Are There Requirements for Giving a Baby Up for Adoption? [Adoption is Always Possible]

You’re a prospective birth mother wondering, “Can I put a baby up for adoption?” Yes, you can, and without fear of judgment or “requirements” to do so.  

• Adoption is always an option for you, regardless of your circumstances. 

• As long as you feel adoption is right for you, there are no requirements preventing you from starting your adoption journey. 

• We can provide a unique level of service and support because many of our adoption professionals have their own first-hand adoption stories.  

You can get free information about the adoption process today when you call 1-800-ADOPTION.

Difficult or complex circumstances in life have no effect on your ability to choose adoption. There are no requirements for “giving a baby up” for adoption if that’s what you feel is best for you. Adoption is always an option for you, and we can help you find the perfect adoptive family today. 

Can Anyone “Give Their Baby Up” for Adoption? Yes — There is a Family for Every Baby

Some women who consider adoption may already be moms, they may be older, or they may have medical issues or other complicated backgrounds, all of which may lead them to think, "nobody would want to adopt my baby." 

However, this couldn't be further from the truth. 

American Adoptions has worked with countless women over our 30-year history, all of whom come from different races and cultures, different age groups and different medical backgrounds. Whatever your situation might be, it would be extremely rare for us to not be able to find an adoptive family who would be thrilled with the opportunity of providing your child with an amazing life.  

If you’re ready to start the adoption process with our agency or want more information on adoption, call us today at 1-800-ADOPTION, or visit our online contact forms for prospective birth mothers and prospective adoptive parents. 

Difficult Circumstances and Adoption [The Perfect Family is Waiting for You] 

Your circumstances in life will never prevent you from choosing adoption. There are families that would be honored at the opportunity to raise your baby. We want to do everything possible to help you find the right family so that you can experience the joy and hope the adoption process gives to everyone involved. 

Heather and her husband found themselves in a difficult position in life. They decided parenting was not an option and made the choice of adoption through our agency. 

“When I found out that I was pregnant with Luke in 2006, I knew I could not care for another child. I was alone, scared and very worried about what the future held for my unborn baby, my children and me,” Heather says. “My husband and I had made some bad decisions that affected our whole family. He was incarcerated at the time of the adoption, and I knew Luke was going to be better off with a different family.”  

Incarceration is one of many life circumstances that lead some prospective birth parents to wonder about the requirements or legalities of “giving a baby up” for adoption. Fortunately, the couple didn’t let those concerns stop them from reaching out to American Adoptions to explore their options.

“I contacted American Adoptions, and they were kind, caring and showed me a great deal of understanding,” Heather says. “I looked through the profiles that they sent me of waiting adoptive families and I knew when I saw Gary and Amy’s profile that they were going to be the parents of my baby. I wanted my unborn child to have a better life than I could provide to him at that time.”  

Here are some of the varying situations women considering adoption may worry will "disqualify" them from creating an adoption plan. Remember, you don‘t need to meet any kind of (nonexistent) requirements for putting a child up for adoption. Even if you are facing one of these existing circumstances, our adoption counselors. will be happy to help you. 

Can You Put a Baby Up for Adoption if You Have a History of Alcohol and Drug Usage?  

Yes, you can. Whether you have used alcohol or drugs in the past or are using them now, please understand that this has no effect on whether or not you have to meet any requirements for “giving your child up” for adoption. While we highly encourage women to live a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy, there are lots of adoptive families who are excited to work with you toward a successful adoption no matter your usage history. We also encourage you to be as open and honest as you can when working with us so that we can help find the right adoptive family for you.

There are no requirements for “giving a baby up” for adoption that would prevent you from placing your child due to drug or alcohol usage. 

Are There Any Birth Father Requirements to Put a Baby Up for Adoption?

Some women worry that they will not meet the qualifications to put a child up for adoption because of their relationship with the father of the baby. However, you do not have to have a specific type of relationship with your baby’s father to be able to pursue adoption. Whether you are married or single, in a relationship or not, and whether the father of your baby is supportive or unsupportive of your adoption, or is uninvolved or unknown, you may still pursue an adoption plan. Every state has its own laws on the birth father.  

