[AdoptInMe]

We have been trying to adopt a newborn through a private agency and independently, and thought that, since it may be a while (and we don't know if it will ever happen) and we have a completed homestudy, why not foster parent, which may eventually lead to adoption anyway? We are willing to do temporary or permanent (adoption) foster care for infants only (under 2 years old, preferrably under 6 months). We have a room ready for a baby, and almost everything needed for a baby, and only 1 extra small room.

Our licensing worker seems to think that there are still quite a few infant placements, and that it may not be the first that we end up adopting, but maybe the 2nd or 3rd. But the 2 women doing our licensing class keep telling us that it's probably not going to happen. They say that they place very few infants, and those usually end up in kinship placements. And the ones that don't have very, very severe medical problems. I also see so many woman on this website who had very young (under 3 months) placements that were either temporary or ended up in adoption for them.

I'm a bit confused and discouraged. What do you all think? I know it depends greatly on location, but are there infant placements or are we going to sit around waiting again?

[punchkin]

Hi, I'm sorry that this road has been a tedious journey for you both, but please don't give up. It will happen. The mere fact that you are willing to foster may be a step in the right direction. A lot of adopt/foster parents like to think of this phase as being the 9month pregnacy phase. Can't wait till the end so we can see and hold our baby.
It is very possibe to get infants thru fostering. the thing is you just never know what's going to happen with the case. My sister has adopted 5 infants from fostercare. All of which she brought home from the hospital. None were related. I have adopted one from fostercare, and last month i was presented with a 5 day old infant as a legal risk. Which means mom has a certain amout of time to work a plan to get her back. Everyone thinks it's a lost cause for mom because this is not her first ride at the rodeo. Know that with fostering nothing is set in stone, and anything is possibe.
Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!

[lovemyseven]

We were also told in our classes that it is very unlikely to get an infant placed in our home but lo and behold our very first placement was for a two day old, beautiful little girl that is still in our home ten months later. We would love to adopt her but that is one thing with the foster care system, you never know. It definitely happens and if that is what you want I say go for it. If nothing else it is a fun and rewarding experience and the child will bring you so much happiness whether it be short term or forever. Good luck you are embarking on quite a journey!

[Chancey]

That is the standard line for all CW's -- they don't have a lot of infants. YES, they do have a lot of infants, most especially if you are willing to take a newborn. You just have to remember that the parents will be given time to work a plan. If you can handle this not knowing, it may be the thing for you.

[Howdy]

I'd think if you are in a city there would be infant placements. I'm only interested in older children, but when I've gone to foster parenting events, there seem to be lots of ffamilies who have foster babies.

I think the licensing class instructors are there to discourage people from fostering! No matter what age you were interested in they'd say that wouldn't be available, ha!

When I wanted a girl aged 3 to 8, I was told (by my licensing worker) that there were many families wanting that, and that she only needed foster homes for babies and boys. And when I lost a fost-adopt placement once (they moved her to a relative) the caseworker who called to tell me my kid was leaving asked if by any chance I'd take a baby or teenager.

My impression is that they have a hard time finding foster homes for babies.

[lovemyseven]

Our case worker did tell us that newborns are very hard to place. I could not believe it but I guess not everyone is up for sleepless nights.

[AdoptInMe]

Thank you all SO much for the replies. I am feeling much better right now. We have opened every door we can think of (within our own country ), so it is bound to happen soon. We should be certified by mid-February, so we're rolling along. All of you have restored my hope, thank you.

[Kelly Rae]

We are in the process of adopting our 4th child from foster care. Our ds came at 8 1/2 months and dd at 1yr. They were fost/adopt. They had 4 and 6 placements before coming to us and our dd had RAD due to so many placements. We decided to open our home to emergency placements for infants because we didn't want another child and family to go through what we did with our dd. We vowed any child who came into our home would have a permeant home as long as they needed. Our first emergency placement we picked up from the hospital and he now shares our name as he did our heart from birth. Our second placement we also picked up from the hospital and he is now 10 1/2 months and we hope will finalized by summer. We were told infant placements were few and far between but here we sit with 4 of them.

