Adopting children has become increasingly popular over the past few years. Many of today's celebrities have also chosen to adopt, making it even more popular. There are dozens of different reasons why people adopt a child. Some of these reasons can be intensely personal, while others can be to do good for children who are at risk of being lost in the adoption system.
Chilldren in Need
Some people who adopt are extremely caring and devoted individuals. Their reason to adopt a child may be to help a child who is in the system and has little chance of being adopted because of her age or illness. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70 percent of private, domestic adoptions and 90 percent of international adoptions are made by people wanting to help a child in need. Children who are no longer infants or toddlers are less likely to be adopted because most people want babies and toddlers to nurture. The children who are left behind can get stuck in the system and may remain there until they turn 18.
Infertility
Infertility is a common problem suffered by some couples. The desire to have a child is very strong with many of these couples. Therefore, some choose to adopt a child instead of going through infertility treatments that can be costly and may not yield results. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 52 percent of couples who adopt a child in a private domestic adoption and 72 percent who adopt internationally suffer from infertility problems. Infertility can put a strain on a marriage. According to the website for the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center, infertility can lead to grief, denial, anger an depression. It can also cause insecurity and withdrawal from the partner. Adoption offers the couple another solution to this difficult problem.
Adopting Siblings
Some parents choose to adopt another child after they previously adopted this child's natural sibling. Not wanting to separate siblings, and adopting both together or separately, is a key reason for some adoptions. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 7 percent of people involved in private, domestic adoptions are adopting for this particular reason. Adopting parents do not want to see siblings separated and some cannot live with the idea that they have helped to make this happen. In addition, some adopting parents are looking for a more ready-made family, and adopting sets of siblings can provide this instant family.
The Only Child
Some parents have only one biological child. These only children can become very lonely and wish for another sibling and playmate. In these cases, parents may not want to go through the pregnancy and birth scenario. Instead they choose to adopt a child to be a sibling to their natural child. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that 16 percent of people involved with a private, domestic adoption and 36 percent involved in international adoptions are adopting a child for this very reason. This way the parents can adopt an older child who is closer in age to the biological child. This provides a ready-made playmate for the biological child, and a ready-made family for the adopted child. According to the website Adoptions Together, children who have been in foster care for a long period of time and have had difficulty getting adopted because they are older, benefit from these types of adoptions. Therefore, adopting a child who is older helps to relieve an overburdened adoption system as well as places a child that might not otherwise be adopted.
