Open Or Closed Adoption: Which Is Best For Your Family?

If you are considering adopting a child, you may be going back and forth between getting an open or closed adoption. While every adoption has its own challenges, there are a few pros and cons to each type of adoption. In an effort to help you make the decision that is best for your family, here are a few things that you may appreciate about each type of adoption, along with potential challenges. 

Closed Adoption

A closed adoption is when the family who puts their child up for adoption will not have any contact with them, following the completion of the adoption. 

Pros

The benefits of closed adoption are that you will have no contact from your child's birth family. The choice of whether or not to tell them about their parents is entirely yours, and no one will be knocking on your door to get to know them. A closed adoption allows your family to be a little more private with adoption information. 

Cons

Unfortunately, with a closed adoption, you may not have certain information about your child that is pertinent to their future. For example, you will not know anything about their family's medical history. If your child someday has questions about their birth parents, you will not have the information that they are seeking. 

Open Adoption

Open or semi-open adoption will allow your child some contact with their birth parents. For example, they may request pictures of the child throughout their lifetime, as well as provide you and your children with the answers to any questions you may have

Pros

There are so many emotions that you, your child, or your child's birth parent may feel throughout the process of adoption. Loss, grief, rejection, and guilt are all common feelings that people experience. Your child may someday feel the sting of rejection that comes from having one's life altered by adoption. However, open adoption allows for these feelings to be discussed, which may open the door to some understanding and healing. 

Cons

It can be emotionally difficult to maintain contact with the birth parents of your child, especially if they are living a healthy lifestyle. You may not want them to be a part of your child's life. 

In conclusion, the type of adoption you choose will ultimately affect your family. Take the time necessary to carefully consider what would be best for you, your child, and your family. Talk to an adoption counselor for further help with the decision. For more information about open adoption, contact a local adoptions agency.

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