[mommytobug]

I am a social worker and adoptive parent. We are currently looking at Guatemala but i am also doing a homestudy for a couple adopting from Guatemala. Have any of you had attachment issues and if so, what books can you recommend? THANKS FOR ANY HELP>

[PackGirl]

We have not had attachment issues with Ernie but we are preparing for them with K since it appears he will be a toddler when he arrives home.

I have read and would recommend Toddler Adoption: The Weavers Craft by Mary Hopkins Best and Attaching in Adoption by Deborah Gray.

I'm sure there are others...but I know that these two were highly recommended to me.

HTH,

[Niclayson]

We had attachment issues. Our son was 7 1/2 months when he came home. He cried or whined CONSTANTLY. He woke 7-8 times per night for 12 weeks. He overfed...drinking 55 ounces of formula per day. He was constantly sad. He bit me and my children. He slapped and kicked as well. It was heartbreaking.

The Weavers craft was good. I found a recent book called the Post Adoption Blues to be excellent. Can't recall the author, but it was published in 2005 by a psychiatrist and his wife who adopted from China.

Our son's issues have mostly resolved...although I would still describe him as my Velcro baby most days.

[Pamsko]

We brought Alex home at 17 months and Scott at 6 months. We've had no attachment issues with Scott. . . Alex was a different story altogether!!

I would recommend the Weaver's Craft. . . lots of it wasn't applicable in our case, but being prepared for the worst helped us get through.

[tybeemuffin]

My Agency required that we read "Attaching in Adoption". It was quite good.

Edited to remove retail website link

[brink]

Our three came from the same small, private orphanage where they received excellent care and much love and consistency of caregivers. We had no attachment issues with our two who each came home at age four. Our daughter came home at ten, and really no attachment issues. It just took time to learn to live in a family. She grieved for her friends and caregivers, which was a good sign that she had strong attachment to people in her life before us.

[ncmom24]

Our son came home last Sept. a week before he turned 2. He had lived with the same foster family since birth and has had no attachment issues. Our social worker mentioned to us that for the families she has worked with doing post-placements she has seen no attachment issues with children adopted from Guatemala but quite a few from kids adopted from Russia. Just passing on what she told us. I have three daughters as well and I know full well that every child is different and will react differently. We have been fortunate with Elijah that all seems well for now.

Good luck in your decision!
Tiersa