Reasons to adopt an older child:
- No need to worry about diapers, midnight feedings, or expensive infant day care
- The child can actively and consciously participate in the adoption process
- The child will consciously overcome the language barrier if it is an international adoption
- A child adopted internationally may preserve the native language and grow up to be bilingual
- The child can provide feed-back about his or her likes and dislikes
- There is a good chance of matching character traits and interests with those of parents and/or siblings
- Most medical conditions are diagnosed by age seven
- The child may know his or her biological family history
- There is a better chance to adopt from some foreign countries, such as Ukraine
- There is a better chances of adopting a younger child as a sibling from foreign countries such as Ukraine
- Every child, regardless of age, deserves a good home
Things to consider before you adopt an older child
- Parents will miss the baby years
- The child, at least initially, may not want to be adopted
- The child may have bonding issues
- There will be an initial language barrier for a child adopted internationally
- The child’s character and personality will be at least partially formed
- The child may miss his or her friends and former home
