| Helping Your Baby Develop |
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Babies with Down syndrome require the same love, care and attention all babies need. You can encourage your baby' development by providing:
Developmental Milestones
Articles and InformationAn Overview of the Development of Infants with Down Syndrome by Sue Buckley and Ben Sacks A Developmental Journal for Children with Down syndrome Comparisons of Mosaic and Non-Mosaic Down syndrome
ResourcesStray-Gundersen, Karen Babies with Down Syndrome: A New Parent's Guide Winders, Patricia Gross Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents Bruni, Maryanne Fine Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents Pueschel, Siegfried A Parent's Guide to Down Syndrome - Toward a Brighter Future Kumin, Libby Early Communication Skills in Children with Down Syndrome
LinksMy Baby Can! An 18month developmental calendar and keepsake album for babies with Down Syndrome is available to purchase at www.bandofangels.com/Products/Calendars.aspx
Gross Motor Skills
Activity IdeasHere are some ideas that can be incorporated into your daily routine when interacting with your child. As these recommendations are not specific to your child please consult your health professional if you have any questions or require assistance.
Tummy Time Offer tummy time as it strengthens the muscles in your baby's back and neck. Some children initially dislike this position but will begin to enjoy it if regularly offered short opportunities to practice. Encourage your child to look to their left and right sides using toys and by coming down to their level, making eye contact and communicating with them. Over time as your child gets stronger they will be able to use their forearms for support.
Carrying Positions It is good to use a variety of positions to carry your child so that they experience looking to both sides and being in different positions. Carrying your child upright in the crook of your arm with their legs together and knees bent is a good position for them and allows you to keep one arm free. Make sure you practice alternating the side on which your child is carried so that they look in different directions. This can be difficult as most of us have a preference for arms in which we carry children. Continue to spend time carrying your child cradled in your arms and alternate they way their head is facing. Carrying your child in the 'superman' position with their tummy on your forearm is also a good alternative position; this provides the same benefits as tummy time. As your child grows, try to avoid carrying them on your hip with legs one on either side as this puts their hips in a poor position.
Positions for Play Use a variety of positions for play including lying on side (alternate between left and right), lying on back or tummy and supported sitting eg. your arms or high chair. Doing this gives your child an opportunity to strengthen a wide range of muscles and to view their world from many perspectives. Once your child is very stable in a position you can encourage hand skills including reaching and playing with toys. Encourage your child to move in all positions. If you find that your child has a very strong preference for certain positions, consult your health professional for further ideas.
Body Awareness As your child grows they develop a sense of awareness of their body and control of its movement. You can assist the development of this skill by moving your child's arms and legs and encouraging them to do the same. Eg. bringing hands together, hands to mouth, kicking legs, bringing feet to mouth. Gently massaging your baby's arms, legs and body helps to increase body awareness and can also assist with digestion and bonding. Helping your child to move within and between different positions eg. rolling, assists them in developing an understanding of how they can use their body to move independently.
Assistive Devices There are many products available which claim to assist in children's development. These are not essential and some may not be appropriate for child for various reasons. Your regular daily routines and environments provide the best opportunities for learning for your child. If you would like further information or advice on which products are suitable for your child please consult your health professional.
Articles and InformationDown Syndrome Gross Motor Development How Can We Develop Our Baby's Gross Motor Skills? Physical Therapy for Infant and Child by Patricia Winders Exercises and Stimulation Therapy for Hypotonia
ResourcesWinders, Patricia Gross Motor Skills in Children With Down Syndrome
Fine Motor Skills
Articles and InformationThe Development of Fine Motor Skills in Down Syndrome To download a booklet on Fine Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome by Sandy Alton go to www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/resources/publications.html and click on >education and then >Fine Motor Skills
ResourcesBruni, Maryanne Fine Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome Selikowitz, Mark Down Syndrome: the facts Down Syndrome: the first 18 months [DVD + VHS]
Communication Skills
Articles and InformationSpeech, Language and Communication for Individuals with Down Syndrome: an overview Communication Skills and Children with Down Syndrome Using Sign Language in Down Syndrome: Why teach sign language? Children with Special Needs Using Sign Language
ResourcesIt Takes Two to Talk Song Book with Signs Kumin, Libby Early Communication Skills in Children with Down Syndrome Kumin, Libby Pathways to Better Speech [DVD] Babies with Down Syndrome: A New Parent's Guide Down Syndrome:The First 18 Months
LinksMakaton Australia - www.newcastle.edu.au/centre/sed/makaton
Feeding Skills
Children with Down syndrome can be just as fussy as any other child when it comes to food. Some young babies will want to drink milk only and are not interested in solids. Some toddlers only want to eat "mushy" food with no texture. Some children will want to eat the same thing every day for months.
While all of these things can be issues for parents, as long as the child is happy and healthy most nutritionists would advise that you keep offering new foods and eventually they will be accepted. Most teenagers with Down syndrome eat a wide range of foods.
Articles and InformationFrom Milk to Table Foods : A Parent's Guide to Introducing Food Textures by Joan Medlen Moving Ahead with Food : Matching Oral Motor Skills and Food Textures Eating Right - A primer for parents of children with disabilities Picky Eaters - Why it is normal for children to be picky eaters Supporting feeding and oral development in young children - booklet to download at www.downsyndrome.ie/ Feeding and swallowing difficulties in children with Down syndrome (Frequently Asked Questions) Oral Motor and Feeding Skills by Sharon Fiocca Finally, there is help for your picky eater!
ResourcesErnsperger, Lori and Tania Stegen-Hanson Just Take A Bite : Easy Effective Answers to Food Aversions and Eating Challenges Fraker, Cheryl et al. Food Chaining: The Proven 6 Step Plan to Stop Picky Eating, Solve Feeding Problems and Expand Your Child's Diet Medical and Surgical Care for Children with Down Syndrome Medlen, Joan E. The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook Sanderson, Sheri Incredible Edible - Gluten-Free Food for Kids
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