Fostering babies and under 2's

If providing foster care for young babies and under 2 year olds, this is often to prepare them to be moved on to be adopted or return to their family home.

Fostering a very young child is rewarding as carers can visibly see the child thrive and develop in their care. Equally, it can be demanding as they may have medical needs - which may require support, during day and night. You need to have both the physical and emotional capacity to manage this type of 24 hour 1-to-1 care and consider how this may impact upon your own family.

You will to work closely with the birth parents, using your personal skills to provide regular contact arrangements (often in your own home or if supervised, transport the child to and from sessions at a family centre).

You would also host introduction meetings between the child and the prospective adoptive parents (again in your home). Sensitivity and caring skills are essential to ensure that these are positive experiences for both the young child and the parents. Foster carers are responsible for taking the child to and from contact arrangements. meetings and medical visits - so transport is also a consideration and carers need to be available and flexible to meet these needs.

Training is provided as it is important that you and your family cope with your own sense of loss when the time comes for the child to move on. As a carer, you will need a professional approach and a sensitive manner.  This will improve outcomes for all those involved with moving a child on to the next phase of their life.

Please view the list of all the other types of foster care available.