Why a spare bedroom is a must when you’re considering adoption

We fully understand the frustration that potential adopters feel when they can clearly demonstrate that they are offering a nurturing and stable home, and they are then told they need also need a spare bedroom for a child before beginning the adoption assessment process. Especially in London, where house prices are so high. What we can do, is explain about the reasoning behind this challenging expectation.

Adopted children who may have experienced a chaotic early life, need their own space to begin healing.  They may never have had a room of their own, so to have that helps them feel special and safe: choosing their own décor or setting up a corner for their favourite toy can help them to rebuild their sense of belonging, and self-worth. It may seem like four walls to you but to a child, it’s a therapeutic and calming space that can make all the difference in helping them settle into their new family home and life.

Adopted siblings may be able to share a bedroom. This will depend on their relationship, their age, their genders, and their individual needs, and we can only make these decisions on a case-by-case basis.

Most adoption agencies will have this measure in place even if you are focused on adopting a young baby via Early Permanence. Adoption Agencies are thinking in the long term for adopted children, so need to see a dedicated bedroom for the child at the beginning of the assessment process, even if they will live in a cot in your bedroom for a short period of time.

You may feel you can present a short-term solution such as a splitting a larger room into to smaller spaces or the adult sleeping in the family lounge or sitting room on the sofa bed, but these suggestions are not sustainable, for long-term ideas for the family space. Children need consistent sleep routines, and if the adult is on the sofa, this could impact the whole household rhythm—especially when the family dynamic gets more complex emotionally, such as when the child hits the growth and hormonal years.

Giving an adopted child their own room benefits the whole family. It shows that every family member matters and supports emotional well-being. It also helps to avoid sibling rivalry, as both birth children and adopted children feel respected, and valued in their homes.

Yes, adoption agencies like Adopt London are desperate for more adopters, but they are also under huge pressure to ensure that every adoptive family home is safe, stable, and sustainable home for every child. The spare bedroom isn’t about ticking a box—it’s about giving a child the dignity to help them heal and belong. In a nutshell a spare bedroom for an adopted child is a must.