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If you’re considering adding to your family, our friendly Social Workers will be able to advise and support you on when would be the right time to apply and the best age of child to welcome. Please get in touch at any time for an informal chat by calling 0300 3301440. We’ll consider the points below…
Time since your last adoption
This is really important as it’s essential to allow ample time for a child who has recently joined your family to establish a sense of security before contemplating further adoptions. Building trust with new parents takes time, especially if the child has endured distressing and unsettling experiences in the past.
The timeframe required for a child to feel secure within a family varies, influenced by the child’s age when they were adopted and their previous experiences. Even a child placed at a relatively young age needs time to relish being the focal point before adapting to sharing with another child.
At Family Adoption Links we would typically expect families to have spent a minimum of a year since the Adoption Order was granted adapting to living together before considering adopting another child.
Age difference between children
When thinking about adding to your family, its crucial to consider the age gap between the children. Adopted children may bring insecurities into the family, and the child joining may not necessarily be a baby but another child with their own history. Generally we would encourage you to consider taking a younger child to help maintain the security of existing children. Research indicates that providing space for each child, with a wider age gap (preferably two years or more), can be beneficial, reducing conflicts arising from similar developmental stages.
If the adopted child’s birth family has another child, you may be asked to consider adopting them too. An assessment would be conducted to determine the feasibility of placing the child with you giving the siblings the benefit of growing up together. We may consider Early Permanence to speed the process up.
How can you prepare?
Our Social Workers will help you to prepare your child for the new addition. Older children might exhibit regression that could surprise you. Even with careful preparation, children who have experienced chaotic and frightening times in the past may unexpectedly show signs of insecurity. Discussing the timing of a second application and considering the age and backgrounds of children with your adoption team will be helpful.
Will my age affect my application?
Please don’t worry about your age. At Family Adoption Links, there is no upper age limit for adopters and we will assess you on your ability to parent a child independent of your age. Experienced adoptive parents bring valuable qualities which we really value.
