Advice when you’re adopting

Adopting a child can be a wonderful experience, but it’s also something that most people have no familiarity with when they begin. This advice can help you if you’re thinking of adopting in Maryland, and it’s also important to familiarize yourself with all of the legal steps that are necessary.

First and foremost, you want to learn about your new child and his or her life before adoption. If you’re adopting an infant, this means talking to the parents who are giving the child away or the caregivers who have been with the child for a short time. Ask questions and learn about the child’s past so that you can make the best choices for that child.

Naturally, this also means looking into the child’s medical history. Be sure you know about any medical conditions and the treatments and care that could be necessary. If possible, also find out about the medical history of the birth parents, as this can help you see how the child’s health may go as he or she ages.

Remember that the transition is a big one, and the child may want to be even closer to you than a child you gave birth to. The child may be used to a group setting where a lot of children live and sleep together. Putting the child in a nursery by itself, right off the bat, can be jarring.

Finally, keep in mind that the relationship with the child’s birth parents may change over time. If you decide to keep communicating with them, remember that they may grow to desire to be a larger part of the child’s life, and you need to be ready to deal with that situation.

Source:

 WebMD, “Bringing Your Adopted Child Home,” Gina Shaw, accessed Aug. 14, 2015

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