[CarmJoeMom]

Our plan is to have one more biological child and then to adopt our third. I'd like to begin the process when our second is 9 months. I figure by the time we get the baby home, the second would be 15 to 18 months old. Is there any reason why we wouldn't be able to do this?

[scgal]

My agency has a policy - they won't start working on an adoption with someone until their new baby or new adoptee has been home 6 months. You might not also want to do it because notaries can become out of date - the notary commission should be valid for at least a year after the documents are signed) and the home study should take place with the recent baby already part of the daily routine. Also, there is no guarantee that if you start now any of the ppw you did now would even be the same in 12 months. If you change jobs, change medical/health status, move, the list goes on. and then there's always the lovely governments changing what it wants. Personally, I'd probably wait.

[Devora]

My agency has the same policy as scgal's. Their reason is that the adoption transition can be a difficult one and to be going through two "new babies" at the same time often is difficult for both the children and the parents. But that said, your plan would still work because your baby would be 9 months old when you start the process.

Best wishes,
Devora

[PattyR]

There might be a few agencies that would place restrictions on you that would not allow you do this. However, there are many agencies that would work with you in this situation as long as you get a favorable home study and you most likely would.

I think it's wonderful that you want to adopt. It is a fantastic way to build a family.

[slaikta]

That is what we did, except we started the adoption process sooner. We began the home study and paperwork when our baby was 4 mo. old. Our adoption was completed 10 mo later. Our daughter was 14 mo. old and our son was 8mo. old when he came home.