Fostering Babies UK

Wondering how to foster a baby?

Often, the idea of fostering babies is desirable for aspiring foster carers. By fostering a baby as opposed to a child, this can often mean they are less likely to have existing behavioural problems, attachment disorders and other pre-existing conditions brought on by trauma, abuse or neglect. However, although fostering babies may sound like an easy job, the opportunities to do so are rare and the hardest part is undoubtedly letting the baby go when the time comes.

Foster care for babies

Although rare, new-borns and infants can be taken into foster care. Some of the reasons why a baby could be placed into the foster care system include:

• A baby is born to parents whose other children have been removed for child protection reasons
• The baby is up for adoption and there is a period between the baby going from their birth parents to their adoptive parents
• The parents have substance abuse issues that prevent them from being able to care for the baby

Babies are often put into foster care because the local authorities have removed them from their biological parents, or the parents have given up the baby themselves. The reasons for this could stem from abuse and neglect to drug and alcohol misuse – but it boils down to the fact the parents are not capable of caring for their infant. Find out more about the reasons why children go into foster care.

When Alternatively, babies are put into foster care when waiting for adoption. There is often a cross -over period from birth parents to adoptive parents and, during this time, the child is, they are often placed in a short term placements with a foster family. ies while they are waiting for adoption or waiting to be able to return home to the birth parents. In the cases like this, as a foster carer, you must meet with both sets of parents on a regular basis alongside your experienced social worker, who will help facilitate the transition process.

Find out more about why babies are put in foster care, alongside various fostering baby myths from our detailed guide.

How do I foster a baby?

Looking for more information on how to become a foster carer for babies? With Excel Fostering, we will make the process as seamless as possible. To become a foster carer for babies, there are various fostering requirements and a set of criteria that you will need to meet, ensuring your eligibility for fostering babies and new-borns. However, it’s important to note that fostering babies is extremely rare a Government statistical report for children in public care in England showed that only 6% of all children in care were under a year old.

Find out more information on foster care requirements from our detailed guide.

Mother and baby foster placements

Fostering babies may also come in the form of parent and child fostering which is much more common than solely fostering a baby. This is a type of foster care placement where the mother, or the father, and in some cases, even both, are all placed together in foster care with their baby or child. Mother and baby foster placements benefit both the child and the parent – as not only is the baby being taken care of and is in safe hands, but the parents can bond and live with their baby while developing their parental skills.

More often than not with a parent and child foster placement, the mother is a young girl herself, who is not ready emotionally or financially to take care of an infant on her own. Becoming a foster carer for both parent and child placements would offer her the guidance and support she needs.

However, it’s important to note that mother and baby foster placements are very different than a typical fostering babies placement – as this involves essentially caring for two young and vulnerable people simultaneously. Carers who are interested in this sort of fostering take part in our specialist fostering training so they are well equipped for their placements.

If you are interested in parent and child fostering placements, read our current carers’ stories.

How to become a foster carer for babies

Interested in fostering babies, or perhaps looking to find out more about mother and baby placements? Here at Excel Fostering, we make the process as easy as possible, offering 24/7 support throughout your fostering journey. Get in touch with a member of our expert team for more information, today.