!["It took 4 years, but she finally found her FOREVER FAMILY"](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/h/4/e/p/image.related.landscape.380x253.gog6nt.png/1461816322913.jpg)
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![While adoption can be a wonderful option, we must also be aware of the dangers.](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/3/x/7/z/4/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.ghh4o3.gmwj6a.png/1456981563324.jpg)
Why quick and easy adoptions aren't always best
Imagine for one moment your child went missing. Surely you would expect no stone to be left unturned to find them - even if took six months, a year, two, even more.
![<i></i>](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/3/u/r/5/0/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.1mptwa.gmwj6a.png/1456981563324.jpg)
Adoptive mums and dads can get new parent depression too
Adopting a child is supposed to be a joyous event, but for some mothers it is far from a Hallmark moment.
![Jackie's son shows no interest in his Cabbage Patch Doll "little brother".](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/3/j/2/g/2/image.related.landscape.120x80.11cu48.gmwj6a.png/1456981563324.jpg)
![Adoption](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/6/y/j/g/image.related.landscape.120x80.6yiy.gmwj6a.png/1456981563324.jpg)
!["From her perspective, I radiated 'LOOK AT ME', while she had spent a lifetime pretending I had never happened" ... ...](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/2/f/1/3/u/image.related.landscape.120x80.2f114.gmwj6a.png/1456981563324.jpg)
![Adoption](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/3/4/6/0/n/image.related.landscape.120x80.3460e.gmwj6a.png/1456981563324.jpg)
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![Cori Salchert with her adopted son Charlie.](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/6/c/8/g/image.related.landscape.300x200.gn68qi.png/1456716392484.jpg)
The family giving sick babies a loving home for their last days
Cori and Mark Salchert are determined to give their foster children all the care and cuddles they deserve.
![Deirdre Cheers is the CEO of Barnardos Australia.](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/r/6/o/k/image.related.landscape.300x200.gmths1.png/1455368052231.jpg)
For some children, adoption is the best option
Australia hasn’t a lot to be proud of when it comes to children in care. The impact of past child welfare policies, specifically the Stolen Generations of Aboriginal children, the Forgotten Australians who grew up in institutional care, and the injustice of forced adoption must always be remembered. It is a shameful history.
![Molly Sano and her son Bennett.](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/8/v/6/o/image.related.landscape.300x200.gm88g2.png/1453165103783.jpg)
Woman launches desperate campaign to find adopted son's parents
A desperate search for a boy's biological parents has taken a family from Seattle to Shanghai, an almost 20,000km round trip.
![<i></i>](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/x/5/l/g/image.related.landscape.300x200.glwt5e.png/1451515943057.jpg)
Family launches Facebook search for triplet sons
In 1972 Cynthia Bush was 16, pregnant with triplets, and alone.
![The defendant returns to court later this month.](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/6/e/y/m/image.related.landscape.300x200.glwkuz.png/1461122767198.jpg)
Lesbian couple told to hand back toddler
A baby girl relinquished by her mother at birth into the care of a lesbian couple will be "transitioned" back to her biological family after the mother later "changed her mind".
![<i></i>](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/4/7/z/j/l/image.related.landscape.300x200.glq287.png/1450330804487.jpg)
Adoption rates slump as couples wait years to adopt from overseas
Adoption rates in Australia have hit a record low and prospective parents are waiting more than five years to adopt overseas children.
![<i></i>](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/4/7/l/2/3/image.related.landscape.300x200.gljwv4.png/1449697998863.jpg)
Victorian same-sex couples now allowed to adopt
Same-sex couples will be able adopt children but religious adoption agencies have retained the right to refuse to deal with them.
![The Turnbull government has moved to allow Australians to adopt children from Poland and Latvia.](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/4/5/y/h/x/image.related.landscape.300x200.gkuhf3.png/1447047242597.jpg)
Australians get green light to adopt from two more countries
Australians will be able to adopt children from Poland and Latvia under changes to overseas adoption announced by the Turnbull government.
!['A very special little girl': Grace, 3.](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/4/5/7/r/8/image.related.landscape.300x200.gkirsb.png/1445904308280.jpg)
The little girl who needs a home by Christmas
It's that time of year when children start contemplating what they would like for Christmas.
![<i></i>](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/4/4/0/e/m/image.related.landscape.300x200.gk2pwu.png/1444117793587.jpg)
Victorian Labor to introduce same-sex adoption laws
Thousands of same-sex couples with children will have the right to be jointly recognised as parents by Victorian law.
![<i></i>](/web/20160517102454im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/4/3/z/w/g/image.related.landscape.300x200.gk2eoa.png/1444106192457.jpg)
Grandma surprised with brand new granddaughter
Finding out you’re going to be a grandmother can be a very emotional moment. Finding out that you’re a grandmother and the baby is already here is just out of this world.
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