Adopting a Second Child: What to Know

Thinking of adopting a second child? How wonderful! Lifetime Adoption is here to assist you in your continuing calling to become a parent to another child.

There are no special rules or regulations for adopting a second child. State laws vary — as do the fees associated with adoption. For all intents and purposes, the adoption process for a second child is the same as it was for the first.

Congratulations on this decision to adopt a second child and to give your first adopted child an adopted sibling! We love to see growing families!

Adopting for a Second Time

If you’re considering adopting a second child, it’s important to understand that families are definitely better prepared for a second adoption. They have a better understanding of birth parents, and they understand that there will be unknowns along the way.

While we work hard to make the adoption process easy for everyone involved, the simple truth is that we are dealing with complex human emotions and interactions.

So please do keep an open mind. Even though you may feel like a “veteran” when it comes to adoption, there are many things that can be different between the first adopted child and the second.

Another thing to keep in mind: With an open adoption of a second child, you will arrange the post-adoption contact and visitation preferences with a new birth mom. That means you may possibly be managing this for two children with two different birth families. Of course, it also means that there are more people to love and cherish your children.

There are also financial considerations to be considered. This applies not just to the costs of adoption itself but also to the costs associated with raising an additional child. Be sure to sit down with your adoption budget and review your estimated costs, knowing what you learned from your first adoption, including expenses you may not have anticipated, like travel or home study updates. Make a savings plan if needed, so that you have a plan to build your budget along the way when you are in the waiting phase.

Finally, there is the first adopted child. Their feelings and happiness must be considered as part of any proper second-adoption plan. Adopting will cause your child to ask some questions about their own adoption story as they see that of their sibling play out. This is good, as it encourages an open conversation about the loving choice that is adoption today.

Don’t let any of these reminders give you cold feet! We’re here to help you every step of the way.

We want you to know that with Lifetime by your side you’ll have access to resources: our knowledgeable staff, adoption attorneys, and guidance borne from nearly four decades of domestic adoption experience.

Plus, we have a dedicated and tireless staff who work hard to be of service both to adoptive parents and the moms who are making the loving choice to place their children for adoption.

Lifetime Adoption

The success rate at Lifetime Adoption is high. In fact, as one of America’s most established and trusted domestic adoption agencies, we can report that we complete between eight and 16 adoptions every single month! That often adds up to more than 100 successful adoptions each year.

Many of the families who come to us to adopt a child are actually returning clients who want to adopt a second child. (Sometimes, we’ve even assisted in the adoption of a third child!)

We are honored that so many families trust us and return to us when they’re seeking to grow their families.

Get in touch with Lifetime Adoption with any questions or concerns. We look forward to speaking with you.