The history of national and international adoptions in Switzerland has hardly been studied. Adoption is a drastic process for the persons concerned. The child is removed from its family of origin and finds its place anew in the adoptive family. Historically, care and coercion have often gone hand in hand in this process. The aim of this study is to examine the dynamics of care and coercion in domestic and intercountry adoptions since the 1960s. The focus is on the actions of authorities and civil society organisations. Previous studies indicate that little attention has been paid to the best interests of the child.