top

close menu

Get Free Info

5 Surprising Newborn Adoption Facts

What to Know About Newborn Adoption

Adopting a newborn is one of life’s most beautiful journeys. As one of the best infant adoption agencies in the country, we know how important it is for you to build your family through adoption.

As you’re considering newborns for adoption, it’s important to learn about the adoption process so you know what to expect. There are probably some things that you didn’t know about adopting a newborn, which is why we’ve created this guide to explain five common facts about newborn adoption.

Or call 1-800-ADOPTION to speak to an adoption professional.

Common Facts about Newborn Adoption

Newborn adoption, sometimes referred to as domestic infant adoption, is the process of adopting a baby who has been voluntarily placed for adoption by their prospective birth parents. Adoption is a big step for everyone involved and we want you to have all the information that you need. Below are five facts about newborn adoption that can help you understand the infant adoption process.

1. The babies available for newborn adoption are placed with adoptive parents at the hospital  

When you’re looking for a newborn baby for adoption, the vast majority of newborn adoptions occur at the hospital shortly after birth. Our agency specializes in newborn adoption, so we are perfectly equipped to help you along this journey.

We’ve been working with adoptive families and birth mothers for over 30 years. During that time, we’ve helped 13,000 families make their dreams of becoming parents a reality. If you’re interested in adopting an older child, then you might want to consider pursuing foster care adoption or international adoption.

2. Most newborn adoptions are open adoptions

Adoption is much less taboo than it was a few decades ago. That means open adoption is more popular these days. When you’re looking at newborns for adoption, you can decide how much contact you wish to share during and after the adoption.

When you work with American Adoptions, our families must agree to some form of openness, given that research has shown how beneficial open adoption is. Still, you get to set boundaries and choose how much contact you want to have during and after the adoption.

When you pursue open adoption, you have a higher chance of finding an adoption opportunity, as many birth parents prefer this level of contact. Likewise, many adoptive families have found open adoption to be the best path for them.

"I just had no idea what it would look like, but once we were matched and I met Dominic’s birth mom, I was just like, ‘Oh, I could 100% see seeing her on an annual basis – or even more than that,’” Lindsey said about her experience with open adoption. “My general advice is to be open and flexible to whatever the birth parent is comfortable with and try to go with the flow as best you can."

- Adoptive Parent Lindsey,
 Her Story

“I just had no idea what it would look like, but once we were matched and I met Dominic’s birth mom, I was just like, ‘Oh, I could 100% see seeing her on an annual basis – or even more than that,’” Lindsey said about her experience with open adoption. “My general advice is to be open and flexible to whatever the birth parent is comfortable with and try to go with the flow as best you can.”

3. Wait times for newborn adoption aren’t as long as you may think

When you want to find newborns for adoption, the wait times are based on your adoption agency and your preferences. At American Adoptions, our wait time is an average of 12 months. Our staff works tirelessly to help you find the right adoption opportunity in the shortest amount of time.

We use extensive advertising services to connect with prospective birth mothers nationwide. To get the same exposure from another adoption agency, you would need to join 25 other agencies’ lists, which would cost more money in the long run. Although each situation is different, we do everything possible to minimize wait times.

4. Most newborn adoption agencies don’t offer financial protection, but we do

One of the biggest things to look out for when you’re pursuing newborn adoption is whether the adoption agency offers financial protection. Adoption is a financial commitment that most families have worked hard to save up for. At American Adoptions, we understand how expensive adoption can be, which is why our insurance program protects your entire financial investment in case of an adoption disruption.

Our Risk-Sharing Program has refunded 100% of lost fees to 98% of adoptive families including:

  • Living expenses

  • Prenatal expenses

  • Legal expenses

In the event of a newborn adoption disruption, your money will be refunded directly back to you so you can continue to pursue adoption at your own pace. Although we can’t eliminate the emotional loss, we can offset the financial loss. This program has helped families save over $4.6 million since it began. It has given more families the chance to pursue newborn adoption. 

5. You can create a video profile to help find a newborn adoption opportunity

Most newborn adoption agencies require you to build a family profile to help prospective parents get to know you better. These profiles are one of the first impressions birth parents will have of you, and, sometimes, a print profile just isn’t enough.

At American Adoptions, we go a step further by making a video profile for you. These video profiles are a way for prospective birth parents to get a better idea of who you are and what their child’s life would be like with you. Through research and communication with birth parents, we’ve found that these videos are one of the main reasons they work with us.

Learn More about Newborn Adoption

If you’re interested in learning more about newborn adoption, then you can fill out this contact form or call 1-800-ADOPTION to get more free adoption information now. We look forward to hearing from you!

Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.

Request Free Information

Join Us Now
Adoption Home Study

Adoption Home Study Process

Learn what a home study is and why you need one to adopt a child.

Read More

Home Study Questions and Answers

While adoption home studies vary slightly from agency to agency and state to state, there are several key elements that are almost always included in every home study.

Read More

Home Studies: State by State

Find a qualified professional in your state to complete your home study.

Read More
Frequently Asked Questions

Do we need to retain our own attorney?

No, American Adoptions has established relationships with some of the best adoption attorneys in the nation. Because adoption laws vary from state to state and between counties, it is important to utilize the services of an adoption attorney who specializes in the state where the adoption will finalize, which is unknown until you match with an expectant mother. You have the right to retain your own attorney, but doing so may be an additional, unnecessary expense.

Can we choose the gender of our baby?

American Adoptions does not allow gender specificity in adoption. Any family who wishes to be gender-specific in their adoption should contact us at 1-800-ADOPTION and ask about the possibility of an exception waiver before taking any other steps toward adoption with our agency. Any families who do receive an exception to be gender-specific may also incur an additional fee, which helps cover the additional advertising costs of such a request.

Please note that gender specificity will likely increase your wait time significantly.

Additional Resources

Adoption Newsletter

Did you know that American Adoptions offers a free bi-weekly e-newsletter? Sign up today to keep up-to-date on the latest in adoption news and information.

Sign Up

Famous Adoptions

Learn which famous Hollywood actors, sports stars, politicians and other icons have been touched by adoption.

Read More

Adoption Glossary

Do adoption terms and phrases leave you feeling confused? Learn the meaning to key adoption words and phrases with our comprehensive adoption glossary.

Read More