Can You Change Adoptive Families?

Because one of the most important decisions you can make as a prospective birth mother is choosing the best adoptive family for your child, it’s likely you have questions and maybe even doubts or concerns about your decision.

Realizing this decision will ultimately shape the adoption experience and your child’s life, you want to be certain you are making the best choice for your baby. Although you will be given all of the tools and resources to make a great decision, and are in complete control of finding the perfect adoptive family, it’s common to wonder before or after you’ve chosen a family, “Can I change adoptive families?” 

This guide will explore how you can choose a different family at certain stages of the adoption process, the factors to consider when doing so, and other helpful information about choosing or changing the adoptive family for your baby. 

If you have questions, you can always contact an adoption professional or call 1-800-ADOPTION to get answers and guidance from a trained professional. In the meantime, keep reading this guide to learn more about how to change adoptive families during your Arizona adoption. 

Why You Might Change Adoptive Families

Finding the adoptive family for your baby is one of the most important and exciting decisions you will make during your adoption. When you choose a family, you are doing so out of the personal connection you feel with them, how closely they meet your preferences, and out of the trust that they will love and raise your child the way you dream for them to be raised.

Through adoptive family profiles, conversations, meetings, and more, you will get to know the adoptive families you are considering placing your baby with. This communication is intended for you to get a better feel for the families and to help grow a connection so that you can make a decision. While the majority of this communication and getting to know the family takes place during your pregnancy, what happens if something changes or you begin to question your decision? Can you change adoptive couples?

Keep in mind, changing adoptive couples is a major decision that will not only impact you but will also deeply impact the adoptive family. 

Although you want what is best for your baby, the decision to change families should not be done without thought and consulting your adoption specialist. With that said, as a prospective birth mother, you are always in complete control of your adoption plan. This plan includes the adoptive family you choose for your baby, and before placement, you can change adoptive families if feel it necessary, no matter the reason.

Each adoption situation is unique, but some of the most common reasons you may consider changing adoptive families could include:

• A change in your plans: When you choose adoption, you are making a brave and selfless decision because you want what is best for your baby. But life is constantly changing; when you decided adoption was best for your baby, you may have been in a different situation than you are closer to your due date. Maybe then the thought of parenting was not an option at the time, but now you are considering it. If you are having second thoughts about adoption, talk to your professional so they can help you work toward determining what is best for you and your baby.
• Adoptive family requirements not being met: The adoption process has many different steps and requires numerous levels of screening, including home studies, background checks and more. While it is rare, if something changes and an adoptive family no longer meets the requirements, you will want to find a new family for your child.
• Change of heart: The family you hope to place your baby with is one of the most important decisions you will make throughout your adoption experience. If you feel a connection early on with a family, but it slowly starts to change, or if the adoptive family you choose initially matches your adoption goals, but then suddenly changes their outlook on adopting, this is concerning and a valid reason for wanting to change adoptive families.
• Communication issues: Like any healthy relationship, communication is key for success. This goes for adoption as well. Communication early and often throughout your pregnancy is the best way to get to know a family. If your initial connection seems to wear off, or something seems different during pre-placement, you may want to reconsider the adoptive family you are choosing. 

These are just a few of the reasons you may consider changing adoptive families. Your adoption specialist will help guide you through this difficult decision and will explain the potential impacts it could have. They can also help you work through any challenges you might be facing in your relationship with the adoptive family.

Speak with a professional at any time to get more information, by calling 1-800-ADOPTION or filling out this online form.

How do You Change Adoptive Couples in Arizona?

Now that you are aware you can change adoptive families, you are likely wondering, “How do you change adoptive parents?”

The first thing you need to do is call your adoption specialist. They will talk through the situation and will get all of the information they need to provide you the best assistance. In some situations, they may work with you and the adoptive family to try to resolve any issues, doubts, or concerns. If they are unable to resolve these issues, they will inform the adoptive family you are going to move on to choosing different adoptive parents.

If you cannot resolve your issues or doubts and want to find a new family for your baby, at this point you are essentially restarting the process of finding adoptive parents. The same steps you initially completed to find an adoptive family will happen again. You will review adoptive family profiles, get to know potential families, and decide on a new adoptive family for your child. 

The process itself of choosing a new adoptive family is fairly easy, but the decision to do so adds difficulty. We cannot stress enough the importance of making sure your decision to change adoptive families is thought out and discussed with your adoption specialist. Given the life-changing impact adoption has on both you and the adoptive family, you want to make certain you are making the best decision for your baby and yourself.

Although it is a difficult and emotional decision for you and the original family you chose, there should be no negative repercussions for moving forward with finding a new family. 

Moving Forward with Your Adoption

Life is constantly changing and evolving. The same can be said with adoption. It is impossible for you to know, without a doubt, that you are choosing the best family for your adoption until you build a relationship with them. No matter what kind of characteristics you are looking for in an adoptive family, American Adoptions can help you find them. With our agency, you will have the tools in place to feel confident and comfortable with the decision you make. 

If you are considering changing adoptive families or are having trouble with the families you are considering, we highly encourage you to speak with an adoption professional. A specialist will walk you through how to change adoptive families, discuss the process, and be there to answer any other questions or concerns you may have. Call 1-800-ADOPTION or fill out our online form to get more information and to speak with a trained professional.

With such an important decision, you want to make sure you put the best effort into finding the right family. American Adoptions is here to make sure your effort is well spent.

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