What it's like to foster babies and children up to the age of 10, and what skills and qualities you'll need.
Caring for a younger child can be really rewarding and fun as well as a challenge at times.
Just 5% of children in care in the UK are under the age of 1, with 13% of young children being aged between 1 and 4 years old. You do not need a spare room if a child is under 2 because they can sleep in a cot in your room, if appropriate.
Baby only fostering
Fostering only babies is a rare option for foster parents, but if you're highly trained there's always a need for specialist foster carers. Often, babies are brought into care under a short-term fostering placement. This means they needed to be removed from their birth parents quickly to keep everybody safe. Sometimes this is so the immediate problems at home can be resolved. If this isn't possible, short-term foster care would change to long-term, or the baby may transition to a family member or an adoptive home.
Fostering children under 10
Fostering younger children involves a range of responsibilities and considerations. Given the children's young age and associated vulnerabilities, you must ensure the safety, wellbeing and emotional support of the children you care for at all times.
Foster carers should be aware of the developmental needs of children under 10 and how to support them in their growth and learning. The need for open and effective communication with the children is crucial for fostering a trusting relationship. Young children need a safe and secure environment appropriate to their age and developmental stage.
As a foster carer for younger children, you'll receive support and training to help meet the emotional and developmental needs of the children you care for. This will help you maintain a sense of family and support children's emotional needs, even if they're not living with their birth family. We'll support you so you're prepared to:
- adapt to the unique needs of each child
- provide the necessary care and support to ensure the children's wellbeing
Contact us
If you have any questions or would like an informal chat, contact our fostering team.
Call:
0117 353 4200
Email:
Form:
What our Bristol carers say about fostering younger children
"I love seeing the change in children that come to us and being able to help them settle with a new family or back to their parents."
"It's very rewarding especially if a baby you watch them grow up until they move on. You meet others and it's like one big family who you can talk to and rely on."
"Seeing the child in my care grow in confidence, in emotional resilience, with friendships, courage to try new things, connection with me and other safe people."
"I've always wanted to be a nursery nurse or child minder, I saw an advert on the back of the bus and thought to myself, I can do that, so I applied, and I'm still enjoying it."
