Infant adoption can fulfill the dreams of a couple waiting to start a family. There are various avenues that lead to infant adoption, and families must be willing to sort through the possibilities. While the process may be long and demanding, understanding the options available for infant adoption can start you on the road to making a dream come true.
Identification
Adoption means bringing a child into a permanent family. Many parents are unable to raise a child, and decide to place him for adoption with another family. Adoption of infants frequently occurs when a pregnant birth mother knows that she will choose someone else to raise her child. Parents who wish to provide a stable home for a baby should consider the infant adoption process.
Benefits
An infant who is adopted is placed with her parents at a very young age, giving her as much time as possible to grow up within the family. Many parents adopting domestically may be chosen by a birth mother while she is still pregnant, and the couple can then attend the birth of their child. Parents who choose international adoption have some advantages as well, such as an expedited process in some countries and adding a person with a different ethnicity to the family.
Considerations
Parents who adopt internationally may not be able to adopt an infant, and children up for adoption in other countries may be older. The time it takes to complete paperwork for an international adoption can be long, making adopting a newborn unlikely. Parents who choose domestic adoption may be faced with the possibility of a birth mother changing her mind, particularly if the baby has not yet been born.
Time Frame
The time frame for an infant adoption varies, depending on the process. Adoption of a baby with special needs may take a few months to complete, according to the National Adoption Center. Adoption of a healthy infant may take from two to seven years. Adopting an infant with medical needs is expedited because agencies wish to find a home for the child quickly. Parents waiting for a domestic adoption may be chosen quickly or may wait years to be selected.
Types
Parents should research their possible choices for adoption and make a decision based on the best situation for their family. Domestic adoption is done through an agency that will facilitate the transfer of care for the infant. Independent adoption allows parents and the birth mother to make arrangements for the child without the help of an agency. Public adoption involves the social welfare system and infants who have been removed from a parent’s custody. International adoption involves adopting an infant from another country.
References
- Adoption & Child Welfare Law Site: The Family Page: A Source of Child Welfare and Adoption Information for All Family Members
- National Adoption Center: Frequently Asked Adoption Questions
- Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center: Deciding Adoption Preferences: Domestic Versus International Adoptions
- Adoption.com: Where Do I Start?
