| Domestic infant adoption is easier in the U.S. than the | | | | vary, adoptive parents may have a shorter or longer |
| many myths that surround it speculate. More open | | | | period depending on their situation. Most birth parents |
| adoptions these days have helped birth parents to | | | | are unmarried teenagers or single mothers or married |
| choose adoption over other alternative choices. | | | | couples who can't afford to raise a child (or are |
| Domestic infant adoption involves adoption of babies | | | | already raising a child). Adoptive single parents or |
| and children under the age of 2. Often, these | | | | couples younger than 25 or older than 45 years old |
| adoptions take place immediately following the birth | | | | may have to wait longer to be selected. |
| of the baby. After the paperwork is signed, adoptive | | | | Domestic adoptions take place under the adoption |
| parents can bring their new child home and | | | | agency selected and the state the birth parents and |
| immediately begin to build loving bonds and | | | | the adoptive parents live in. Each state regulates the |
| attachments. | | | | adoption laws, which can cause some differing of |
| Depending on the agency and the participants, | | | | laws. Some states allow prospective adoptive |
| domestic infant adoption usually occurs within the | | | | parents to pay for the birth mother's living and |
| first year or two of filling out paperwork. Adoptive | | | | medical expenses. Luckily, the U.S. only lightly |
| parents that are open to race and ethnicities other | | | | regulates adoption and only six states require |
| than Caucasian usually adopt more quickly. | | | | adoptions to be performed through a licensed |
| Adoptive parents are chosen by the birth parents of | | | | agency. |
| the child they adopt. About half of all adoptions are | | | | Despite the myths, this type of adoption is less |
| open these days, and the adoptive parents and | | | | expensive than many people may have heard. |
| pregnant birth parents meet. Although there is | | | | Adoption can range from $4,000 to $15,000 |
| controversy over getting too attached to a birth | | | | depending on the agency used. Most of the fees |
| mother and her child before she has completely | | | | involved in adoption pay for such services as social |
| relinquished her parental rights, many adoptive | | | | work counseling, home study, and legal |
| parents and birth parents spend time together | | | | consultation-not for "buying" a baby, which is illegal in |
| before the birth of the baby. Since the characteristics | | | | all countries. |
| that birth parents are looking for in adoptive parents | | | | |