Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown always dreamed of adopting; ‘It’s not easy to carry a human being for nine months’; why she believes adoption is never a second choice

Millie Bobby Brown with her son (@milliebobbybrown)

For many people, the picture of starting a family is closely associated with getting pregnant, growing a baby and giving birth. The biological kid. But Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown has a different story to tell. At just 22, the actor, who married Jake Bongiovi in 2024, has adopted two kids. She calls adopting babies her dream. It was not a decision she made because she could not have biological children, nor was it a last resort. It was something she had imagined since she was a little girl.Brown and Bongiovi as parents

Brown and Bongiovi welcomed their first child, a baby girl, through adoption in August 2025. In September 2026, the couple welcomed their second child, a baby boy, also through adoption. Brown shared a cute picture with her two kids and broke the news on social media. While they have chosen to keep their children’s identities private, Brown has spoken openly about the emotional journey that brought her to motherhood.A childhood dreamIn a June 2026 appearance on Kylie Kelce’s podcast Not Gonna Lie, Brown revealed that her interest in adoption went back to her childhood.She recalled how, when she was around five or six, her parents would tell her that all her baby dolls were adopted. Unlike many children who pretend to be pregnant while playing with dolls, she never imagined that part of motherhood for herself.“Always wanted to adopt. It was always part of, like, my childhood dreams,” she said.The actor also mentioned that her interest in adoption did not mean she had ruled out pregnancy.Adoption was a decision she and Jake prepared for“Adoption is love. Adoption is forever,” captured the sentiment behind her decision.During her conversation with Kylie Kelce, she also revealed that she had studied social work for two years before switching to veterinary studies. Her social work education introduced her to adoption from different perspectives, including that of social workers and birth mothers.Brown also recalled receiving the phone call that changed their lives and described it as one of the most beautiful moments she had experienced as the waiting period was among the most challenging parts of the process.Why her story matters for modern parenting

Modern parenting (@milliebobbybrown)

For decades, adoption has often been portrayed as a second option, particularly for those who can’t have a biological kid due to some medical reasons. But Brown’s experience brings attention to a different perspective to which adoption can be a conscious, deeply desired choice.What does the American Academy of Pediatrics say?According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should introduce the subject of adoption early in a child’s life rather than treating it as a secret that needs to be revealed at a particular age.Honest conversations help children understand their backgrounds and develop a sense of identity. It also helps build trust with their adoptive parents.The organisation also recommends using respectful language when discussing birth families. Rather than describing a child as someone who was ‘given away’, parents can explain that their birth parents made an adoption plan.This approach acknowledges the child’s origins without making them feel unwanted or responsible for the circumstances surrounding their adoption.