Baby Safe Haven Guide [What You Need to Know]

You may have heard about Safe Haven laws for babies, but you’re not quite sure what they are. That is completely understandable. Legal topics can be complex, which can make them difficult to grasp. The good news, though, is that we have put together this comprehensive guide to answer lingering questions, such as “What is a Safe Haven for babies,” and “What does baby Safe Haven mean?”

To get more free information now, you can fill out our online contact form whenever you’re ready to reach out to us. In the meantime, though, we have put together this detailed guide that explains all that you need to know about Baby Safe Haven laws and Safe Haven infant adoption.

For immediate help, you can call this baby Safe Haven hotline at 1-877-767-2229.

What Is a Safe Haven for “Unwanted” Babies? [Understanding the Basics]

When someone has realized that parenting is not right for them or that their baby is in an unsafe environment, they can surrender their baby at a Safe Haven. Designated Baby Safe Haven locations include fire stations, hospitals and churches, to name a few examples. As long as the baby hasn’t been harmed, the parent won’t face punishment.

Also, we’d like to clarify something. There’s a reason that we use “unwanted” in quotes when discussing a Safe Haven for “unwanted” babies. This is because no baby is truly unwanted.  When it comes to safe surrender babies, adoption is always an option.

There are plenty of hopeful adoptive families out there that would love nothing more than to adopt a safe surrender baby. The adoption of surrendered babies is far more common than you may think. A Safe Haven baby adoption, which is also known as a Baby Moses adoption, is always possible.

What’s the Difference between Safe Haven and Adoption?

One of the main reasons that parents surrender their baby at a Baby Safe Haven program is because they feel they can not properly care for the child. Or, they worry that they’re raising their baby in a harmful, toxic atmosphere. The idea of anonymity helps, too, as it can seem like a quick solution. But, they may not realize that they can place their baby anonymously with a Safe Haven adoption agency.

There are quite a few benefits for prospective birth parents that choose adoption, as well. These include:

• Adoption financial assistance that covers all adoption-related expenses
• The ability to choose the right adoptive family for the baby
• Anonymity through pursuing closed adoption

If you are a parent considering Safe Haven baby surrender, then you may want to think about the benefits of making an adoption plan with a private adoption agency. Although you might be interested in closed adoption because of the anonymity it offers, the vast majority of adoptions today are open.

Through open adoption, you can stay in touch with your child long after placement occurs. This way, adoption doesn’t have to be “goodbye.” Instead, it is simply “see you later.”

As the prospective birth parent, you will also be in 100% control of your adoption journey from start to finish. Your adoption professional will do all the heavy lifting for you while you get to call all the shots. This means that you can choose the form of communication you use with your child and the adoptive family, such as:

• Zoom or Skype chats
• Text messages
• In-person visits
• Phone calls
• Handwritten letters
• Photographs
• Or whatever you feel comfortable with

At the end of the day, though, this is your choice and yours alone. Only you know what is best for you and your baby, so don’t let anyone else try to tell you otherwise. If you are still interested in Safe Haven sites to surrender your baby, then that is your decision to make.

Does Every State Have a Baby Safe Haven Law? [What You Need to Know]

The purpose of Baby Safe Haven laws, also known as Baby Moses Laws, is to protect both babies and struggling parents. These laws ensure that parents can safely drop a baby off at a designated Safe Haven location. So, the parent will remain free from prosecution and the baby will remain safe from harm. But, keep in mind that the details will vary by state.

So, where are Safe Haven locations for a baby drop-off? A parent’s ability to leave their baby at a Safe Haven for an abandoned baby depends on what state they live in. For example, each state has its own laws for how old a baby can be, the specific locations where a baby can be dropped off and who can surrender the baby to begin with. To see what your state’s specific regulations are, take a look at this Safe Haven baby website at childwelfare.gov.

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So, do people really bring babies to a Safe Haven? Yes, they do. But, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t other options out there. For instance, adoption is always an option, even if you’ve already been raising your baby for a few months.

Still, you may have some more questions about Baby Safe Haven laws and programs. We’re here to answer them for you. You can contact us online at any time to get more free information now. We would be happy to help you out in any way that we can. We look forward to hearing from you soon.