Do babies with down syndrome cry
Caring for a child with Down syndrome
Caring for a child with Down syndrome | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content6-minute read
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If you’re caring for a child with Down syndrome, you might face some challenges different to other parents.
How do I care for my baby with Down syndrome?
If you’re told your unborn child has Down syndrome, it’s important to talk with your doctors and midwives. They will help you plan your birth, and also talk about what might happen when your baby is born.
Your baby will need some tests to check their heart function, hearing, vision and overall health. This might mean you and your baby need to stay in hospital a little longer than usual.
Most babies with Down syndrome can breastfeed. Your doctor and midwife will talk to you about anything special you might need to do.
As with any newborn, love and care are the most important requirements, but your baby’s health may need to be monitored closely.
How does Down syndrome affect my child’s growth and development?
Each child with Down syndrome will have a different experience. Some children will require more support than others. As with any child, it is important to provide support from a young age to help them reach their full potential.
Once your child is home, regular check-ups with your family doctor are important. Your doctor will provide you with advice on how to support your child through any medical concerns. They can also refer you to specialists and paediatricians (doctors for children).
Children with Down syndrome are likely to have some delays with crawling, walking and talking. You can help your child develop by getting professional support such as:
- physiotherapy — to help your child gain the muscle tone needed for crawling and walking
- occupational therapy — to help with fine motor skills, co-ordination, and sensory issues
- speech and language therapy — to help develop effective communication skills, and facial muscles for speech, feeding and swallowing
- special education and psychology — to help with social and behavioural challenges
Talk to your child’s therapists.
The best results are often achieved when you and your child’s specialists work together.
In addition to professional therapy, there are many ways you can support your child’s development.
Helping your child to communicate will help prepare them for school and other social activities. You can ask your speech therapist about learning key word signs as the use of hand gestures to communicate with your child can help language development.
You can also help your child’s communication skills develop by engaging them through:
- listening, singing and talking
- kissing, cuddling, laughing and playing games that involve touch and movement
- use of exaggerated facial expressions
How do I prepare my child for school if they have Down syndrome?
The transition to education can be difficult for your child. You can help them adjust and prepare for school by:
- visiting the school
- speaking about school openly and positively
- practicing getting them dressed
- encouraging them to carry their own school bag and
- if possible, help them make some friends before their first day
You should speak to the school about how they can best support your child.
Local Down syndrome associations can also help educate staff when your child begins schooling.
Experiencing support in a school environment can help your child feel accepted. Growing up around disability support can also help other students to be more inclusive.
What support is available for families living with Down syndrome?
As with all children, raising a child can be very rewarding, but also very challenging. Support is important for the parents and families of a person with Down syndrome. Creating a strong support network of family, friends, community groups and respite care providers is important.
It can help to connect with other families that have a child with Down syndrome. They can be a great source of support. Try Down Syndrome Australia or its local associations. These associations can also provide education services.
Feeling supported and informed will put you in the best position to care for your child.
Parents of children diagnosed with Down syndrome can be eligible for financial assistance This can help you access support networks and early intervention services.
These are available through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
- Down Syndrome Australia
- Down Syndrome Association of ACT
- Down Syndrome NSW
- Down Syndrome Association of the Northern Territory
- Down Syndrome Association of Queensland
- Down Syndrome South Australia
- Down Syndrome Tasmania
- Down Syndrome Victoria
- Down Syndrome West Australia
Explore the Carer Gateway for information on practical, emotional and financial support.
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.
Sources:
Down Syndrome Australia (About Down Syndrome Fact Sheet), Down Syndrome Australia (Inclusive therapy in the education system), Down Syndrome Australia (Supporting social inclusion in schools), Down Syndrome Australia (Early Years), RACGP (Australians with Down syndrome)Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: May 2022
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Down Syndrome: Facts vs. Fiction
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In March, the Down syndrome community invites parents and children to recognize World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, 2021, by wearing mis-matched socks and donning your blue and gold, which are the Down syndrome awareness colors.
