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How to Place a 5-Month-Old for Adoption [How Our Agency Can Help You]

The Process of Adoption for You and Your Baby at 5 Months Old

“Is there still time to put a 5-month-old up for adoption?” The answer is: yes. Call 1-800-ADOPTION now to learn more or to get started.

If you’re ready to start the adoption process with our agency or want more information on adoption, call us at 1-800-ADOPTION, or visit our online contact forms for prospective birth mothers and prospective adoptive parents

Many people think they can only start an adoption plan for their baby before they’re born. But, this isn’t the case. In fact, many prospective birth mothers start contemplating adoption after they’ve already left the hospital. If putting a 5-month-old up for adoption is the right choice for you, know that it will always be an option. 

While you’re considering adoption for your baby, there are several things you should know.

  • Adoption is a life-changing decision that shouldn’t be made quickly.

  • It’s highly recommended that you speak with an adoption specialist that can help answer your questions on how to put a 5-month-old up for adoption.

  • They’ll be able to give you a different perspective based on your situation. 

Below, you’ll find information on how adoption is a decision based on wanting the very best for your child, as well as the steps you can take to start your adoption journey with us. 

You are Not Giving Up on Your Child [Adoption is an Act of Love] 

Parenting is hard for a number of reasons. If you’re considering adoption for your child, it doesn’t mean you’re “giving up” on them, or on being involved in their life. 

You know what is best for your child. That’s why you’re not “giving up” on them — you’re giving them life.

Many of our adoption professionals have placed a child for adoption, grown their family through adoption or are an adoptee. Because of this first-hand knowledge of the adoption process, we can provide you with a unique perspective and support services to help you have a safe and smooth adoption experience. 

While placing a 5-month-old for adoption is very similar to a newborn adoption, there are some key differences. Over the past few months, your baby has started to recognize your voice and connect with you as their primary caregiver. At 5 months old, your baby is starting to form a stronger attachment to you, and you to them. 

This will make separation harder. You may even start asking, Can I get my baby back if I change my mind?” or “What if I regret my decision for adoption?” If you’re having concerns like these, it’s important to communicate with an adoption professional and get important information about the process of adoption.  

To reach out to one of our specialists, please call 1-800-ADOPTION now to receive free information. 

How to Put a 5-Month-Old Up for Adoption with American Adoptions 

Placing a 5-month-old for adoption is very similar to a newborn adoption, with a few exceptions. When you work with the right agency, you’ll be in charge of the process and have the ability to choose an amazing family for your baby.

Our adoption professionals will create an adoption plan tailored to your needs, giving you the best possible experience. They will help you find the perfect family waiting for the opportunity to provide your child a loving and nurturing home. 

As a prospective birth mother, you’ll have the benefit of our agency’s support services that include: 

Here are the initial steps for putting a 5-month-old up for adoption: 

  • Step 1: You’ll start by calling 1-800-ADOPTION, where you’ll be connected with a specialist who can help answer all of your questions. Once the adoption specialist gets a good idea of your situation, you’ll be asked to fill out a social and medical history form. Since you’re placing an older infant for adoption, you’ll also need to fill out a form for them. 

  • Step 2:  After filling out the appropriate forms, your assigned adoption specialist will send different adoptive family profiles based on your preferences. When you’re putting a 5-month-old up for adoption, you may fear that your child is too old to be adopted. But don’t worry. There are plenty of families to choose from who would be thrilled to adopt a 5-month-old, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a loving couple for your baby with our agency. While many smaller agencies may not give you many choices when it comes to the adoptive family, our national size means we work with many more families at once. 

  • Step 3: Once you’ve decided on a family, you’ll start getting to know them. Your adoption specialist will help mediate the first phone call. After that, how much contact you choose to have is up to you. Most adoptive families and prospective birth mothers choose to communicate through phone calls, pictures and letters, and even visits if they live close enough to one another. 

  • Step 4: Once you’ve gotten to know the adoptive family, you’ll be able to discuss the amount of contact you’d prefer once the adoption is completed. Open adoptions are strongly encouraged, but the amount of contact you choose to have is always completely up to you. 

  • Step 5: Lastly, you can legally consent to the adoption whenever you are ready. 

Your adoption specialist and adoption attorney will make sure you understand all of your rights in an adoption beforehand, so you can feel confident about your decision before completing any legal paperwork. 

Are You Ready to Start Your Adoption Journey? 

Adoption is a life-changing decision that not only gives your child the home he or she deserves but gives you the opportunity to focus on your goals and gives a hopeful adoptive family the chance to live out their dreams of growing a family. 

Take it from Scott Mars, founder of American Adoptions, and an adoptee himself:     

“My mom and dad were a couple who weren’t able to become a mom and dad without adoption. Of all people in this world, my mom and dad deserve to be parents. And without adoption, they would not have been able to share their love, share their life, and give someone the life that I had.      

“Because of adoption, my life was filled with love and opportunity.”  You can watch Scott’s video to see his entire adoption story. 

If you want to learn more about placing a 5-month-old for adoption, you can contact Michelle, a birth parent specialist and a birth parent herself, to get answers to any questions you have about adoption for a 5-month-old.        

“I am available to answer any questions that arise, particularly from birth moms, as I have been in your shoes and know how you are feeling,” Michelle said. “It was most helpful to me when I had someone to talk to who would just listen to me without making any judgments or conclusions about who I was as a person.”        

You can ask Michelle questions about the adoption process online. You can also call us at 1-800-ADOPTION, or get free information with our online contact form for prospective birth mothers considering adoption here. Adoptive families wanting more information on adopting a child can click here to get more information. 

Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is American Adoptions the right adoption agency choice for many birth mothers?

American Adoptions is one of the largest licensed adoption agencies in the United States. Each year, we work with thousands of women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy and offer assistance to these women. Our large, caring staff is able to assist you seven days a week and provide you with one-on-one counseling about your pregnancy and available options.

You should choose an adoption agency where you feel completely comfortable with their services and staff. With American Adoptions, you will work with an Adoption Specialist who is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Adoption Specialist will be your advocate and will provide support and guidance as you create an adoption plan that is right for you.

How will the family tell my child about me and the adoption when my child is older?

Each family has their own style of introducing adoption to the child. When you are matched with an adoptive family, you can ask them this question. If you would like your Adoption Specialist to discuss it for you, just let her know. He or she can share your wishes or provide good ideas from other adoptive families.

You will also be able to share what you want your baby to know about you. You can complete a keepsake booklet to share hobbies, stories, photos of you and your family and a letter to your baby. The adoptive family can provide this to your child as he or she grows older. Be as creative as you like! Some birth mothers have even knitted a special blanket as a gift to their baby or given a similar symbol of their love.

The father of your baby can fill out the birth father's keepsake booklet or write a letter too. You may have other family members who would also like to share photos or a letter to the baby. This is your opportunity to pass on your and your family's love and to share your personality, history and reasons for choosing adoption. The adoptive family will treasure whatever information you provide and will share it with the baby at an appropriate age. In most adoptive homes, the word adoption is in the child's vocabulary early on, and adoption is celebrated in their lives.

Additional Resources

Teen Pregnancy - Information for Young Women

While not every woman who chooses adoption is a young mother, many are. Through adoption, many young women have found an ability to give their babies the best life possible, while finding the opportunity to realize their own dreams, as well. Call American Adoptions today at 1-800-ADOPTION.

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Adoption Glossary

Do adoption terms and phrases leave you feeling confused? Learn the meaning to key adoption words and phrases with our comprehensive adoption glossary.

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