In the nineteenth century, ragamuffins were a common sight in London. In 1987, in Paris, 20 percent of live births were abandoned. And Morris West described the plight of street children in Naples in the 1950s. Today, the United Nations estimates that 60 million children are abandoned by their families around the world. In the United States alone, 7,000 children are abandoned each year. Despite the grim statistics, the issue of abandonment is far from over.

Despite the tragic stories of abandoned children, there are a number of ways to stop the practice. One method is to make an adoption agency take care of your child. Adoption agencies are trained to identify at-risk children and can refer you to a suitable nanny if you’re unsure of your ability to care for the child. Some organizations may even help you find a foster family or a child-friendly foster home.

The biblical story of Moses depicts an example of abandoned children. In the Bible, a Jewish infant was left to float in the Nile in a basket made of reeds in the hope of being discovered. In the end, the queen of Egypt finds him and grants him a better life, education, and position. Despite the horrors of abandonment, a lot of people still choose to adopt a child.

While there are numerous ways to adopt a child, adoption is one of the safest options for a child in need. Moreover, adopting a child can help you eliminate many of the worries related to caring for an abandoned baby. Because you’ll be handpicking the ideal family for your child, you can feel more secure about your decision. It also gives you a wider variety of choices in choosing a family for your child.

In the nineteenth century, the number of abandoned children increased dramatically. With the high rate of illegitimate births, impoverished parents trusted foundling hospitals with their offspring. In most parts of Europe, however, admission to these institutions was restricted to illegitimate children. Despite this, the unentitled children were often smuggled into foundling hospitals through “wheels” – revolving cradles through which people could introduce newborns. Many times, tokens were left as possible indicators of identification. Sadly, after a year or so, these parents returned to claim their children.

In a study of 209 children with malignant solid tumors, about 3% of these children were abandoned. Researchers used bivariate logistic regression to find factors that increased the odds of abandonment among children without formal employment or retinoblastoma. The findings indicate that the likelihood of abandonment among these children has decreased over the last two decades. The researchers also concluded that a more consistent treatment regimen may help reduce abandonment.

Studies have shown that abandonment at an early age may be linked to neuropsychological disorders. In fact, many studies of abandoned children indicate that their behavior is characterized by social escape and over-strong attachments. This may indicate that the early neglect of children is linked to impaired cognitive performance and a greater risk for depression and other mental health problems later in life. These results are consistent across LMICs. They are now being used to design interventions in countries where abandonment is common.