Parenting

This page will help provide you with some information on parenting your adopted child.

Many professional groups advocate breastfeeding for newborns.  However, except in rare cases it is not possible for an adopting mother to breast feed the baby.  You ned not be concerned about not breastfeeding since your baby's needs will be met whether your baby is given breast milk or formula.  The link Infant Nutrition will help you with formula feeding and other infant nutrition issues.

Other sections of this website will help you with child development issues and explaining adoption as well as with school-adoption problems and the need for adoption therapy. 

The emotional impact of adoption is typically at its height in adolescence.  Common issues that an adopted adolescent face include identity and control issues, fear of abandonment, feelings of not belonging and about connecting with biological parents and their families.  The link to the Child Welfare Information Gateway article Parenting the Adopted Adolescent may be very helpful.  This article focuses on:

1. Parenting the adopted adolescent
2. How children develop
3. Typical adolescent behavior
4. Adoption and adolescence
5. When teens were adopted at an older age
6. When parents should become concerned and what they can do

If you need or want some specific personal advice, contact your agency social worker, your pediatrician, clergy, or your local mental health center, or your local family service agency for recommendations of appropriate professionals.