164882 1021 Parenting & Family Parenting Shopping For Children true Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:06:24 -0700 /system/videos/4/82/48/16/164882.flv parenting, family, adopting, children, kids, having, process, learning, requirements, agency How To Adopt a Child http://www.howcast.com/videos/164882-How-To-Adopt-a-Child http://www.howcast.com/videos/164882-How-To-Adopt-a-Child/edit approved 149 640 360 <object width="425" height="273" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="howcastplayer"><param name="movie" value="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=164882"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=164882" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="273" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed></object> 4 carlo_scialla http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/164882/adopt_child_master_hd-640x360_nobug_h264_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg 969 false false false 62749 1 26 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/164882/26.jpg Learn the requirements Find out the qualifications to adopt. In the U.S., adoption laws vary from state to state. For international adoptions, check federal regulations and the requirements of the child’s native country.

]]> 62750 2 36 Tip Requirements for international adoptions by U.S. citizens are usually stricter.

]]> 62751 3 42 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/164882/42.jpg Decide your requirements Decide your requirements. Are you open to adopting an older child? Or a child of a different race, a baby with health problems, or siblings? Could you live with an “open adoption,” where the birth mother remains in your baby’s life?

]]> 62752 4 55 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/164882/55.jpg Find an agency Sign up with an adoption agency. Your chances of getting a newborn, as opposed to an older child, will be higher with a private agency than with a government agency.

]]> 62753 5 64 Tip Private adoption agencies are more expensive that state-run agencies and may require you to hire a lawyer.

]]> 62754 6 70 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/164882/70.jpg Get a resume together Put a resume together, which explains your qualifications for becoming a parent. Include photos and a heartfelt letter to any moms-to-be who decide to be involved in the adoption process.

]]> 62755 7 81 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/164882/81.jpg Prepare for scrutiny Prepare to be scrutinized. Before an agency accepts someone, they must pass background checks, be fingerprinted, get a clean bill of health, present their income tax returns and other relevant documents, and prove that their home is suitable for a child. Some states also require prospective parents to complete a parenting workshop.

]]> 62756 8 100 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/164882/100.jpg Spread the word While you’re waiting to hear from the adoption agency, you can also start your own search: Run classified ads in newspapers and online, and post flyers in hospitals and women’s health clinics. Make sure friends and family know you’re looking to adopt, too.

]]> 62757 9 113 Tip If you find a birth mother on your own, hire an adoption attorney to draw up a contract and handle the financial details.

]]> 62758 10 121 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/164882/121.jpg Look into &quot;snowflake adoption&quot; Another option is to look into frozen-embryo adoption, known as “snowflake adoption,” where couples that have tried in vitro fertilization donate their unused embryos to would-be parents.

]]> 62759 11 132 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/164882/132.jpg Be patient Be patient. The process can take months or even years. But a child is well worth the wait.

]]> 62760 12 138 Fact In a landmark study on adopted children, adoptees rated their parents more favorably than did their non-adopted peers.

