Finding a Single Parent to Adopt Your Baby [A Complete Guide]
As a pregnant woman considering adoption for your baby, you’re most likely doing so because you want your baby to have the best life possible. You may feel pressure to find the perfect adoptive family for your baby. First of all, it’s important to know that every woman’s ideal adoptive family for her baby looks different.
Some women may be interested in same-sex couples looking to adopt, while others may be interested in traditional, opposite-sex couples. Some women, however, may feel strongly about the idea of their baby being adopted by a single parent.
Whether you had a positive experience growing up in a single-parent household yourself, or whether you feel a connection when you look at a single mother or father’s adoption profile, you can absolutely place your baby for adoption with a single parent.
Benefits of Placing Your Baby with a Single Adoptive Parent
While some women might see a single-parent household as less desirable, there are actually several benefits associated with a child being raised by a single parent.
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Children adopted by single parents may be more responsible. Single parents are tasked with handling all of the responsibilities in a household. While this is difficult at times, a child who is raised in this environment will understand from an early age that he or she must be responsible for their own actions. He or she will learn to value planning, following through, and — as he or she grows older — will understand the importance of teamwork and helping out around the home.
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Children adopted by single parents will receive undivided attention. In a two-parent household, each partner has to be committed to spending quality time with the other — or at least, this should happen in a healthy relationship. In a household where both parents work, this can mean less time with a child. A single parent, however, only has to prioritize quality time with one member of their household — their child!
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A child who is adopted by a single parent may have a stronger bond with that parent. There is nothing like the bond between a parent and a child, and in a single-parent household, this bond maybe even stronger than in other homes. In this scenario, a child will depend on that parent for everything — stability, safety, security and, most importantly, love. In return, a child in a single parent’s household will be that parent’s top priority and greatest love at all times.
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Single parents may be able to devote more quality time to their children. Not having a partner may mean less time spent outside the home at things like work events, family events, and even extracurricular activities. A single parent can prioritize only what matters to them rather than taking a spouse’s life events into account, which means they can choose to spend as much quality time at home with their children as their own schedule will allow.
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Children who are raised in a single-parent adoptive household are being raised by parents who are secure, stable and most likely had happy childhoods of their own. Anyone who wishes to adopt — including a single parent — must undergo a home study. This assesses the candidate’s background, financial and medical records, home environment and more. Passing a home study and being deemed eligible to adopt is an accomplishment in itself. Moreover, a parent who chooses to adopt singly has most likely had the advantage of a happy, healthy childhood, and has chosen to give a child that same experience that he or she was lucky enough to have.
How do single adoptive parents feel about the opportunity to adopt your child? “It’s the one thing that I feel like I’ve always wanted. The first couple of months, I was just getting used to the fact that I’m a mom. It’s pretty cool, and it’s definitely all it’s cracked up to be… I’ve never loved anybody like this,” said Kelli, a single adoptive parent who adopted through American Adoptions.
How to Find a Single Adoptive Parent
While single-parent adoptions aren’t as common as couple adoptions, it is still definitely an option for you. American Adoptions is here to help you get started with finding a single parent wanting to adopt. Your adoption specialist will be able to help you get started and navigate the process, but you will always be able to make your own decisions with your adoption plan, including choosing the adoptive parents.
Your adoption specialist will have you fill out a template detailing what qualities you would like to see in the prospective adoptive family and they will find adoptive family profiles that match what you’re looking for. You’ll be able to review these matches and choose the perfect single adoptive parent for your baby.
If you wish to place your baby in a single-parent household, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that decision. A single parent who wants to adopt will have the same commitment and devotion to your child as a married couple, and a case could be made that they have even more love to give. Single adoptive parents, just like married ones, are financially secure and ready to provide your child with a stable and loving home.
To get more information and support about adoption, call 1-800-ADOPTION, or use this tool to begin looking through hopeful adoptive families at American Adoptions now.
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Having trouble finding the perfect adoptive family online? Don’t be discouraged. American Adoptions is currently working with many adoptive families at all stages of the process — and not all of them are currently listed on our website. In addition, we work with a nationwide network of other adoption professionals that can help us conduct a wider search for exactly the family you’re looking for.
To discuss your preferences for an adoptive family and get help finding them, reach out to an adoption specialist by calling 1-800-ADOPTION at any time.
Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. America Adoptions, Inc. provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.