Our adoption professionals can talk to you more about your own situation with the birth father, and together we will be able to determine what the best course of action is. Your “putting a child up for adoption” requirements as far as the birth father’s consent will always depend upon your personal situation — but complicated circumstances should never prevent you from starting your adoption journey when you’re ready. 

Can a Mother Put a Baby Up for Adoption if She Has an Unstable Home Life? 

While most women placing a child for adoption are fortunate enough to have a stable living situation throughout their pregnancy, sometimes a pregnant woman may find herself struggling with unemployment, homelessness or other situations at home that lead her to consider adoption for her child.  

If you’re currently in a situation where safe housing isn’t always available to you, adoption is still an option for you and your baby. We can also provide you with a safe place to stay throughout your pregnancy, and we’ll make sure that you have access to whatever resources you need to keep yourself and your baby healthy. 

Are There Any Rules of Giving Your Child Up for Adoption When You Have Other Children? 

Did you know that around half of the women who place a baby up for adoption have other children, as well? Women who are already raising children may feel that they’re not ready for another child for various reasons, and they decide that adoption is the best choice for their whole family. If this describes your situation, please know that in no way does pursuing adoption legally affect your other children. Your adoption specialist can provide insight on how to talk to your children about your adoption, and how they can be a part of your adoption plan. 

Who Can Put a Baby Up for Adoption? Do You Have to be a Certain Age? 

There are no age requirements for putting a child up for adoption. Regardless of your age, we can work with you to find the perfect adoptive family for your baby. Some women may feel more pressured to parent a child if they’re older, even if they don’t feel that parenting is the right choice for them right now. Younger birth mothers may worry about their ability to choose adoption if their parents or other people in their life don’t agree with their decision.

But adoption is an option for you, regardless of your age. If you feel that adoption is the right choice for you and your baby, there are hundreds of adoptive families who have been waiting to meet you and love your child. You can choose adoption at any age. 

What if I Have a Complicated Medical Background?

Some women worry that cancer, diabetes, mental illness or other medical conditions in their medical background or their family’s medical background disqualifies them from adoption. But your health history isn‘t a problem. We have hundreds of waiting families open to working with women of all different medical backgrounds. There are no health requirements for “giving your child up” for adoption, and your adoption specialist will always help you find the perfect adoptive family who is prepared to parent a child with a complicated medical background, if need be. 

So, what is Required to “Give a Baby Up” for Adoption?

Ultimately, the biggest requirement to place your baby for adoption is knowing that it is the best option for you. If you feel that adoption is the right choice for you and your child, then you shouldn’t worry about anything holding you back from making whatever decision you feel is best — especially worries about any requirements for putting a child up for adoption. You can speak with our adoption specialists about whatever is going on in your life, and if you’re ready to move forward, we can also work with you to choose the adoptive family that you feel is right for your baby. 

Adoption is a decision based on love and the desire to provide the best possible life for your child. The experience and shared journey you have with the adoptive family creates a lifelong bond you’ll be able to share together. 

Take it from Scott Mars, founder of American Adoptions, and an adoptee himself:   

"My mom and dad were a couple who weren’t able to become a mom and dad without adoption. Of all people in this world, my mom and dad deserve to be parents. And without adoption, they would not have been able to share their love, share their life, and give someone the life that I had.    

“Because of adoption, my life was filled with love and opportunity.”  You can watch Scott’s video to see his entire adoption story. 

Start Your Adoption Journey Today [Adoption is a Life-Changing Experience]   

Michelle, a birth parent specialist and a birth parent herself, is ready to answer any questions you have about adoption.     

“I am available to answer any questions that arise, particularly from birth moms, as I have been in your shoes and know how you are feeling,” Michelle says. “It was most helpful to me when I had someone to talk to who would just listen to me without making any judgments or conclusions about who I was as a person.”     

You can ask Michelle questions about the adoption process online. You can also call us for free at 1-800-ADOPTION, or get free information with our online contact form for prospective birth mothers considering adoption here. Adoptive families wanting more information on adopting a child can click here to get more information. 

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.