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Minimal Age difference of a new child coming into the family

mummywestiewoo October 7, 2021 08:46

Quick question please, has anyone ever been placed with a child that is very close in age to the youngest child already in the household (that is not a new sibling of an adopted child you already have and have been approached direct for). I know that there is some guideline of a minimum of a 2 year age gap between the youngest child in the household and the child coming in but we have recently seen a child that reflects our ethnicity (and we are the niche on the ethnicity front) and wondered whether we had any chance as there is less than a year between our youngest child (who is also adopted and just started full time school) and the child we have seen within our consortium.

Any feedback would be great.

Thank you.

Serrakunda27 October 7, 2021 18:37

I think its worth asking, there are always exceptions and ethnicity could swing it.

They can only say no - good luck

chestnuttree October 10, 2021 14:48

Mine are related but have less than a year age difference. Ethnicity was a big factor in why we were chosen as their parents. You are an experienced adopter, which will also go in your favour. Does the new child have older siblings, so would have they have the same position in your family's "hierarchy" by being the youngest or would they have to change their position within a sibling group?

I would also think about schools and friendships of your then two youngest. They are the things that pop up regularly for us and social workers will wonder about that.

mummywestiewoo October 11, 2021 09:31

Thank you chestnuttree. There would have been about a 6 month age gap but they would have ended up a year apart in school because of the birth dates. Our youngest has just started full time school and the other child would have started next September so would have given me some time at home with the new child on a 121 basis before that part of their journey started for them. Unfortunately, our agency have said no and won’t support it as, in their words “it would never be approved at matching panel” so sadly we have to let that avenue go.

chestnuttree October 11, 2021 14:20

I am sorry about that and I hope you find the perfect match soon.

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