Big rise in Thais adopting a child

Interior Ministry records show that up to 9,339 persons were registered two years ago, a huge increase from 1,389 in 2011.
“Infertility problems are a factor,” Mental Health Department director-general Sqn-Leader Boonruang Triruangworawat said the other day. 
A 2014 health survey found that 9.8 per cent of people aged between 15 and 59 had suffered from infertility issues. 
Bangkok saw the highest number of adoptive-parent registrations in 2016, with 1,224 residents officially adopting children, Boonruang said. 
Chon Buri came second with 419 adoptive parents registered, followed by Nakhon Ratchasima with 280 registrations, and Chiang Mai with 264. 
The agency chief offered plenty of tips for people seeking to adopt a child. 
“It’s best to adopt children aged under six months old,” he said. 
He explained that raising babies from such a young age would allow deep bonding, as adopted children would remember only them as opposed to their biological parents. 
“If you adopt children aged between three and four years old, they may get angry that you take them away from what they believe is their family,” he explained. 
He also recommended that people check the physical health and family background of children they are going to adopt. 
“After you adopt children, you should tell them about adoption yourself when they are still young, like when they are three to four years old,” he said, adding, “Also, make sure you show your love and care when telling about them about adoption.” 
Sarutabhandu Chakrabhandu Na Ayutaya, director of the Galya Rajanagarindra Institute, said people seeking to adopt must pass screening tests related to their emotions, stress management and personality, as authorities needed to be sure they were fit for parenting.
Blood relatives are a major group of adoptive parents, officially taking over the custody of a niece, nephew or grandchild, he added.