Can I Place My Baby for Adoption at 9 Months Old? [Yes - Here's How]

There are many reasons why you might start thinking about adoption for your 9-month-old baby. No matter what the reason might be, adoption is an option for you. Call 1-800-ADOPTION now to learn more or to get started.

• Complex circumstances like financial instability, lack of a support system or substance abuse issues can make parenting seem impossible. 

• You may be focused on education or career goals, making parenting too difficult. 

• You may have decided you aren’t ready to be a parent. 

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

You Can Choose Adoption at 9 Months Old

Circumstances in life can be the cause of stress or have you hyper-focused on a particular goal, which means there may not be room for parenting. Regardless of the reason, considering adoption for your 9-month-old is okay. It’s not “giving your child up” for adoption or “giving them away.” You’re giving them the best gift of all — life. 

If you’re worried about the impact of adoption on your 9-month-old, it’s important to know that through open adoption, you can still maintain a connection and be a part of your child’s life at whatever level you feel comfortable with. 

• Birth mothers like you, with an older child, have gone through the adoption process with the same concerns.

• Our goal at American Adoptions is to help you experience a safe and smooth adoption journey and find the perfect family for your baby.

• With the right family, you can develop a life-long relationship and know your child is being loved and cared for just as you would. 

We have more than 30 years of adoption experience and have helped thousands of birth moms choosing adoption for different reasons. Ultimately, it’s about loving your child and finding him or her a home that can provide everything needed for growth and development. 

The following information will lay out the adoption process for your 9-month-old and help you get started on an adoption journey that can bring hope for a better future for everyone involved. 

How to Place a Child for Adoption at 9 Months Old 

There are only a few differences when it comes to placing for a 9-month-old adoption as opposed to a newborn. Overall, the process is very similar, and because adoption for a 9-month-old through is an option for you, you are entitled to the same support services as any other birth mother.

These services include:

•  24/7 counseling and support

• free legal representation

• access to a national database of available adoptive family profiles

• And more. 

Here is a brief rundown of what you can expect to happen during the adoption process with American Adoptions: 

Step 1: Submit information and create an adoption plan. The first thing to do is call 1-800-ADOPTION. There, you’ll speak with one of our adoption specialists. After explaining your situation, you’ll be asked to fill out a social and medical history form for yourself and your child, as well as a form explaining your preferences in an adoptive family. You’ll also be asked to: 

• Provide a copy of your child’s birth certificate 

• Determine who is listed as the father on your child’s birth certificate 

• Obtain medical records for your child 

• Provide documentation of where the child has lived from birth to present 

• Assess who has had custody or care of the child from birth to present 

• Disclose who has provided financial and emotional support for this child from birth to present 

• Provide information about any father who has provided child support 

Step 2: Choose an adoptive family. Once your adoption specialist has everything they need, they’ll send you different adoptive families’ profiles to look through. Because we are a national adoption agency, you will have many more families to consider than a smaller, local agency can provide. After you’ve found the right couple for your baby, you’ll start getting to know them through phone calls, emails, and even visits to help your baby begin to transition. 

Step 3: Determine what kind of open adoption you want. You’ll then discuss how the amount of contact you’d like to have after placement. It’s strongly suggested that both parties choose to have an open adoption, but we understand if that’s not feasible. Your adoption specialist will be able to help you through this process. 

Step 4: Legally place your baby for adoption. After everything is ready, you’ll need to consent to the adoption in order for it to be official. Up until this point, you’ll be able to change your mind about adoption. But once you’ve signed away your parental rights, and your revocation period has passed (if applicable), you won’t be able to change your mind. Your adoption specialist and adoption attorney will help explain this process in more detail. 

Remember, it’s never too late to choose adoption.  You can not only change the life of your child but also create a better future for yourself, as well as give a hopeful adoptive family the chance to live out their dream of growing a family.

Many of our adoption professionals are adoptees, have adopted a child or placed a child for adoption, giving us a unique perspective of the adoption process and the emotions associated with it. This helps us give you the support needed to have a safe, smooth and happy adoption journey.

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.

Get More Information on Placing a 9-Month-Old for Adoption  

If you have any additional questions, contact Michelle, a birth parent specialist and a birth parent herself, who is ready to answer any questions you have about placing a 9-month-old up for 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 said. “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 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. 

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