[amya54]

I adopted my daughter at age 5 1/2 from foster care. I am hoping to make a life book for her, and would love to include a baby picture of her. I've tried contacting the hospital where she was born, but they don't keep photos. The earliest photo she has is from her early foster care at age 4. I don't want her to lose her babyhood! It's a really big gap for her in her life. At school they will ask for baby pictures, and she has none. It just breaks my heart. Does anyone have any ideas?

[riley6]

Could you ask the sw to contact the child's previous ffamilies and ask for photos? I always sent my kids on with a mini photo album full of pictures. Maybe one of your child's previous ff did the same thing and might have duplicate photos.

My kids were 2-12 when they came to us. We have no photos before that. I've asked their bfamilies for pictures, but still after three years they haven't brought any to the visits. I gave up.

[amya54]

The early photos that I have are from her foster families. What I would love to have are photos of her when she was very young. She was with her birth family until age 4, but when she was put into foster care nothing like that came with her. I was just hoping to find the photo that the hospital sends home with parents and their newborns . . .

[riley6]

Was your child in head start or preschool? Maybe they would have pictures. I know my daughter's preschool gave me a ton of pictures at the end of the year. Maybe your child's former school has some?

[BrandyHagz]

I can’t remember the name of the major hospital picture people…there was a thread about it on one of the birthmother forums not to long ago…firstfoto maybe?

You could try to contact them and ask them if they still have the pictures on file…a word of warning tho, they are NOT adoption friendly and may require a certified letter from the placement agency in order to send you anything.

[DeNaJa]

First Foto does hospital pix of infants. I'm sure there must be others as well. I would hope they would be understanding of your desire to provide your child with baby pictures. I wouldn't be surprised if they did want some sort of proof that this is YOUR child...they hassle bio parents too and extended family must have the secret password to gain access to the pix. Don't be offended...it is a dafety thing. It may be frustrating, but it is wise. I have asked my daughter's birth mom for current pix of herself and ones of her as a child so my daughter can compare. The only pix I have of her birth mom were when she was pregnant and immediately after the birth. I also have pix of her b-maternal grandma and b-maternal aunt...before birth and when they held her for the first time. Precious.

Good luck on your quest!

[mckenna]

unforturnalty first foto only keeps pics on hand for one year. i don't have any pictures of my son before 4 months (much better than 4 years) but i called first foto to see if i could get his and they said they are not kept past a year. good luck.

[spaypets]

Might there have been a birth announcement in the local paper that included the photo? I doubt the photo co. keeps anything like that.

Are you in touch with her birth family? They might have pictures they'd be willing to share.

[sfbaymom2000]

Amya54 - we are in exactly the same boat. No pictures before age 4! I dread how this is going to effect M later on! Good luck. I am hoping we can get some photos at some point from her bio aunt.

[dixieshellm]

you can cut out maybe a baby picture in a magazine of what she may have looked like, and at school just send the first picture u have of her
michelle

[DeNaJa]

I wonder if it is possible to do an "age regression" picture similar to what what is done for missing children (only in reverse)? I have no clue if it is possible or what it would cost, but maybe take the youngest picture you have to an artist and see if s/he can create a sketch of what your child may have looked like as an infant given the statistics you may have about birth weight etc or simply given the average stats for newborns and infants. Many people have pencil, chalk, or painted portraits of their children so it may not seem "odd". Also, it could be scanned and the size reduced to something easily transferred to school when necessary.

[sfbaymom2000]

De NaJa,

I have thought of that idea, too, but didn't know if it would seem "weird". I may look into it. I am sure it is possible (at least to get a drawing).

Thanks!