It’s common to hear the phrase “giving a baby up” when people talk about adoption. But a mother who chooses adoption is not giving up. Adoption isn’t throwing in the towel or taking an easy way out. It is a very difficult decision made out of love, and it can benefit both the mother and the child in the right situation.

So, you may be asking, “Can you give your baby up for adoption at 2 years old?”

The first thing you should know is that you deserve respect as you try to make this difficult decision. By no means are you “giving up.” Placing a 2-year-old for adoption is a big decision. If you are considering adoption for your child, you may feel pushed to the brink in parenting for a variety of reasons and be wondering what options are available to you.

In this guide about how to place your 2-year-old up for adoption, we’ll look at the adoption process, other possible options and resources that may help you. If you would like answers in your specific situation from an adoption specialist, you can call 1-800-ADOPTION at any time.

Can My 2-Year-Old Be Adopted?

 Yes, you can place a 2-year-old for adoption. This is less common in domestic adoption situations than newborn adoptions, but it is still possible. American Adoptions has worked with women who want to put their 2-year-old up for adoption.

With that being said, putting a 2-year-old up for adoption comes with a unique set of challenges. Before you make a decision, it’s important to understand these challenges, as you are likely to face them. Adoption for your 2-year-old may be the best option for both of you, but that doesn’t mean it will all be easy. It’s better to step into this process with your eyes wide open, prepared for the difficulties that may come.

Unique Challenges of Placing a 2-Year-Old for Adoption

As you think about how to place your 2-year-old up for adoption, it’s important to be fully aware of the challenges this entails. Any adoption can be difficult — even when it is the best choice possible. So you’re not alone in facing challenges. Some things that may be unique to placing a 2-year-old for adoption are:

• Your child’s attachment level to you has had two years to develop, making a transition like this much more difficult for them and for you. A bond has been formed, even if that relationship hasn’t been what you had imagined. Speaking to a counselor or other qualified professional about this is highly recommended. 

• When considering adoption for a 2-year-old, you will have to take factors into account that may not be as present in a newborn adoption. The father of the baby could also have a relationship with the child as well as parental rights. You may also need to consider the child’s health, developmental progress and behavior.

• There are amazing, loving families looking to adopt a 2-year-old. However, there are fewer of these families than there are families trying to adopt a newborn. This means that there may be fewer options when trying to find the right family.

The goal of laying out these challenges isn’t to cause you to feel afraid. Rather, we want you to be prepared for what placing a 2-year-old for adoption may look like, and put you in a position to make the best decision for your life.

Adoption Options With a 2-Year-Old

Now that you have a clear picture of what makes this process challenging, let’s talk about what options may be available to you. We know you’re trying to make the best choice for yourself and your child, and this decision is coming from a place of love. There are several different options for how to place your 2-year-old up for adoption.

• Kinship Adoption: If parenting is no longer an option but you still want to maintain a close, personal relationship with your child, you could consider kinship adoption. This is the process of having a family member adopt your child. This adoption process is different from many others, but there are still necessary services you will need that American Adoptions would be happy to provide.

• Temporary Legal Guardianship: Rather than place a 2-year-old for adoption, you could consider temporary legal guardianship. In doing this, you will sign legal guardianship rights to a close friend or family member for a set period of time. This can provide an opportunity to create a better position in life so that, in the future, you can continue to parent your child.

• Seeking Help from Social Services: There are public resources and services that could be available to you to make parenting easier. If you are unsure about putting your 2-year-old up for adoption, the next best step may be seeking help that will make parenting easier.

Placing a 2-Year-Old for Adoption with American Adoptions

As a full-service, fully-licensed national adoption agency, American Adoptions works with hundreds of women each year who are considering adoption for their child. While most of these women are thinking about adoption for their newborn, we do also work with women who want to put their 2-year-old up for adoption.

In this adoption process, you can have many of the same options that any other prospective birth mother would have — such as choosing the adoptive family, deciding on the level of openness in your adoption and receiving financial assistance for adoption-related expenses. However, placing a 2-year-old for adoption may look different in many ways, too.

The best way to get a clear understanding of what placing your 2-year-old for adoption could look like is to call 1-800-ADOPTION and speak with an adoption specialist. Our specialists will help you understand how to place your 2-year-old up for adoption, as well as what other options could be a great choice for you.

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