Adopting Twins

Adopting twins is something that a lot of people are interested in, and yes, we often have twin babies for adoption! We happily see our families blessed with adopting newborn twins a few times each year. And welcoming more than one baby into your family will simply increase the amount of joy and love all around. In any year, we might have two to three sets of newborn twins for adoption amid over 100 adoptions on average that we perform per year.

Many times when a couple is matched with a birth mother having twins, their first question is, “Does adopting twins cost more in adoption fees?” The answer to this is no. In the event of multiple births, Lifetime Adoption’s flat fees are the same as a single birth. We don’t charge an additional fee for twins. Our families are paying for our services, not for a child or children. If your adoption preferences include being open to adopting twins, then you will be considered for any twin opportunities that we receive that are a match within your preferences.

How Much Does Adopting Twins Cost?

You will find additional costs, however, when it comes to legal fees and sometimes medical fees if you are assisting the birth mother with her medical expenses. And your adoption attorney will have to file double the paperwork, so this will increase your attorney fees. A birth mother carrying twins will often need to see the doctor more often, and many times a C-section will be required. Many twins also spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit if they are small. Thirza and Keith were thrilled to be called and told a birth mother carrying twins had picked them. Their girls arrived at 35 weeks so they spent time in the NICU. Girls are now doing wonderful and now life is a whirlwind for this happy family.

There are also additional costs when bringing home twin babies for adoption. You will need two cribs, additional food and clothing costs, and so on. And, if both of you work outside the home, double the daycare bills. Consider if this is feasible for your family. Many believe it must be cheaper to have two at once, but the reality is that costs double. For instance, down the line, you may find you need to pay for college for two at the same time.

What is the Wait Time to Adopt Twins?

Twin adoptions do happen at Lifetime, but it’s important to have realistic expectations about frequency. In a typical year, we see around 110+ adoptions. Of those, just two to three involve newborn twins. Waiting exclusively for twins can significantly extend your timeline or limit your chances of being matched.

For families who specifically want only twins, know that all adoption agencies will see that as extremely limiting. Only being open to twins will most likely increase your wait time to adopt by a lot, if your adoption professional will even allow it – few will. Newborn twins are really an extra blessing because most all waiting families are open to them. It is best to be open to adopting twins but not to make that your goal. You may consider being open to sibling groups if you are hoping to expand your family by more than one child.

Periodically twins that are toddlers or older children may be an opportunity as well. If that is an option for you, it may broaden your preferences and provide more opportunities to be chosen as adoptive parents.

The best first step is to fill out our free online application. It helps us understand your goals so we can give you an honest picture of your timeline and what to expect. There’s no obligation, and it starts the conversation.

What Does the Home Study Look Like When Adopting Twin Babies?

So that there are no surprises or issues as you move through the journey to adoption, we encourage you to be fully informed on the process of adopting twins. For instance, an adoption home study is a required part of your adoption process. If you are considering twin babies for adoption, you will want to make sure your home study professional is aware of the fact that you are open to adopting twins so she can verify that you are approved to adopt more than one child at the same time.

Please feel free to contact Lifetime Adoption for any questions on twin babies for adoption by calling 727-493-0933. Adoption is a unique process, joining two parties together to begin a new story. We suggest that you write down your questions about the process of adopting twins, and any questions you have on open adoption so you’ll have them ready to ask when you call Lifetime. Joe and Shanna were thrilled to adopt twins Connor and Joey. They are now up all night, twins are really double the pleasure, double the fun. Joe and Shanna enjoy sharing pictures and updates with their babies’ birth mother who is delighted to see her boys doing so well. Open adoption benefits everyone involved in the adoption.

Is It Uncommon for a Couple to Want to Adopt Twins?

Not at all; it’s actually very common. Many hopeful adoptive parents dream of welcoming twins and are specifically open to a multiple placement. The key is balancing that hope with realistic expectations about wait times and match opportunities, and your Lifetime coordinator can walk you through it.

Does Lifetime Adoption Ever Separate Twins?

Never. If Lifetime is working with a birth mother expecting twins, both babies are always placed together with the same adoptive family. We feel strongly about keeping twins together, and it’s a policy we follow without exception.

What Should We Expect After Bringing Twins Home?

Adopting twins is genuinely wonderful, but the lifestyle change is significant and abrupt, so it helps to go in with realistic expectations rather than an idealized picture.

Pamela Fierro, author of Everything Twins, Triplets, and More, describes it this way: when you have twins, you have two individual children. There’s also a third element: the relationship between them. That dynamic needs its own nurturing, separate from what each child needs individually.

The infant stage is usually the most demanding season. Sleep becomes scarce, and both babies often need feeding, soothing, or holding at the same time. As twins grow older, they face the unique task of figuring out who they are as individuals while also navigating a lifelong relationship with someone who looks just like them and shares their history.

Line up your support system with your friends, family, and your community before your babies come home. No one parents twins well in isolation.

What Are the Real Challenges of Raising Twins?

Adopting twins is very exciting, but be sure you are ready. It really is also twice the work. We want to give you an honest picture, so it’s worth naming the challenges directly, alongside the costs already covered above:

• Relational strain: Research has found a higher rate of marital strain among parents of twins. As Dr. John Moore, a pediatrician at Virginia Tech-Carilion School of Medicine, has noted, this isn’t surprising given the exhaustion that comes with caring for multiples. Staying intentional about your marriage with regular date nights and the occasional weekend away matters as much as caring for the kids.
• Sleep: In the early months, sleep deprivation is real. Building a support network before your twins arrive makes a real difference.
• Financial: Two of everything: diapers, clothes, cribs, car seats, daycare, and eventually tuition. The costs are real and worth mapping out early.

None of these are dealbreakers, but they’re worth discussing honestly with your spouse and your adoption coordinator before you commit to this path.

What Are the Blessings of Adopting Twins?

The challenges are real, and so are the blessings. Being a twin is one of the longest-lasting relationships a person will ever have. Twins know each other before birth, and they share a bond that can be competitive, hilarious, fierce, and deeply loving, sometimes all at once. Watching that relationship unfold is a gift that’s hard to put into words. You get a double dose of hugs, double the milestones to celebrate, and a front-row seat to one of the most unique relationships there is.

What is the First Step in the Adoption Process?

An excellent first step to take with Lifetime is to apply. By completing our free online application, you’re helping us learn more about you and your adoption goals. Our application does not obligate you to work with us and can be found online at LifetimeAdoption.com/apply. Once we know your specific adoption goals more clearly, we’re able to tell you what to expect as far as average wait time and what to expect. We look forward to learning more about you when you apply!