Can I adopt or foster if I already have birth children?
Adopting or fostering if you already have birth children
Yes, although often agencies would consider an age gap of at least two years between the youngest child in your family and an adopted or permanently fostered child to enable you to meet the individual needs of the children, and minimise their need to compete for your attention.
Research suggests a placement is more likely to work out if the child or children joining the family are not too close in age to the child or children already there.
It is also often easier if the child joining the family is the youngest, although this is not inflexible, and it may be appropriate for them to be middle or eldest child. You would need to discuss this with your adoption or fostering agency.
Have you read our inspiring features on siblings?
Last updated: 16 November 07
