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Originally Posted By Jen

I was wondering how specific you can be when requesting an age range for a child. My husband and I really would like a child less than a year old, can we be gauranteed a child that age?

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Originally Posted By Byrd

My husband and I have been told to expect a referral for a child 8 - 12 months old. I think if you are a younger(under 45) couple, she will be a year or younger. If you are interested in other countries, Korean children come out at a younger age. My friends received their child at 5 months old. Good luck!

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Originally Posted By Sharon

You can specify an age range and have your homestudy indicate your interest in that age range. However, China may or may not give you a child of that age. The Chinese authorities seem to regard any child under age two as an infant, for referral purposes.

While it is true that China is more likely to refer an older child to older parents, and younger children to younger parents, it is not a rule and there are many exceptions.

I have met a single woman who, at 45, was referred a healthy, big five month old. I have also met a younger woman who asked for an infant and received a 22 month old. The ultimate switch was in my travel group, where a lovely young couple asked (and shopped and decorated) for an infant girl under 12 months of age, and was referred a healthy 2 year old BOY!

I know that some families prefer a very young child, because they believe that the risk of emotional problems caused by institutionalization is less. I also know that some families crave the "baby" experience.

However, I would suggest that they keep an open mind. Even a child coming from China at 18 months of age has LOTS of baby needs. My daughter (18.5 mo. old on adoption day) went through a stage -- more from a wish for closeness than actual need -- where she wanted me to feed her. Although given to me without a diaper, she clearly was not ready to be toilet trained. She was small (17 lb.), and had some delays. So I really had a baby, although she made the move to toddler rather quickly.

And not all of the older kids have been in an orphanage or foster home since birth. My daughter, for example, seems to have been with her birth family for nine months before she was abandoned. She clearly got loving care, both at home and in the orphanage, as she is a huggy/kissy/smiley kid who is as well-balanced as can be. She's 5.5 now, so I've had 4 years to observe her development, and I must say that she is doing very, very well. But most of the kids who have been in Chinese orphanages and foster care for their whole lives also do remarkably well. There is, to be sure, a risk; however, the statistics on emotional problems are somewhat reassuring.

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Originally Posted By teri

You can refuse any referral sent by China and reiterate your request for a child under 1 year as the reason for refusal, but, it will extend out the wait time for the child you want. If you are set that you must have a child under 1 than I think you should express not just that you want that but why in your initial paperwork, and then be patient until China can match you with your child. On the other hand, given the length of time it takes to process an adoption already and in view of the fact that China has done an incredible job of finding the right match of parents and children, you might want to consider carefully what you plan to do if you should recieve an older than 1 yr old referral. In my case we are hoping for a three year old but have discussed our flexibility and know we can accept as young as two or as old as four and a half to five. You just need to be flexible in this China adoption thing and from what ive seen, it always works out just the way its supposed to.