Question about what age to adopt?

I think 0-5 is a good age range, based on the info you've provided. I'm open up to age 12, but I'm 33 have lots of experience with older kids (and very little experience with babies). Whatever you do, make sure you have a clear idea of what you can and cannot handle, and stick to it. Depending on where you're located, there may not be a lot of kids in that age range available for straight adoption, but don't accept a match you don't feel good about out of fear that you'll never get another match. If you have to, you can expand your search to other states that have more children available for straight adoption.

Thank you that helps a lot! I worry there won't be enough children in our age range and I wasn't sure if you could adopt from different states.

Your age range is pretty close to mine and I found that as I went through classes and did the homestudy I became more open to ages I previously thought wouldn't work for me. I have no bio children so I'm just going with my gut on this! For some people it's actually the opposite and they narrow down as they go along. Regardless, our "matcher" asks us about each potential match first even if it fits our age range. I think they don't want to assume anything even if it's on our paperwork. Good luck!

It's prudent to start at 0-5 if you're just starting out. You'll probably get calls for children older but stick to you're age range initially. You can always up it later. As the children in your care get older, you'll get a taste of what that age can do developmentally. We've been fostering for over 12 years. We started with the same age range ( 0-2yo) We only wanted to adopt infants. Now we're praying to adopt the 10yo we have now. Fostering can take you in directions you never dreamed of!

I am 22 and my husband is 23. We are foster/adoption and we have registered from 0-17. Its not for everyone but our first placement was a 17 year old girl. We loved her and are so glad that we could help take care of her the short time we had her. Babies and young children are wonderful and I am sure you're aware how many kids 10 and up are in foster care ready to adopt. My only advice is to pick the child and not the age. We have not had problems with our age being an issue to get in the way of our parenting. What state are you in? We can't stop the calls from coming but about 75% are for older kiddos. What is your experience so far?

We are in Indiana. So far we have done our first 3 classes, finished the paperwork, have the home study on June 11th, and take the last class June 22nd. I think we are going to up our ages eventually. Thank you all for the replies!

I am in a different state. But here you cannot even get licensed to JUST adopt 0-5 you would have to get licensed for foster care then adoption. I started foster care at 21, my first placement was a 13 yr old girl... came from a RTC with long history placement ultimately she went back to a RTC but I love my older kiddos. I adopted my daughter at 8.. in process of hopefully adopting a girl who is 11.. and I was matched with 2 boys: 11 months and 2.. (even though was not looking at younger).. so weird stuff happens. I have had from infant to 16 yr old now.