Am I Too Old to Adopt?

In Part 1 of Adoption Q & A, we discussed how to choose an adoption agency.

My spouse and I are 47 and 45. We married later in life, struggled with infertility, and now we're anxious to adopt. Are we too old?

That depends on the type of adoption you intend to pursue. If you adopt internationally, each country has different age requirements for adoptive parents. So you will need to find a country program that does not have any age restrictions (some prefer older parents).

Parents hoping to adopt an infant may experience greater challenges, as the birth parents generally choose the people who will parent their child, and they tend to choose younger parents. But not always. I know a couple who adopted their first child when they were in their 50s. They now have three children. They did private, independent adoptions.

There are very few age restrictions on parents adopting from foster care. In fact, many state agencies say they prefer older parents, who are more mature, stable, and have the time and energy to deal with the special needs many foster children bring with them into an adoptive home.

Join me for more adoption Q & A in the next post, when we'll discuss: Can I adopt if I'm on a limited income? I go into greater detail on many other questions in my book: The Adoption Decision: 15 Things You Want to Know Before Adopting.

For more news and information about adoption, visit www.laurachristianson.com, and check out my Exploring Adoption bookstore.