Adopting is an exciting experience, but adopting twins is especially exciting. If you feel like God is leading you to adopt twins, you may wonder what different the process is compared to adopting one child. Here are a few things that are different about twin adoptions compared to adopting a single child.
Twins Available for Adoption
There are only about 123,000 twins born every year. Because of this low number, there aren’t many twins available for adoption. Many agencies will advise you against seeking only twins to adopt since it can take longer for twins to come available. The agency may ask you if you are open to adopting multiple children, especially a sibling group, through foster care. This is worth praying about. Of course, if you’re interested only in adopting a baby, foster care probably isn’t the best option.
Adoption Costs
When you adopt twins, each child has a separate adoption process. It makes sense since they are two different people. There will be twice the filling out of papers, fees, and filing of the paperwork. This means twice the number of hours for those whose services you use to adopt, such as a social worker, lawyer, and other people who will help complete the adoption process.
You may need to show that you’re financially able to support both children. Your home study provider may pay extra attention to your finances, health insurance, and housing. Those responsible for adoption want to make sure you have everything in place to care for both children.
Medical Costs
Your medical costs will be higher for twin adoptions. Each baby will have hospital bills you may be asked to cover. The birth mom may need special care for carrying and delivering twins. This may include:
- Extra doctor visits
- Bed rest, which could mean you’ll need to provide financial help as she is unable to work.
- NICU care for the twins
- Medical costs for a potential C-section
Depending upon your adoption agreement and the birth mother’s state of residence, you may be responsible for some of these costs.
Other Items to Consider When Adopting Twins
Other things will require double the work for adopting twins. These include:
- Legal Costs
Lawyer’s fees and the cost to file will be more as each child must have their own papers filed. - Court approval of your adoption
The courts will need to approve both adoptions as they are looking at each child separately. Basically, the court must look out for each child’s best interests, so you’ll want to present to the court why each twin should join your family. - Double beds, clothes, linens, diapers, etc.
You will need double everything when you adopt twins. Getting your house ready for two children is a big deal, so take care of any household repairs prior to the home study.
It’s usually best for the children to be adopted at the same time instead of at different times. If you’re ready to bring home both children and you can prove this to the court, the court usually agrees that this is in the best interest of both kids.
What are the pros and cons of adopting twins?
There are many things to consider when you’re pursuing adoption, but adopting twins has its own unique pros and cons to think about. Here are some things you may want to think about.
Pros
- Adopting twins is an instant family. This is especially good for older couples.
- Twins adjust well since they have each other.
- Some agencies, courts, and other professionals you work with will give you a discount for twins. It’s different with every adoption.
Cons
- It’s hard to focus on one child since they both have needs at the same time.
- It’s a lot of work with two kids at once. You have double the laundry, diaper changing, double naps, double feeding, and double calming when they cry at the same time.
- You will need to double the cost of everything, including college, someday.
- You will need to help them develop their own unique identity as they grow up.
Final Thoughts on Twin Adoptions
There is a lot for you to think and pray about when you adopt twins. The experienced adoption professionals at Lifetime Adoption will be happy to discuss the twin adoption process with you. They have helped other adoptive families bring home twins through adoption.
Lifetime Adoption charges you one flat fee, which means you won’t have additional fees for twins. You’re paying for our services, which are especially focused on helping you bring home the child God has for you. Give us a call at (727) 493-0933. We would be happy to meet with you and answer all your questions about twin adoptions.
Founder of Lifetime Adoption, adoptive mom, adoption expert, and Certified Open Adoption Practitioner (C.O.A.P).
Since 1986, adoption expert Mardie Caldwell has been dedicated to bringing couples and birth parents together in order to fulfill their dreams.
“Many years ago, I was also searching for a child to adopt. We didn’t know where or how to get started. Through research, determination, and a prayer, our dream of a family became reality. I started with a plan, a notebook, assistance from a caring adoption consultant and a lot of hard work; this was my family I was building. We had a few heartaches along the way, but the pain of not having children was worse!
Within weeks we had three different birth mothers choose us. We were overwhelmed and delighted. Many unsettling events would take place before our adoption would be finalized, many months later. Little did I know that God was training and aligning me for the adoption work I now do today. It is my goal to share with our families the methods and plans which succeed and do not succeed. I believe adoption should be affordable and can be a wonderful “pregnancy” for the adoptive couple.
I have also been on both sides of infertility with the loss of seven pregnancies and then conceiving by new technology, giving birth to a healthy daughter. I have experienced first-hand the emotional pain of infertility and believe my experience allows me to serve your needs better.
It is my hope that for you, the prospective parents, your desire for a child will be fulfilled soon.”
