Why Millie Bobby Brown decided to adopt as actress welcomes second child with Jake Bongiovi

Millie Bobby Brown and her husband Jake Bongiovi have expanded their family further by adopting a second child.

The couple has chosen to adopt once again, this time a little boy, to grow the family they have both spoken openly about wanting.

The Stranger Things actress, 22, and Bongiovi, 24, announced the arrival of their first child, a daughter, through adoption in August 2025.

On Thursday, 17 September, they confirmed the news of their second baby, sharing a photograph of his hand on Instagram with the caption: “Hi little guy!”

Adorably, Brown is shown to be wearing a glitzy ring which reads 'Mom' on it.

After adopting their daughter last year, the couple announced the news with a sweet social post: “This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption. We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy.”

Childhood dreams of adoption

The actress previously revealed that adoption had been part of her idea of family since she was a child, according to Buzzfeed.

Speaking to Kylie Kelce on the Not Gonna Lie podcast in June, Brown explained that she had ‘always wanted to adopt’.

She traced the idea back to her childhood, when she would play with baby dolls.

“It was always part of my childhood dreams,” Brown said.

“Every time I was at home and I was, you know, 5, 6 years old, my parents were like, ‘You had your baby dolls.’ They were all adopted.”

She added that she ‘never pretended I was pregnant’.

Brown added that her decision was also influenced by what she learned while studying social work.

“I loved the aspect of adoption in my social work courses,” she said, describing it as ‘so meaningful and important’.

Brown explained that during her studies she also got to learn about the experiences of birth mothers, which encouraged her and Bongiovi to think carefully about what adoption would mean.

“So for me, my husband and I took a lot of time to focus on what that story and what that journey looks like. And then we embarked [on] it.”

Future biological children

Brown has also been keen to stress that adopting her children does not mean she has ruled out having biological children in future.

During the same podcast appearance, she said: “It's not because I don't want that. Hopefully one day that's in my future.”

For her, the two possibilities are not mutually exclusive. “Adoption is love, adoption is forever,” she said.

In an interview with British Vogue, Brown said of her daughter: “She’s taught us so much already. Perspective is a huge thing.”

“The smaller things in life are so much more precious. Our days are filled with lots of cuddles and laughter and love, it’s just endless joy.”

The couple are also fiercely protective of their children’s privacy.

Their daughter’s name has not been publicly revealed, and the couple has avoided sharing clear photographs of her face.

As their family grows, the couple appears determined to keep the focus on their children rather than the celebrity surrounding their lives, but Brown has been keen to use her platform for good to raise awareness of adoption and the possibilities involved.