How Do I Choose the Family That Will Adopt My Baby?

Finding the right adoptive family for your baby can feel incredibly overwhelming. It is one of your biggest decisions in the adoption process.

Of course, you want your baby to be cared for by a loving family, but you might also have other values that are important to you and that you hope are essential to the adoptive family.

Continue reading to learn more about the most common types of adoption and tips on choosing an adoptive family for your child.

Types of Adoption

The most common types of adoption include:

Open adoption: You can choose the family you want to adopt your baby, and decide how to keep in contact with them. Together, you can determine the amount and type of contact you wish to have.

Semi-open adoption: You choose the adoptive family and still have contact with them, but your adoption coordinator manages communication. A third party helps to keep your identifying information confidential.

Closed adoption: You won’t have contact with the adoptive family or your baby. The identities of all parties are kept confidential, and the court keeps adoption records sealed.

Modern-day adoption in the U.S. allows birth mothers to be as involved or removed from the adoption process as they would like.

Some women find that selecting the adoptive family gives them the peace of mind they need, knowing the family that is caring for their child. However, other women may find it difficult and feel that choosing the family makes the process more challenging.

Regardless of the type of adoption you choose, know that adoption of any kind takes an incredible amount of love and bravery.

Choosing An Adoptive Family

If you choose an open or semi-open adoption, you will work with an adoption coordinator to select the adoptive family. The following are some things to take into consideration:

Determining What You Value

Consider the following questions to help determine what family characteristics are essential to you:

Do I want the family to have other children?
Do I want my child to be in a single-parent or two-parent home?
Do I want my child raised in a family with a particular faith or religion?
Do I want my child to attend daycare or stay home with a parent?

Reviewing the Families

The adoptive specialist you work with will present you with profiles of families. You will narrow down the profiles to a couple of families as you go through them.

This process can take time, so don’t feel the need to rush. The right couple is out there, but if you aren’t finding a good fit, be honest with the adoption coordinator.

Meeting the Family

After choosing a couple, consider meeting them to get to know them better. This will help you better understand their family dynamics and individual personalities.

Connecting with the Family

After selecting the adoptive family, you can invite them to be more involved in your pregnancy. If you feel comfortable, ask them to attend an ultrasound or send them updates about the pregnancy.

Get Help Today

Whether you’re planning to place your child for adoption or are still unsure, New Life Clinic is here to help.

Although we are not a licensed, child-placing agency, we can provide referrals to trusted, local adoption agencies where you can begin the adoption process.

In addition, we offer free lab-quality pregnancy tests and ultrasound scans so you can learn more about your pregnancy and options.