According to official figures more people adopted children in 2011 than ever before.
Data from the Office of National Statistics shows the number of adoptions in England and Wales rose by 6 per cent to 4,734.
However, the data also showed that only two per cent of adoptions were of babies aged one or under.
In response, the government has made a pledge to speed up the adoption process to encourage greater adoption of newborns.
They want babies to be given to prospective adoptive parents before the courts have made a decision on removing them from their birth parents.
A Department for Education spokesman said: 'We want to create a more effective and user-friendly adoption system.
'Adoption can be a lifeline for vulnerable children and we are determined to see more children considered for adoption, particularly those who may previously have been overlooked.
'We are committed to overhauling the entire adoption system to give more vulnerable children the chance of a loving, stable home with adoptive parents' they added.
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Adoption system to be changed after fall in homes found for newborn babies
By Natasha Wynarczyk - Wednesday 8 August 2012
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