Understanding Your Adopted Baby
This is not to say that babies who are released for adoption will not or cannot attach or bond with their adopted parents. Babies do bond with their adopted parents, however each baby will begin to bond at their own speed. Some adoptive parents have reported that their babies “connected” with them within the first hour of being together while others have reported that it took a little longer to get to know one another. Just know that your comforting presence is the primary thing that your new baby needs in order to feel safe, secure and “connected” to you.
One of the major tasks of any parent, regardless if you are a biological parent or an adoptive parent, is to learn the cues and signals your baby is sending. Some adoptive parents have reported that they worry about not attaching to their new baby, not knowing how to care for their new baby, and/or not knowing or understanding what the baby may be communicating to them among other things.
It is important to remember that new parenthood brings a wide range of feelings such as happiness, joy, excitement, surprise, worry, relief, and exhaustion. Even though adopting a baby is meeting your greatest hopes and dreams, parenting a newborn is hard... so don’t be surprised. If you have any concerns about your new baby and/or your relationship with your new baby, please talk with your doctor. If these concerns continue your doctor can refer you to someone who can help you work through your experience. Seeking help quickly can prevent these concerns from interfering with your relationship with your baby.
To read more about the experience of infants in orphanages, click here.
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