital on Sukhumvit Soi 3. Others can be found in any good guide book. Couples have had mixed experiences with doctors recommended by hotels – some good, some bad.

c. If you have medical insurance (VHI/Bupa etc.) be sure to add on your child at the earliest opportunity and certainly before going to Thailand. When arranging this, request written confirmation of cover. Similarly, take out travel insurance and if possible, have your child included.

d. If you are travelling with another child we suggest that you get a separate passport for your son/daughter. This is in the event that your new child needs hospital care that extends past the day you are due to travel home. In the unlikely event of this happening, try and get the travel agent to allow the ticket be changed without incurring extra charges.

e. Obviously,   you should consult your GP and also good quality travel guides in respect of mosquito sprays/creams,  diarrhoea treatments,  general immunisations etc. before travelling

Baby Homes: Staff at the Baby Homes are extremely nice and generally will be only too happy to show you around. You will also be anxious to take photographs and have some record for your family in years to come. When going about the children’s home however, you are very likely to experience children clinging to you, looking for you to lift them up, give them a cuddle etc.. For many, this experience, even when expected, was heart rending and overwhelming. We cannot tell you what to do, just to be prepared for it.

Daily Routine: Going into your custody will represent an enormous and shocking change for your child. However well prepared, the child will in fact be in alien surroundings with total strangers. Parents should endeavor to maintain what continuity they can once they take custody. Therefore, if baby home staff do not provide a written outline of your child’s routine you should ask for it. The list should address what time the child gets up, when he naps (and for how long), when he has milk, when he has lunch/dinner, when he goes to bed, favourite foods etc. Those who followed their child’s normal routine felt that it helped both them and their child. Unfortunately for you however, it probably means dinner at 6pm!!

You and Your Child:- Travelling to Thailand to collect your child will undoubtedly represent the culmination of years of anticipation and preparation. You will travel emotionally charged and with high hopes for your soon to be expanded family. These feelings are wonderful and natural. The dynamic of parent and child meeting and bonding however is complex and will not always immediately fulfill your expectations.   If it does not, do not dispair, things come around in their own time.   The following tips specifically come to mind under this heading:-

a. Child behaviour: The adoption of your child will separate him/her from familiar surroundings and loved ones. One way or another, sometime, your child will grieve at this loss. Many couples, particularly those adopting in the 2 to 4 age category experienced what might be described as very bad tantrums but are probably bouts of extreme anxiety or grieving. These occurred in Thailand and at home for some months after the adoption. They do however diminish and resolve over a number of months. This general issue is quite complex and is dealt with in some of the materials referred to in the Infopac.

b. Bonding/Attachment: You may or may not form an immediate bond with your new child. Similarly (and particularly having regard to item "a" above) do not presume that your child will immediately or automatically bond with either or both of you.

c. What am I doing here? !   If (when?) confronted with a child acting up in a hotel room who does not understand what you are saying and you don’t know what to do, you will most likely pose this question to yourself. We have all been there and asked the same question. Don’t worry.

Holiday: Having read all of the above you will possibly think that a holiday would be nice.   You’re probably right!  However, as most of us thought we would never get home we would recommend that you leave your options open to return when your panel hearing is over.  In reality, your child will dictate how your time in Thailand is spent and that is why flexibility is so important.

TAG has made contact with a Taxi driver who can be your personal chaffeur for 200 baht an hour (about £5). It costs more for airport runs. He has got excellent english and is a very entertaining guide. A good idea to book him for the Panel Meeting. There are, of course, also plenty of taxis available on the streets of Bangkok, not to mention the Tuck Tucks. The taxi driver is Mr. Anant Phone (H) (66 2) 337-0504 (M) 01-847 1248 Email : romances@cscoms.com

Travel: Our most recent information is that the easiest route to travel to Bangkok is through Paris. We have been informed by the British Embassy that no visa is required to transit through London. However, some couples have experienced hold-ups while their papers were checked so if you are travelling through Heathrow, give yourself enough time to make your plane. If you want to stop over a couple of days in London you will need a visa.

The Baby Pool!    Many adopting couples have found this to be a central facility in getting to know their child in the early stages in Thailand.   If at all possible,   ensure that your hotel has this facility,   you will most likely be glad of it.   

Settle In: While we are all anxious to get our children as quickly as possible on arrival in Thailand, we would recommend that you spend 2 – 3 days becoming accustomed to the climate and time change.

If your flight out of Bangkok leaves at night, we suggest that you arrange a late checkout of the hotel, or if that is not possible, book and pay for an extra night in your hotel prior to going out (cheaper) as this allows you to use the room right up to the time of your departure. Otherwise you may be asked to vacate the room at noon. In the latter event, most hotels will store your baggage but apart from that, you will effectively be in the hotel lobby or out on the street!

You may already be aware of some of these points but we hope you find the list helpful. If you have anything to add after your return, please do let us know.

We hope that you have a very enjoyable trip now that the waiting period is over. You will find the Thais a very friendly people who go out of their way to be pleasant.