Many childless couples consider adopting a child in order to have a complete family, and most of them would rather prefer adopting a baby, most probably because they want to have that "bearing the baby into the world feeling."  However, orphanages do not only have babies in their ward, but also older children who were either abandoned or taken away from their abusive families.

Some childless couples are wary about adopting an older child, thinking it would be more difficult to take care of, especially that the child has already developed a personality that the adoptive parents may not find pleasing. 

However, parents may actually have an advantage of adopting an older child.  Here is a list of benefits and disadvantages between baby adoption and older child adoption.

Adopting an older child takes a shorter wait

Because many childless couples prefer to adopt babies, many orphanages end up without having any baby in their ward and willing parents would have to wait for a long time before a baby orphan would become available. 

However, orphanages have a lot of older children ages 1 and above who also need a family.  Adopting an older child would take a shorter amount of time, and at the same time would bring joy to that child having a family he or she has been wanting for a long time.

Adoptive parents get to discover an older child's special needs sooner

In fact, the orphanage may even inform the aspiring parents about their adopted child's special needs or possibly even problems that parents usually wait for several years to discover in the case of adopting infants. 

For instance, a couple adopting an older child may realize right away that he or she has an above average IQ, or attention deficit disorder.

Older child may have an idea about family history

Older orphans will know his birth parents and family history.  This is especially helpful in handling a child's past and grief issues.

Adoptive parents would not have to go through the difficulties of raising a baby

Couples adopting an older child would not have to wake up in the middle of the night to change diapers or repeatedly remind the child to go to the toilet when taking a pee.  They are more likely prepared to get involved in family activities like sports and camping, or other interests you would like to share.

An adopted older child may take long to bond with adoptive parents

Forming a bond between parents and their child usually happens during the child's first months.  Adopting an older child may exhibit withdrawal symptoms from being away from the orphanage or even his/ her birth parents. 

Parent adopting an older child should display extreme patience, tolerance, and love in order for the adopted child to grow up happy and close to his/ her adopted parents.

Adoptive parents tend to reeducate their adoptive children

An adopted older child already has instilled values and morals learned from his former family or the orphanage, and parents may find some of them not favorable.  The couple may end up instilling new values into their adopted child, which may confuse them.