would you ever concider adopting an older child?

I would concider adopting an older child. I think one of the main reasons people prefere to adopt a younger child or baby is that the chances of them having problems are less than with older kids. If they get removed form their parents at birth or as very young they will not remember the trauma of being seperated from their parents. They will not have experienced neglect, abuse or outher traumas like that either. many of the older ones have. I agree that it also might have something to do with having a cute baby. Where I live they are having huge problems finding forsterhomes for older kids as well. If you are over 5 your chances decrese fast. I think this is so sad. at the same time i understand that many families hesitate ib\n taking on the huge responsibility it is to care for a child that has experienced things no person should ever have to go through.

Yes i sure would. Age would not be my mainreason for wanting to adopt. Even older kids needs love, care and attention.

If I had the money, I would in a heartbeat. I think it's a shame that the older kids are overlooked so often in favor of babies and really little kids. I can understand to a degree, wanting that sweet precious little baby... but older kids have just as much love to give and less chance to give it.

Every child deserves a chance, older or babies, I for one adopted a lovely baby girl, and i'm sure given the chance i'll love to have older kids too. both have there pros and cons, in babies, your concern is how to tell her when she's old enough that she was adopted, ( i post a discussion about this, because that is a real concern to me), it will hurt the child so much. but if the child is older, your concern is if the child will be able to accept you as his/her parent, given the fact that the child already knew who his/her parent were. like i said, every child deserves a chance to have a family! if we are given that chance to make a difference in a child life...do it! and you'll reap your rewads in heaven!

Hi carissa! Yes I'd be glad to adopt an older child, they too deserve the chance to grow within a family unit. If given the chance and I would have the resources to adopt one, it wouldn't matter if he's older than the newborns or toddlers. Cheers!

Yes i agree with you but the problem is all the parents who are planning to adopt children, they go for the new born or 2/3yrs babies. I've asked one of the old couple who were without any chid for the last 15 yrs of their marriage. They answer me if we adopt a grown up child, so it get diffulties to know about him, his likes & dislike his behaviour & many other things... So every adopting parents go for small kids so they can brought up him/her as their own child, so they can be well mannered, disciplined etc... many parents have their own wish for their child for his future so they try to give to this child... rest, may be i wrong or right dont know..

If I were to adopt I'd prefer an older child. I just don't do that well with babies. Also, babies are adopted quickly, there are a lot of older children out there who still need homes. Why not give one of them a chance at a new life?

I would and have actually been considering it at tis stage of my life. I never really had a thing about cute little babies. They all look the same to me somehow. I thik children start to get interesting around the age of twelve. I used to have a friend who went up to every baby carriage that went down the street and cooed about how adorable the baby was. It drove me batty. One day she went up to a coach and called me over to see how cute the baby was. In the pram was the ugliest baby I'd ever seen and I just stood there smiling like a ninny not wanting to out and out lie. A few steps away I sneared at my laughing friend "Don't you EVER do that again". (I quess they don't all look exactly the same but mostly they do LOL)

Once my husband and I get older and beomce financially stable, we are going to adopt/foster older teenaged children, 15+. Once a foster child hits their teenaged years, the odds of them getting adopted practically disappear and they are almost certain to age out while stuck in the system. I believe that's just wrong. Also, I never want children of my own. I hate small children.

I think every child/person deserves a second chance whether for adoption or other things. As for me, I probably wont consider adopting an older child or even a baby since I myself can't afford much of my needs. Also, if to choose between adopting an older or younger child.. Id probably go for an older one since its hard to raise a baby than to raise a child or even a teen.. Thats what I think.. Not that I would consider adopting one.. Its not really about if the baby/child is cute or something.. Its whether you can afford and give him/her a good living and an education for the childs future.

I believe that these children deserve a "second" chance. There are some that will never "fit" in or feel secure because of their experiences. But, there are some who will be forever grateful for the love and opportunity. Give them a chance. Every child will not fit every family. Maybe they will need to separate and try it again with another child.

Maybe if I really feel sad for this child, but people usually adopt younger children.

At one time I was going to adopt. And we were considering an older child. We understand that they need family too. Younger children have a better chance of being adopted but what about the older ones who want a family to call their own. It is sad that people wont consider an older child. They feel that they have too many issues, which is not always the case.

I would definatly want to adopt an older child. I think that its shamefull how many older children and teens are in foster care a group homes just because people would rather adopt babies. Babies will probably find homes quickly - seeing as almost every couple wants to adopt a younger child. If you really wanted to make a difference in the child's life, then adopting one who's never really had a real family would mean much more. Instead many couples just adopt a child because THEY want one. If you are adopting, I would think that as a parent you would want to show that child a nice a loving family life. And even if older children knew these people were not their parents, if the people gave them respect and love, then they would still come to accept them and consider them as parents. Eventually, that baby you adopted is gonna have to find out that you're not their biological parents anyway.

Yes, I think that they deserve the same chance that younger ones do. Everyone deserves to be taken care of and loved. I have three kids but when they are older and out of the home, I have thought that I'd like to be a foster parent or adopt a child. I would definately consider adopting an older child.

I took custody of my cousin when he was a pre-teen. I did not adopt him, as that would have caused a huge problem within my family. He was in foster care from the age of 7, and his mother was not doing what was asked of her to be get him back. When I was 19 and he was 12 I began the process of getting approved to be his foster parent & he was living with me within a year. My grandmother took him when he was 15 as he had severe special needs, and she was able to find a better private school in her state than what was available where I lived. My partner & I have discussed fostering again when our children are little older and we'd more than likely take older children. There are plenty of families looking for babies, older children are seldom ever able to find loving homes.

Hi carissa :) I was adopted as an older child so I have to say that I would do the same if given the opertunity. I understand the fear that some parents may have with older children. Many of the older children have been through years of difficulties and in many cases, they've been bounced around from foster home to foster home. That makes the child feel that they aren't worth having a "real" family and even without meaning to, they may lash out at their new adopted family. Younger children, on the other hand, parents may feel that they will be able to "rub off" on them, so to speak. I really do feel that older children deserve the same as the younger ones. We are ALL people, right? Really good question :)

Good question :) I have thought about it & i think i'd adopt an older child, i'm not sure how old i'd go (i don't think in to teens would be very good for me, being only 25) but i think i'd consider birth to about 7 or 8. Actually, i probably wouldn't start at birth, i think 6-12 months up to 7-8 yrs would be ok. It is sad that there are so many older kids that are over looked with adoption but you also have to understand that being a parent isn't something you know how to do, you have to learn it & lets say the people adopting are new parents unable to have their own child - then they'd go for the youngest they could find, just because then they can still experience the newborn stages & every first event :) People who have had kids before can go for older ones as they have an idea of what's going on! There are very few adoptions here in Australia because there are very few people giving their kids up for adoption in the first place! I think if i had the money i'd adopt a child (girl or boy) probably from the USA because there are HEAPS of kids there waiting for new homes & i'd be looking for one between the age of about 1 months & maybe 8 years old - all kids deserve a nice home & loving family, to feel like they belong & are loved! Some people just aren't able to cope with an older child right away, i'd give it a shot myself - just because i could offer security, love & a nice family home!

Yes I would and have talked about it since my son was born. I think it would be awesome to get a child around his age when and if we would. So if he were 8 I would like to adopt a child between 7-9. Even though they would be brother they could be good friends. My only fear is that they would have a lot of issues with acting out or other things that had to do with their life so far. I would still consider it.

I would adopt an older child in a heart beat. Alot of the older ones never get a chance for a family and grow up in the foster care system or orphanages. They need someone to love them just as much as the infants do.