Adopt a baby, which agency?

[LolaBundles]

Hi everyone, just doing some preliminary research into adopting, our preference is a baby as young as possible, I know of someone who has been abel to adopt a baby as young as 2.5 weeks, and I wondered if anyone else has done this/doing this and which agencies you used? I have two children already (4 and 2, girl and boy) but feel our family isn't complete yet and I cant have a third.

[topcat2014]

What you are talking about is generally termed foster to adopt - with the risk that the child could 'go back'

By the time you have completed your assessment, your youngest child will be three+, - given that there needs to be a 2 year gap.

[Wellthatsannoying]

Look into Foster to Adopt (F2A) or Early Permanence Placements (EPP). My baby came to me at just a few days old :)

[LolaBundles]

ok - thanks for that. How long did it take for you to be approved as a foster career and adopter? X

[Mama1980]

Hi, are you in the UK op?
As others have said in the UK you would be looking at Foster to Adopt, (if you are set on a young baby,) which has its own set of challenges including uncertainty and the fact that in a number of FTA cases the baby is returned to the care of the birth mother /family, an outcome that is not always predictable for example if kinship carers come forward.
My journey to adoption was unique so not necessarily applicable but my dd2 was placed in my care the day she was born with her bm consent and even with no possible issues, the adoption order didn't go through until she was 7 months old.
As I said my route was unique so I can't advise on agencies but I would advise keeping as open a mind as possible and doing masses of research (I'm sure you already are!) which will by definition help narrow your criteria and which agency might be the best fit for you.

[HuntIdeas]

The other thing to be aware of with foster to adopt is that you will obviously be a foster parent initially with everything that goes with that, including facilitating contact with the birth family potentially 5 times a week

[Wellthatsannoying]

It took me 6 months from applying to being approved and matched with my little girl. It can happen very quickly! She will have been with me 6 months before placement order is made and I can apply for adoption order.

[Wellthatsannoying]

And yes until the placement order is made, I take her to contact with birth family 3 times a week.

[Italiangreyhound]

Good luck.