I do have to say that the process with visits, court dates and all is very trying to say the least and has been more difficult then I would have ever believed, but I would do it again in a heart beat for any of my blessings.

[AmahMama]

In FL there can be only 2 children under the age of 2 in a household. I've ALWAYS HAD AT LEAST 1 infant and another under 2. Many times we've had 2 infants. I thnk the workers don't want people to get thier hopes up and hearts set on being able to adopt every precious child that comes into care. And believe me - there are some that when it comes time to end the placement - relief is rampant!! I am always hoping for the best outcome for the children. I pray for them and think of them often as I know they are growing, worry about the ones I don't have contact with, wonder what they all look like and how they are progressing. But we haven't kept any of them. And the majority have ru'd. I think that is what keeps the workers from "encourageing" the idea of adopting infants from foster care.

I was on the "Panel" for a MAPP class a while back and was asked why there aren't any infants for placement. I was astounded!!! I always have infants. Unfortunately, there seems to be no shortage. Unfortunately, there seem to be no shortage of foster children at all.

Good luck and God Bless you in your search.

[Lamaena]

I live in FL and in our area there seems to be no shortage of infants in foster care. I currently have a nearly two month old baby girl that came into our homes and our hearts when she was just 4 days old. I believe that most of the time when the workers state there aren't that many babies in care, that they say so b/c they want to be able to call you w/ an older child for placement and that you won't hold out waiting for that newborn you've hoped for (that's just my point of view).

I hope that you are blessed enough to adopt that child you've been hoping for.

[rmyoung]

they may a speech saying if you want a new born baby
to adopt then leave now beacuse thatw ouldnt happen.Today we officially TPRed jack our 8 month old that we got at 3 days old.the bottom line is they try and scare you to see who is really interested.

[ScrapMonkey]

I do not think they tell you that to "see who is really interested," I think they tell you that because it is RARE. Many people want to adopt an infant but MOST infants will not be available for adoption until they are older than people are hoping for. If you take in a 3-month old, the truth is a family memebr could still come forward or mom and dad can get their act together and get that baby back. You are taking your chances when you take in an infant. We're learning that the hard, heartbreaking way.

We accepted a 2.5 year old because we were fairly certain he'd be available for adoption and we fell in love with him and we're meeting the adoption case worker tomorrow for the first time. Then, out of the blue, we get a phone call about a newborn who was being removed from our son's bio mom and were we interested? OF COURSE!!! So we've been blessed to have a newborn (now 5 weeks) in our home. In fact, I took him home from the hospital! But it's a special case, no doubt. And bio mom or bio dad could still get it together. We love this baby but he's not adoptable yet. We have to remind ourselves every day.

[lynnpalm]

Hi
If you are going into fostering with the hope of adopting the little one you are caring for, please be prepared for an unbelievably emotional rollercoaster of a ride. We currently have a 15 1/2 mo old toddler at our home who we brought home as a newborn. Everyone initially said they thought this case was a slam-dunk fast track adoption case. They were wrong. At the moment we are waiting on one doctor's report. This report will either make or break reunification. I have never had my heart-strings jerked around as much as they have been the past 15 months. If you go into to foster care, make sure that you fully realize that the goal is reunificiation. (We went into this believing the long-term goal was going to be adoption. Oops, not the way to do it.) It is one thing to hear this, but another thing to live through it. If you are able to love that little person knowing that you might well have to say goodbye, go for it. If you are not big on goodbyes, then maybe think twice.
Whatever you decide, good luck!

[Bug-n-Bears-Mommy]

I believe they do this so that they do not set you up for dissappointment. Both my boys were under 2 months when placed. The oldest was 2 days old. It DOES happen...but they want to make sure you are flexible.

[marcav]

I think the chances of getting a newborn depend a lot on where you live and the corresponding availability. I'm in the process of adopting my 16 month old whom I've had since birth, and a friend of mine adopted one, and is in the process of adopting two others that she has had since birth. I live in New Jersey.

On the other hand, I have a sister who works in child protective services in Vermont, and she says it is rare to get a newborn.