Can I Place My 6-Month-Old Up for Adoption? [How Adoption is Always an Option]

If you’re considering placing your 6-month-old for adoption, you may be worried he or she is too old. But, adoption is still an option. Call 1-800-ADOPTION now to get started.

• No matter the circumstance, adoption is available to you and your child. 

• You can create an adoption plan based on your specific needs with our help. 

• You will receive the same adoption support and guidance as any other birth mother would. 

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. 

Why Would You Choose Adoption for Your 6 Month Old?

Parenting is challenging for a variety of reasons. 

• If you’re a single mother, you may be at your wits’ end.
• Parenting can also be a financial strain on families, and you might not have as much help as you thought you would. 

Both of these situations, and many more like them, can make parenting less feasible than you originally thought. 

You likely already know that adoption is one of your options for an unplanned pregnancy. But after spending so many months away from the hospital, you may be wondering, “Is it too late to place a 6-month-old up for adoption?” Just like every prospective birth mother that we work with, you have the option to “give up” a baby for adoption at 6 months, and even months later, if you choose to. 

The following information will lay out the process of adoption with our agency, as well as explain why adoption for a 6-month-old is never “giving up,” but rather a decision based on love and you wanting the very best for your child. 

Should I Give My Baby Up for Adoption at 6 Months? 

In conversations with your family and friends, it may seem like adoption is “giving up” or taking the easy way out of parenting. But this isn’t true.

Adoption isn’t for everyone. But for some women, it’s the right choice. 

If you’re considering adoption for your 6-month-old, you should always remember that you’re not giving up on your child or “giving them away.” You’re giving them a wonderful gift — the chance to have a better future.

Adoption is a choice made with love, and it might be the best option for yourself and — most importantly — your baby. 

Will My 6-Month-Old Hate Me for Choosing Adoption? 

It’s not uncommon for women to wonder if their child will resent them after being placed for adoption, no matter how young or old they are at the time of placement. However, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. In today’s adoptions, every adopted child has the opportunity to get to know their birth mother after the adoption and reconnect with them throughout their life.  

“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,” - Scott Mars, Founder of American Adoption.  You can watch Scott’s video to see his entire adoption story.    

You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to watch them grow and thrive. If you’d like to have an open adoption, you’ll just want to make sure that you find an adoptive family that fits your needs and has the same goals for adoption as you do; this is something your adoption specialist can help you with. 

How Can I Give Up a Baby for Adoption at 6 Months? 

Overall, the adoption process for a 6-month-old will be very similar to a newborn adoption. You’ll have the same opportunities when placing a 6-month-old up for adoption as you would if you were placing a newborn, with just a few differences.

You are entitled to the same support and guidance from one of our adoption professionals because your adoption experience is important to us.  

Below are the typical steps for a 6‐month‐old adoption: 

Step 1: Contact an adoption professional. You’ll start by calling 1-800-ADOPTION to speak with a trained adoption specialist. She can help you explore all of your options, provide emotional support and help you determine whether you’re really ready to move forward with adoption. 

Step 2: Create an adoption plan and provide important details. If you do decide you’d like to move forward with adoption, you will work with your adoption specialist to make an adoption plan. This plan will outline your preferences for the remainder of your adoption journey, including the type of family you’d like for your baby, the relationship you want to have after the adoption, and more. 

During the initial adoption planning phase, your adoption specialist will also ask you to provide some background information about your child’s life up until now. This information will include: 

• Your child’s birth certificate 

• The name of the father listed on your child’s birth certificate 

• All medical records for your child 

• Documentation of where the child has lived from birth to present 

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

• Assess who has provided financial and emotional support for the child 

• Determine if any father has provided child support 

Step 3: Choose the perfect adoptive parents. After that, you’ll be able to start searching for the perfect adoptive parents for your baby. Families for a baby 6 months old are plenty with our agency, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the perfect couple for your baby. Other, smaller agencies that work with fewer families may not have many (or any) families for you to choose from. On the other hand, our national size ensures that you’ll be able to find the type of family you think will be best for your baby.

Step 4: Help your baby transition to placement. Once you’ve found the right family, you and your baby may have the opportunity to visit with them a few times to help your baby transition. You’ll also be able to decide the amount of contact you’d like to have after placement. Throughout the entire process, you’ll have 24/7 access to counseling, educational resources, and more. 

There will be plenty to consider while you’re making your adoption plan. If you have any questions, always remember that you can contact your adoption specialist 24/7. 

Last Steps in Placing Your 6-Month-Old for Adoption 

Like every prospective birth mother that works with American Adoptions, you’ll also receive free legal representation. The adoption attorney that you’re connected with will be able to help answer your legal questions about adoption, along with your adoption specialist. 

Your attorney and adoption professional will help you complete your adoption paperwork, making your adoption completely legal and a step closer to the finalization process.

Get More Information on Placing a 6-Month-Old for Adoption  

Adoption is a life-changing decision for you, your child and an adoptive family that gets the opportunity to grow a family. Whether your child is 2 weeks, 1 month or 6 months old, adoption is always an option and it’s never too late to choose adoption. Michelle, a birth parent specialist and a birth parent herself, is ready to answer any questions you have about placing a 6-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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