Can I Foster a Newborn Baby?

If you’re thinking of fostering, it’s only natural you’ll wonder what ages of children you might be caring for. Lots of people are drawn to the idea of caring for younger children or babies, so in today’s blog we’re answering one of our frequently-asked questions, ‘Can I foster a newborn baby?’

Are Newborn Babies Taken Into Foster Care?

There are a wide variety of reasons why a birth parent might not be able to care for their newborn child, and why foster care might be considered the most appropriate plan for the baby’s care immediately after birth.

However, it’s important to note that nowadays it is fairly unusual for newborn babies to need foster placements. While historically, babies of young or unmarried mothers might have been immediately placed in a foster home or for adoption, this is now a relatively rare occurrence. Increasingly, babies stay with their birth parents, sometimes with packages of support in place or with support from their wider family to allow a baby to stay with its mum (and/or dad) wherever possible.

When a baby is unable to be cared for by birth parents, there are other options that might be explored before a baby is placed into foster care. For example, a specialist Mother and Baby placement or a Parent and Child placement. Alternatively, other family members may come forward (or be approached by social services) to care for the baby on either a short-term or longer-term basis.

Early Permanence placements are also on the rise. This is where an individual or couple is dual approved both as a foster carer and adopter, allowing a child to stay with them initially on a temporary basis, but with the strong possibility that the foster carer/s will then go on to adopt the child permanently. Early Permanence minimises the number of moves a child makes during their early life, which reduces disruption and trauma, improving their longer-term outcomes.

All of this means that foster carers are - on the whole - less likely to have single newborn babies placed with them, although there are, of course, exceptions. And young babies may be brought into foster care alongside older siblings as part of a sibling group.

Parent and Child Fostering

If you’re drawn to the idea of caring for babies, or if you have experience caring for babies - whether professionally or through having children or grandchildren of your own - you might consider parent and child fostering.

As a parent and child carer, you’ll be supporting new parents - often with babies and young children - in your home. You’ll share your knowledge, wisdom and skills with them so that they can learn to look after their child and become a responsible parent.

This can be an incredibly rewarding experience and helps families stay together.

Fostering Beyond the Baby Years

In England there are 83,630 looked after children, with around 107 children coming into care every single day in the UK. This means that more foster carers are needed for children across all age ranges who are in need of safe, loving homes right now.

Many children coming into foster care have experienced abuse, neglect and trauma. Some children will have had gaps in their development, nurturing or learning, and may have delays, making them appear younger than their chronological age.

No matter what their age, all foster children require love and nurturing. So even if you find yourself fostering an older child, there will still be plenty of opportunities for hands-on parenting, and to enjoy spending time with them, whether that’s playtime, days out, or bedtime stories, and there will still be lots of ‘firsts’ to share and celebrate.

Deciding on the Right Age Range For Your Circumstances

Some people who want to foster have very clear ideas about what age ranges they feel they could care for, while other potential foster carers might be more open-minded. This is something your social worker will discuss with you early on in the assessment process.

If you already have a particular age range or group you’re drawn to foster, whether that’s young babies, groups of siblings, Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC), or teenagers, then don’t be afraid to share with your social worker why you think your family would be a good fit for a particular age range or type of fostering placement.

If you’re unsure, your social worker will be able to provide more information about the different considerations and requirements and can guide you as to what age range they feel would be best.

Things to take into account, include:

• The size of your home and the size and number of spare bedroom/s you have.

• Whether or not you work

• Your lifestyle, age, and health

• The age/s of any other child/ren living in the home

• Your experience of caring for/parenting different age ranges

• Your personal preference

Factors to Consider As a Baby Carer

If you’re keen to be approved to foster babies, there are a few things you’ll need to consider. Newborn babies are likely to have higher levels of birth family contact or parental involvement, to aid with bonding. This is important in case the baby’s long-term plan is to be reunited with birth parents, and gives birth parents a chance to show they’re capable of caring for their baby in a safe, controlled, and monitored environment. As a foster carer you will usually be expected to facilitate this contact, which typically takes place at a neutral venue, such as a contact centre.

You’ll also want to bear in mind that babies are likely to have more appointments in general, and involvement from midwives, health visitors and other professionals to monitor their health and development.

There are also practical considerations, such as needing to share a room with baby in order to adhere to NHS safer sleeping guidelines. You’ll also need space for baby equipment such as pushchairs, highchairs and carsets and be willing and able to make adaptations to make your home safe for babies and young children, such as stair gates and fireguards, for example.

It’s also important to note that you can’t be approved to foster a child under five if you smoke or vape, even if you do so outside of the home.

Who Decides What Age Range a Carer Is Approved For?

Ideally this will be a collaborative process between you, your social worker, and the members of your fostering panel, who will provide a recommended age range to the agency decision maker. The ultimate decision, however, rests with the agency decision maker.

This can be appealed if you don’t agree, and it can also be reviewed at a later point if there are changes in your circumstances. For example, if your employment changes, or you move house, or a birth child gets older or leaves home, then your approved age range may be altered to reflect this, if you wish.

Olive Branch - Finding the Right Home For Every Child

At Olive Branch Fostering we believe in finding the right home for each and every child that comes to us, and do all we can to ensure a perfect match between foster carers and the children they welcome into their lives.

If you’re thinking of fostering, we’d love to hear from you. Based in Rossendale, our service covers the whole of the North West, including Liverpool, Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and the surrounding areas. Contact us today for a friendly, no-obligation chat, or book a call back with one of our fostering advisors.