Why

The Need for a Baby Hatch

The baby hatch exists to give a desperate mother the opportunity to offer her child an anonymous, warm, and safe place.

For some mothers, the situation may feel so hopeless that keeping the child does not seem like an option. Often, fear or shame prevents them from turning to official support channels.

An anonymous and low-threshold solution can then represent a last resort for the child. This is why baby hatches were established. In many European countries, baby hatches are accepted as part of the support network for mothers facing crisis pregnancies.

Every child has the right to live, including newborn babies. A mother who leaves her child in a baby hatch has six months to reconsider her decision. A personal identifier placed in an envelope inside the hatch allows her to be recognized as the person who left the child there, should she wish to come forward.

The baby hatch ensures that, after a short stay in the childcare facility of the CKG and in consultation with the adoption services, the child is placed in a loving foster family, which may later proceed with adoption. As with all adoptions, the biological mother has a six-month reflection period.

The mother’s decision is not judged or condemned. The primary concern is the health and well-being of the child. These mothers are not bad mothers. They offer their child a chance at a good life in the only way that seems possible to them at that moment.

Through the emergency number, an expectant mother can also obtain anonymous information or support. A listening ear is often the first step toward a calm and thoughtful decision.

It may also happen that a mother contacts the emergency number after leaving her child. She will still be listened to, and options will be discussed. Ultimately, the mother’s decision is usually respected. It is possible for her to be reunited with her child, provided she is willing to identify herself and accept guidance from family support services.