Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Maryland: Why Adoption Is the Better Choice

Your Guide to Adoption Agencies in Maryland

Maryland has no Safe Haven boxes, so you would need to surrender your baby in person. But adoption offers more support and control.

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If you’re searching for a Safe Haven baby box, you may feel like you’ve run out of options. You just want to keep your baby safe and move forward.

You are not alone. Many expectant mothers in Maryland have felt the same way. Whether your pregnancy was unplanned, you’re facing pressure from others or you just can’t parent right now, you still have choices.

This guide will walk you through how Safe Haven baby boxes work and why private adoption may be the better path. If you’re ready to talk with someone who understands, reach out by calling 1-800-236-7846 or filling out our contact form.

How Do Safe Haven Baby Boxes Work in Maryland?

Many women wonder if you’ll get in trouble for using a baby box. The short answer is no. Safe Haven boxes are designed to let you legally and anonymously surrender your newborn.

Here’s how to use one:

At a designated safe haven baby box location, the birth mother can open the exterior access door, place her newborn inside the bassinet, close the door and walk away. The door automatically locks to keep the child safe.

As soon as the door is shut, an alarm is activated that notifies on-site emergency personnel that a baby has been placed inside and a second internal alarm is triggered as a backup to ensure no delay in response.

Trained staff responds immediately, retrieve the baby from the box, and provide medical attention. From there, custody is transferred to the state.

It’s important to note that there are currently no Safe Haven baby boxes in Maryland. Instead, you must physically hand your newborn to staff at a designated Safe Haven location. This ensures your baby is safe but removes your ability to choose who raises them.

What Adoption Agencies Can Offer That Safe Haven Law Can’t

When you use a Safe Haven location, your baby is placed into the foster care system. You won’t know who raises them, and you won’t receive any updates.

But when you choose to legally give up a baby anonymously through a licensed adoption agency, you can shape your baby’s future.

By choosing adoption, you get:

Financial support for housing, groceries, medical care and more.
Adoption planning that puts you in control of the process.
The power to choose your baby’s adoptive family.
Free, 24/7 counseling and guidance from licensed professionals.
Open or semi-open adoption options to stay connected.

Unlike Safe Haven, adoption gives you real options. You can protect your privacy and still give your baby the life you imagine.

Ready to explore adoption? Here’s how the process works in Maryland.

Emergency Adoption Options: How Agencies Can Help Right Now

Even if you’ve already given birth or are close to your due date, adoption is still an option. Private agencies can act fast. You don’t have to rush or feel pressured.

Here are a few adoption agencies that support expectant parents in Maryland:

American Adoptions: This national agency has a 24/7 hotline that immediately connects you with an adoption specialist. They offer comprehensive support, financial assistance and help finding the right family.
Paths for Families (Greenbelt): Paths for Families offers full adoption services, counseling and legal support to Maryland women considering adoption.
The Barker Adoption Foundation (Bethesda): This local agency provides adoption planning, pregnancy counseling and post-placement support.

Understanding Safe Haven Laws in Maryland: What You Should Know

The Safe Haven law in Maryland allows you to surrender a baby who is 10 days old or younger. Here’s what the law says:

You can leave your baby with a responsible adult at a hospital, police station or other approved location.
If you are not the baby’s mother, you must have her permission to surrender the baby.
You won’t be prosecuted as long as the baby is safe and you don’t express an intent to return.

These laws are meant to protect you, but they also end your parental rights permanently. You will not know where your baby goes next.

Where Is the Closest Safe Haven Baby Box in Maryland?

Wondering where Safe Haven baby boxes are located? Currently, there are no Safe Haven baby boxes near you in Maryland. The closest ones are in Pennsylvania:

Lancaster General Hospital (Lancaster, PA)
Penn Highlands Healthcare (State College, PA)
McConnellsburg Volunteer Fire Company (McConnellsburg, PA)

If you’re considering this option, know that licensed agencies in Maryland can offer more support, closer to home.

Understanding the Consequences of Using a Safe Haven Location in Maryland

It’s important to understand what happens after you surrender your baby through a Safe Haven location:

You forfeit all decision making.
The state makes all future decisions about the child’s care, including who will adopt them.
The child enters the state foster care system.
The child may spend weeks, months or even years in foster care before being placed with a permanent family.
Your child’s file is sealed.
This means you will have no way of knowing who adopted your child, you won’t receive updates on your child and they may never know the story behind why they were placed.

While this path may seem easier, it leaves your baby’s future entirely in the hands of the state.

You Can Provide a Brighter Future for Your Baby — With the Right Agency

Many women wonder if adoption is better than Safe Haven. Adoption gives you more support, more options and more peace of mind.

Through adoption, you can give your baby:

Your child can grow up in a secure, structured home environment filled with consistency, routine and care.

Adoptive parents go through a rigorous process to be approved to adopt. They’ve waited for the opportunity to love and raise a child, and your baby becomes the center of their world.

Your choice can open doors for your child that might otherwise have been closed. They may one day attend college, travel, receive quality medical care and engage in extracurriculars like music, sports and art.

You also don’t have to say goodbye. With open or semi-open adoption, you can still be part of your child’s life, receiving photos and even scheduling visits. You can explain why you made this decision.

What is Open Adoption?

How Private Adoption Agencies Keep Your Information Confidential

Worried about your privacy? Licensed adoption agencies are trained to keep your information confidential. You can remain anonymous while still making decisions about your child’s future.

You can even choose a closed adoption if you want no further contact. Or, if you prefer to stay connected, a semi-open adoption lets you receive updates without giving up your privacy.

FAQ About Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Maryland

What Makes Safe Haven Boxes Safe for Babies?

They include climate control, air ventilation and an automatic lock. A silent alarm alerts staff and 911 once the baby is placed inside.

Can You Get Your Baby Back After Safe Haven in Maryland?

Possibly. Contact your local Department of Social Services immediately. There may be a limited time to reclaim custody before parental rights are terminated.

Can Safe Haven Babies Be Adopted?

Possibly. Most babies are placed into foster care and may be adopted through the state. You do not get to choose the adoptive family.

Is There a Safe Haven Law Age Limit in Maryland?

Yes. The baby must be 10 days old or younger.

What Does a Safe Haven Box Look Like?

It usually has a door marked “Safe Haven Baby Box Drop Off.” Inside, there is a bassinet-style bed.

What You Do Next Matters — An Agency Can Help

You don’t have to go through this alone. You can give your baby a safe, loving future with the support of the right adoption agency.

Reach out today for confidential help.