Newborn Adoption

Newborn adoption, which can sometimes refer to the adoption of children up to 2 years of age, is one of the most common age groups adopted in the U.S., particularly among first-time parents. It's estimated that between 30,000 and 50,000 infants are adopted annually in America, just under half of which are internationally adopted. The majority of newborn adoption results from unplanned pregnancy and are facilitated by private agencies or are facilitated as independent adoptions.

Because this is a popular age for first-time parents, it's important that a lot of counseling takes place, particularly if the couple has yet to grieve for infertility and the loss of a biological child. The adoption process, however, is also preferred because of the amount of control the adoptive parents may have in the child's environment from an early age. While this may prevent certain environmentally induced behaviors and associations, any effect of the biological "lottery" may remain dormant in an adopted newborn and parents must be fully able to accept and nurture these changes without feeling shorted by the adoption process.

Newborn adoption lends itself to extensive bonding opportunities, particularly because during the first two years of a child's life he or she is learning to bond as well as detach. This process can greatly affect a child's instinctual reaction to social situations later in life, thus why adoptive parents may find this age range so important to their adoption preferences.