Can I adopt a baby the age of 18?

Question

I want to adopt instead of having one of my own right now. I am young but I know what I'm doing. I really do think I am able but don 't know where I can find an agency to adopt from.

Answer 1

If you are able to conceive, I don't think adopting an infant makes a lot of sense.

Healthy newborns do not often have trouble finding adoptive homes. Usually there are waiting lists of people who want them. As a group, infants aren't in great need of adoptive families, because there are so many families available for them.

Infants do sometimes spend a long time in foster care, but that's generally because the biological parents' rights haven't been terminated and the goal is reuniting the family, so the baby isn't available for adoption anyway.

Those children more in need of adoption are those who are older, or in sibling groups, or those with special needs. If you aren't able to consider those children and just want a baby, I don't see much reason to wait on a list to adopt a baby that others would also gladly adopt.

If you want to adopt, I think it would be better to adopt a child who is in more need-- an older child or siblings-- even if that means waiting a few more years until you're more ready for that challenge.

Answer 2

you can because you are 18 years old and that means that you are now a citizen of the usa because you can vote and you have freedom

Answer 3

Actually, YES, you can adopt a baby at the age of 18.

However, before you actually do it. Answer this questions first:

1. Are you financially ready?

2. Are you emotionally ready?

3. Are you spiritually ready?

4. is this really what you want?

If all your answer is YES..

Well then, go ahead and enjoy..

Congratulatoins in advance!

Answer 4

I dont know you need to call some adoption agenices

Answer 5

No, usually you need to be at least 21.

Just from your post it seems like you are not mature enough to adopt a child, so I don't think you would get approval even if you met the age requirements. Adopting a child is a difficult, time consuming and usually quite expensive process. They do home studies, background checks, fingerprinting, required parenting classes, etc- it can take years before you would actually get a child in your home.

I think for now you should just enjoy working in child care, save money, become more financially stable, enjoy your youth (!!!) and in 4-5 years or a bit more then maybe come back to the idea of having kids either through adoption or having your own with your husband/partner. You would miss out on SO much at this age if you have kids now, and will always be looking at your friends and others your age who don't have any kids, wondering what your life would have been like if you had waited to have a baby, etc.  

Answer 6

Legally... in most places yes you can.  Realistically:  Nope, you aren't going to be approved.  Why?  Because within the last year you have probably just graduated from high school, thats a major life chance.  Most agencies won't let you adopt a child within a year of a major life change.  Also, when people are single and adopting a child, the agency has to consider how you are going to juggle dating relationships as well as having a kid.  It also helps if you have post-secondary education of some sort, because it will make your job look more stable, since I am guessing you haven't been working there more then 3 years.

You may be able to become a foster parent.  Why not consider doing that?  

Edit:  The in most places you have to be 18.... I think they really only let people "adopt" when they are just 18 is when they are taking legal guardianship of a sibling who was formerly in foster care or something like that.

Answer 7

do you have your own place? is there a father figure around??

Answer 8

you might be able to thought your age will deff wont help. but yes it is legal  

Answer 9

You're single and you're only 18.  You most likely have the ability to have your own kids, you just don't 'want' to.

Instead of adopting a child, why not try fostering one?  Kids stuck in the system are in such need of a loving place to be safe... even if the option to adopt isn't open, it doesn't change the need of those children.

Answer 10

even though you can have a adopting baby , it's not right.. because sure you dont know how to care for them... can you give him some milk? lol.. and definetely you will bored in 1 month cuz you are already a baby yet.. haha.. first grow little bit then try to get real own baby but not now.. its too early.. ;)

Answer 11

I know that in Missouri, you have to be atleast 21.

Answer 12

An adoption agency won't just say "ok ,you're 18 so we'll give you a baby."  Most respectable agencies want a 2 parent involvement (meaning you're married) and capable of taking care of a child (you've gone through college and have a decent job.)

Adopting a baby isn't like adopting an animal.  You can't just take it back if it "doesn't work out."

Edit:  Clothes and milk aren't the only baby essentials.  

Do you have health insurance?  

Do you have a car?  

Do you have your own place to live?

Do you feel like you are emotionally ready to not sleep for the next 18 years of your life?

Are you married?