Jason is a small but mighty baby boy with a strong spirit. He was born five weeks early and weighed just 3lbs at birth. Due to his low birth weight and early arrival, Jason spent time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where he received specialist care until he was strong enough to go home with his current foster carers.
Despite his early start, Jason is doing well and continues to grow and gain strength. He is feeding well and typically wakes every 3–4 hours during the night, which is expected for his age and developmental stage.
Health and Development
Jason’s birth mother used drugs and alcohol during pregnancy, which means there is some uncertainty around how he will develop as he grows. While it is too early to fully understand the long-term impact, children who are exposed to substances in the womb may experience developmental delays, learning difficulties, or emotional and behavioural challenges later in life.
At present, Jason is showing encouraging signs – he is feeding well, growing steadily, and responding to care in a loving home environment. However, his adoptive family will need to be prepared for the possibility of emerging needs in the future. Ongoing monitoring and developmental checks will be important, and Jason may benefit from specialist support as he gets older.
A family that can offer stability, patience, and a nurturing routine, along with a willingness to work with professionals, will give Jason the best possible foundation for a healthy and happy life.
Family Needs
Jason will need parents who are open to the unknowns in his development and who can provide a warm, consistent environment where he can continue to thrive. Having an understanding of (or willingness to learn about) the impact of early life experiences and prenatal exposure to substances is essential.
He needs attentive caregivers who can adapt to his changing needs over time and advocate for him as he grows.
Maintaining Connections
Jason needs to maintain a connection with his birth family as he grows up, in a way that is safe and supportive for him. This may involve letterbox contact (sharing written updates and photographs), or face-to-face visits, depending on what is agreed as part of his contact plan.
Staying connected to birth family – when possible – can help children understand their story and identity, and provide emotional reassurance as they grow older. We will work closely with Jason’s adoptive family to create a contact arrangement that supports his emotional wellbeing.
This profile is based on children we are currently family-finding for. This is not a real profile as names and images have been changed to protect their identity.