Caring for Newborn Babies in Foster Care: Things You Need to Know But Might Not Have Considered

Babies and newborns require a significant amount of effort, preparation, and love. Many people prefer fostering babies because of the opportunity to watch them as they grow. Many also consider newborns easier because they don’t expect them to have the trauma or behavioral issues an older child or teen might have. The truth is, even newborn babies in foster care come with their own unique challenges that parents should be prepared for. 

These babies enter the system for many reasons, sometimes due to unsafe living conditions, neglect, or substance exposure during pregnancy. In some cases, teen moms in foster care give birth and are unable to care for their babies, creating a need for compassionate caregivers who can step in immediately. Practicing patience, preparedness, and compassion is important for those looking to foster babies. 

Why Newborns Enter Foster Care

Newborns may be placed in foster care within hours or days of birth. Hospitals are mandated to report suspected abuse, neglect, or drug exposure. If a parent is unable or unfit to care for their baby, the child enters protective custody. In other cases, the birth parent may voluntarily relinquish the baby, often due to an inability to provide adequate care. 

Some of the reasons why newborns may end up in the foster care system are:

• Physical abuse that endangers the child’s safety or well-being
• Chronic neglect, including lack of access to basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, medical care, or adult supervision
• Parental substance use, incarceration, or unmanaged medical or mental health conditions that interfere with safe caregiving
• Family crises, such as homelessness or extreme poverty, that prevent the parent from providing stable care
• Situations involving asylum seekers, where a parent fleeing danger or instability relinquishes care of the child
• The death of a parent with no immediate family available to provide care

Some parents voluntarily place their children into foster care due to the reasons mentioned above, but also because they may feel unable or unprepared to meet their child’s needs. Financial hardship, lack of support systems, overwhelming behavioral challenges, or other complex personal circumstances can lead a parent to make this difficult decision.

It’s important to understand that voluntary placement is not a sign that a child is “unloved” or “unwanted.” In many cases, it reflects a parent’s deep concern for their child’s well-being. Choosing foster care or adoption can be an act of profound love. More often than not, it is an attempt to give the child stability, safety, and opportunities the parent feels they are unable to provide at that time.

Why Some Babies Arrive Without Names

It may come as a surprise, but newborns entering foster care don’t always have names. This can happen for several reasons. A birth parent may leave the hospital before naming the baby or may be too overwhelmed to make that decision. In other cases, the child may be abandoned, and no name is known. Sometimes, birth parents are unable or unwilling to choose a name, or there may be legal reasons (such as uncertainty about the parent’s identity) that delay the naming process.

As a result, these infants are often temporarily referred to as “Baby Boy” or “Baby Girl,” followed by the last name of the birth parent, the hospital, or another placeholder. In emergency placements, the foster family may not even be given the last name at first and will receive that information later. Foster families are asked to use the temporary name provided, but if reunification is not possible and the child becomes eligible for adoption, the adoptive family may choose a permanent name.

How to Foster or Adopt a Newborn

To foster or adopt newborn babies in foster care, you’ll typically need to complete training, a home study, and background checks. On your application, you can indicate your age preferences for fostering newborns or babies.

While fostering does not guarantee adoption, many newborns who cannot be safely reunited with their birth families become eligible for adoption by their foster caregivers.

Welcoming a newborn from foster care into your home means offering a safe start during one of life’s most delicate moments, and the impact lasts a lifetime.

Challenges of Caring for Newborn Babies in Foster Care

Fostering newborns is rewarding but extremely challenging. Caregivers often form strong attachments, knowing reunification with the birth family may still occur. Some babies are born prematurely or experiencing withdrawal symptoms due to prenatal drug exposure, requiring medical care training and a great deal of patience. There’s also often limited or no background information about the family’s medical or social history, making it harder to anticipate a baby’s long-term needs.

There are many emotional difficulties to cope with, all while providing a safe and stable environment for them. Special training and parenting strategies may be necessary to manage these challenges.

What to Expect

Emergency placements are common. You may receive a call in the middle of the night and be asked to pick up a baby within hours. In some cases, you may need to go directly to a hospital’s NICU to meet the baby, especially if they were born prematurely or exposed to substances and need medical support.

Training and preparation are key. You’ll need to complete foster parent certification, which includes background checks, CPR/first aid, and classes focused on infant care and trauma. It’s also wise to have newborn essentials on hand—diapers, bottles, formula, clothing, and a safe sleep space like a crib or bassinet.

In Conclusion

Newborns and infant babies in foster care are among the most fragile and in-need children in the system. These infants may enter care just hours or days after birth due to a range of circumstances—substance exposure during pregnancy, unsafe home environments, or because their birth mother is a teen in foster care herself and unable to provide support. Regardless of the reason, these babies require immediate, round-the-clock care and a stable, nurturing home.

Caring for newborn babies in foster care is both a challenge and a gift. With the right preparation, you can offer a safe start and the comfort of human connection in their first days of life.