Is it possible to adopt a child almost from birth?

[imamummy]

Hi,
I just wondered if this is possible ie to go through the whole (and slow by the sound of it) application process ahead, and then adopt a baby almost from birth?

It would somehow seem an easier adjustment for the child; we have a 4 month-year old girl at the moment which is just wonderful and i would need tons of advice but one day I'd love to adopt too. Any thoughts? and has anyone brought up biological children alongside non-biological children? I hope I'm not sounding naive/ mad as would love to hear from anyone experienced

In this country it's pretty much impossible I'm afraid. You can look at overseas adoption if you are desperate for a baby rather than a tot or older child but you have to be in exactly the right demographic to get a baby and wait for years and years (and then you'll be too old).

The adoption process also takes about two years so even if you started when the child was not even born, it's unlikely you'd get that child till she was quite a bit older. Though it does happen sometimes.

Sorry I meant for UK adoption you have to be in the right demographic. Overseas adoptions are sometimes less choosy (though you have to convice social services you are okay here as well as over there and it tends to cost a lot of money).

It's very unlikely to happen with a UK adoption. Very few babies are given up 'from birth' in the UK today, although it depends on your ethnic origin and/or your feelings about adopting a disabled child.

As far as I'm aware the demand for babies is so high that is higly unlikely you get one, particularly if you already have another children. Besides, the red tape/ evaluations and assesment around adopting a baby will cause the baby to be at goof few months old before being put for adoption.

I have not much experience of it, but I'm sure someone with more experience will show around soon

It is quite unusual, although not unheard of, and as demand is higher than for other ages, you may find having had a biological baby may count against you. You tend to be approved for an age group (under 2's I think is one) and most babies coming into care would be fostered prior to the adoption process commencing.

You sometimes here about it in the US - if a girl decides she doesn't want to keep her baby and the adoptive parents can even be there at the birth. Virtually impossible in the UK though.

My sister adopted her son from birth. So it can be done. But babies are in high demand, it's the older ones that no-one wants

And I was brought up one of 6, 4 biological and 2 adopted. The 2 adopted ones are our brothers and we get really angry when they are referred to as our "adopted brothers". They are our brothers, period.

I've also talked to people who'd already adopted siblings whose mother had another baby, and got the opportunity to adopt that baby as well. Although in one case, very interestingly, the adopters chose not to adopt that baby because they realised they needed to focus on the children they hadn't yet adopted, and get that process really working, not focus their attention on the new baby. A very courageous and unselfish decision.

Yes, it's quite common in the usa. I have a whole bunch of gay friends who have adopted babies from birth. They are generally mixed race babies from single and/or drug adicted mothers. Because of this background, the babies are considered problematic which is probably why they are available for adoption at birth, but so far none of my friends have had any problems at all and just have lovely happy bright children.

Thanks everyone; it's interesting to know more! And I'll keep you posted if in a year or two we start to investigate the possibilities more seriously

My aunt and uncle adopted a 3-week-old baby girl from the Punjabi region of India. My uncle is originally from Kerala.

She was so young they couldn't even fly back to the US with her until she was 8 weeks old, so they had a great family holiday in India for a while (they also have two sons).

I think the only way it happens if you foster the baby then adopt it . My friend was going to do this but she didn't want to have to do the whole being accepted to foster at the same time as being approved for adoption. Even if babies are given up at birth, it will take months for the legal side to be gone through. Meanwhile they are being fostered.

Youngest possible you would get a baby overseas id generally 6 months and more commonly a year. (with the possible exception of a private adoption in the US).

You CAN get a virtual new born in the UK through a process called concurrent planning. The child is on the at risk register before birth and is placed with foster to adopt parents. The next few months would be spent with SS to see if the child could be placed with the birth parents and if not would be adopted by the foster parents. I bleive about 85% of babies remain with the adoptive parents. But obviously that is a risk and you need to be able to be off work and fostering the baby. You also have to consider that childrne on teh at risk register are there for a reason and there may be a history of alcohol or drug abuse which may impact on teh health of the baby.

The length of the process isn't necessarily a factor as you get approved as a parent before they match you with a child (a child is not "held" for you whilst you are being approved). I know of people who have been matched with very young babies (3 months and under) but it is relatively uncommon.

Agree for Uk adoption concurrent planning is I think the only way of getting a newborn. In all other cases a birth mother is given 6 wks to change her mind after birth and so the child is likely to be in foster care during this time.
In USA people from here have adopted newborns having been chosen by the birth mother/parents as suitable adopters for their child. (They have to be approved here first) I believe this is less likely to happen now - some changes in legislation??
From other countries - not very likely to get newborn unless living there........and even then????
Some countries have longer than 6 wks for birth mother to change her mind (3mths or 6mths) and hence this would be impossible.
Most children enterering the country are 12 months plus (some considerably older) Under 12mths is unusual (not impossible)

concurrant planning, most councils are doing this now. definate schemes in london brighton and manchester. we had a baby from 5 weeks, wd have been fron 2 wks if no complications.

hifi how have you found everything? was it easy to adjust?
I'm encouraged to hear about concurrent planning and we're from London

I know Coram do concurrent planning in London

TO BE real with you i'm actually not sure now

Yes but no depending in which place your in

@LemonCookieOfTheGalaxy this thread was last updated SIXTEEN years ago !!!

Few newborn babies are available for adoption even when separation from birth had been planned in advance. The child will usually be placed in fostercare initially.