Adopting a child can be an infinitely rewarding and challenging experience. Adopting a child is a lifelong commitment, and when you adopt an infant, you have an opportunity to offer love and support during the most critical years of life. If you're interested in adopting an infant, the best way to prepare for your new family member is to learn as much information as you can about baby adoption, as well as ensure you meet all adoption requirements.
Expert Insight
According to the Agency for Children and Families, there is a high demand for adopted infants in the U.S., and the requirements are therefore stricter than for older children or international adoptions. Many birth parents who put infants up for adoption, as well as agencies, specify age limits or only select younger parents to adopt. With such a high demand, the waiting time can be two years or more for adopting an infant, according to the Child Welfare Information Gateway.
Types
Adoptive parents have a variety of options when it comes to choosing where to adopt. Adoptions can be international, arranged through private or government agencies in other countries, or they can be domestic, either through government agencies, private facilities or individuals. Public adoptions, or those arranged through state agencies, usually entail adopting a foster child. Public adoptions may include more paperwork and wait time than private ones, and are usually much less expensive, as tax dollars subsidize them.
Effects
There are benefits and drawbacks to each form of adoption, and the best adoption routes and pairings vary from family to family. Private adoptions can be cost prohibitive, especially in the U.S. International adoptions run a wide gamut of costs and can more often result in adoptive parents having little information about their child, as well as cultural assimilation challenges for the child. Public adoptions can be challenging because foster children often have experienced abuse or neglect and may require special care.
Benefits
The benefits of adopting a baby are plentiful. Raising a child since infancy offers adoptive parents the opportunity to meet the child's needs at every stage of development, which can reduce the likelihood of physical and mental problems later in life. In addition, bonding with a child from infancy can strengthen the whole adoptive family and help the child feel a strong sense of identity. Adoptive parents also qualify for tax credits from the federal government.
Misconceptions
Adoptive parents may think that a child that comes from an abusive or negligent home or an orphanage may be grateful to be "rescued," but adopted children often feel a sense of loss and longing for their birth families. Adoptive families need to be prepared to help their new family members develop a sense of identity and learn to accept a more open definition of family. Adoptive parenting classes, support groups and counseling programs can benefit adopted children and their new parents.