]]> 1011 30493 How To Not Be a Soccer Mom HowcastGuide 4415 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 06:00:48 -0700 11 KingMonkey ]]> 125 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/93/04/03/30493.flv parenting, child, sports, soccer-mom, mother, overbearing, stage, controlling, smothering, freak Parenting & Family Parenting General Parenting 3 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/30493/soccer_mom_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/30493-How-To-Not-Be-a-Soccer-Mom 1011 31796 How To Text Your Way Into Your Kid's Life HowcastGuide 4496 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:01:08 -0700 13 Seaworthy ]]> 140 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/96/17/03/31796.flv at&t, att, cell, parenting, family, kids, children, texting, learning, phone Parenting & Family Parenting General Parenting 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/31796/text_kids_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/31796-How-To-Text-Your-Way-Into-Your-Kids-Life 1011 109069 How To Be a Stay-at-Home Dad HowcastGuide 1689 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:04:15 -0800 12 carlo_scialla ]]> 116 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/69/90/10/109069.flv parenting, family, child, children, father, daddy, stay, home, house, husband Parenting & Family Parenting General Parenting 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/109069/stay_home_dad_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/109069-How-To-Be-a-StayatHome-Dad 1011 131141 How To Be a New Dad HowcastGuide 2175 Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:05:50 -0800 13 BenandCarter ]]> 132 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/41/11/13/131141.flv parenting, family, expecting, child, children, first, father, daddy, learning, fatherhood Parenting & Family Parenting General Parenting 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/131141/new_dad_hd4_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/131141-How-To-Be-a-New-Dad 1012 173316 How To Recognize the Early Signs Of Autism HowcastGuide 3425 Sun, 26 Apr 2009 05:32:50 -0700 17 Stabbey ]]> 160 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/16/33/17/173316.flv recognizing, noticing, knowing, children, kids, autism, Autistic, parenting, family, child Parenting & Family Parenting Children With Special Needs 3 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/173316/autism_hd4_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/173316-How-To-Recognize-the-Early-Signs-Of-Autism 1013 223536 How To Make a Diaper Cake HowcastGuide 7703 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:03:23 -0700 7 goluxx ]]> 157 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/69/21/22/222169.flv pampers,diaper,making,cake,parenting,baby,shower,building,crafts,projects,decorations Parenting & Family Parenting Diapers & Potty Training 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/223536/Goldstein_HTDiaperCake_hd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/223536-How-To-Make-a-Diaper-Cake 1014 53097 How To Deal With a Screaming Child While Shopping HowcastGuide 3623 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:01:43 -0800 17 Stabbey ]]> 136 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/97/30/05/53097.flv parenting, discipline, dealing, handling, disobedient, children, son, daughter, public, store Parenting & Family Parenting Discipline 4 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/53097/screaming_child_hd_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/53097-How-To-Deal-With-a-Screaming-Child-While-Shopping 1014 166135 How To Reform a Spoiled Brat HowcastGuide 3296 Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:06:59 -0700 21 TreehouseFlicks ]]> 109 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/35/61/16/166135.flv parenting, discipline, dealing, handling, disobedient, children, son, daughter, spoiled, raising Parenting & Family Parenting Discipline 4 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/166135/5_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/166135-How-To-Reform-a-Spoiled-Brat 1015 201207 How To Handle a Picky Eater HowcastGuide 1140 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:04:22 -0700 9 TreehouseFlicks ]]> 131 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/07/12/20/201207.flv parenting, kids, handling, picky, eater, difficult, food, child, son, daughter Parenting & Family Parenting Eating & Meals 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/201207/handle_a_picky_eater_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/201207-How-To-Handle-a-Picky-Eater 1022 79013 How To Get a Newborn To Fall Asleep HowcastGuide 3921 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:04:15 -0800 13 ThirdPro ]]> 156 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/13/90/07/79013.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, parenting, family, sleep Parenting & Family Parenting Sleep and Children 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/79013/newborn_sleep_hd_2_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/79013-How-To-Get-a-Newborn-To-Fall-Asleep 1022 113833 How To Get Some Sleep When You Have a Newborn HowcastGuide 1885 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:04:59 -0800 5 monty ]]> 97 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/33/38/11/113833.flv parenting, sleeping, children, kids, babies, baby, newborn, asleep, falling, handling Parenting & Family Parenting Sleep and Children 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/113833/sleep_newborn_hd_2_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/113833-How-To-Get-Some-Sleep-When-You-Have-a-Newborn 1022 199977 How To Calm a Child Who Is Having a Nightmare HowcastGuide 1205 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:05:10 -0700 13 montykates ]]> 121 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/77/99/19/199977.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, parenting, family, parent Parenting & Family Parenting Sleep and Children 8 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/199977/calm_child_hd_2_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/199977-How-To-Calm-a-Child-Who-Is-Having-a-Nightmare 1024 223169 How To Deal With Your Sexually Active Teen HowcastGuide 2600 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:55:39 -0700 8 Dynamic ]]> 107 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/91/18/22/221891.flv parenting,teenagers,teens,daughter,son,dealing,handling,virginity,sex,having,active Parenting & Family Parenting Teenagers 3 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/223169/DEAL_WITH_YOUR_SEXUALLY_ACTIVE_TEEN_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/223169-How-To-Deal-With-Your-Sexually-Active-Teen 980 199 How To Swaddle a Baby HowcastGuide 2890 Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:18:09 -0800 12 Janeen ]]> 123 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/99/01/199.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, swaddle, wrap, newborn, baby, child, new-born, new, born, babies, mother, motherhood, parenting, parent, parenthood, childcare, care, caring, take care Parenting & Family Baby Care General Baby Care 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/199/Parenting.How_to_Swaddle_a_Baby_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/199-How-To-Swaddle-a-Baby 980 263 How To Choose a Pacifier HowcastGuide 1448 Wed, 05 Dec 2007 23:54:36 -0800 8 Janeen ]]> 142 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/63/02/263.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, pacifier, choose, pick, pick out, decide, choosing, picking, deciding, parent, parenting, motherhood, baby, childcare, care, caring, taking care Parenting & Family Baby Care General Baby Care 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/263/Parenting.How_to_Choose_a_Pacifier_SD_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/263-How-To-Choose-a-Pacifier