And all year long, organizations like the Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan actively promote understanding and fund research through annual efforts like the SUDS Walk.
Still, there are many misconceptions. Here, we take a closer look at this condition, common misconceptions and Down syndrome facts.
About Down syndrome
Down syndrome is named for the English physician John Langdon Down, who noted distinctive physical features: a small head, flat face, upward slanted eyes, a single deep crease across the palm of hand, and short fingers.
In the 1950s, it was discovered that the syndrome was caused by an extra 21st chromosome. Typically, there are 23 pairs of chromosomes in the human body, for a total of 46.
“Down Syndrome Awareness Month (and day) provides a forum for dispelling stereotypes, providing accurate information, and raising awareness of the potential of individuals with Down syndrome,” says Jon Colman, the former National Down Syndrome Society’s (NDSS) chief operating officer.
According to the National Association for Down Syndrome, about 1 out of every 800 babies is born with Down syndrome. Many of these children have health concerns beyond usual childhood illnesses; heart problems occur in about 40 percent.
Kids with Down syndrome also have a higher incidence of infection, respiratory, vision and hearing problems, as well as thyroid and other medical conditions.
With appropriate medical care, however, most children and adults with Down syndrome can lead healthy lives.
Perception vs.
realityOther perceptions of Down syndrome do not fit with reality.
Perception: It’s the mother’s fault when a child is born with Down syndrome.
Reality: Down syndrome is usually caused by an error in cell division that occurs at the time of conception. It is unknown why this occurs. However, it is known that the error is not related to anything the mother did during pregnancy.
Perception: People with Down syndrome are severely “retarded.”
Reality: Using the “R” word is considered extremely offensive. Most people with Down syndrome have IQs that fall in the mild to moderate range of intellectual disability.
Educators and researchers are still discovering the full educational potential of people with Down syndrome. Early intervention during the preschool years can mean the best progress possible.
Kids with Down syndrome should not be compared in their development with other children.
Most will learn to walk, speak, think, and solve problems in their own time.
Perception: Word choice does not matter when speaking about people with different abilities.
Reality: It is very important to use correct terminology. “People with Down syndrome, like everyone else, are people first, each with their own unique gifts to contribute to their families, friends and communities,” says Colman.
Person-first language requires that you place the disease last. According to NDSS guidelines, instead of saying “a Down syndrome child,” say, “a child with Down syndrome.” Also avoid saying “Down’s child,” or describing the condition as “Down’s,” as in, “He has Down’s.”
Perception: All persons with Down syndrome are “such loving people.”
Reality: Kadi Coe of Macomb County — mom to Ayla, a child with Down syndrome who was 3 years old at the time of publication — notes that, like all kids, “every personality is different.
”
She says children with Down syndrome become angry and cry like any other child. She also confides with a laugh that parents often post pictures taken of their crying or angry child on Down syndrome support websites, accompanied by captions reading, “But, they’re such a loving person.”
The most important advice Coe has for parents is this: “It’s not the end of the world, not by any means. She brings me so much joy, I can’t imagine my life without her,” Coe says. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
This post is updated regularly.
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5 misconceptions about children with Down syndrome
What stereotypes exist about children with trisomy 21 - Down syndrome, Elizaveta Kovaleva told on Facebook. She is the mother of two-year-old boy Miki. Like many parents of children with Down syndrome, Elizabeth strives to resist delusions and dreams that such children live in a society where people who are somewhat different from the "norm" would have the same rights and opportunities as the rest.
"Mel" publishes the text of Elizabeth in full.
1. These children are all sunny, they never cry and are always happy
This is, of course, as far from the truth as that the sun is black. Mika has all the same emotions as the rest of the children. He knows how to be very offended by lowering his lower lip, and he can even go to another room if he is completely offended. He often cries if something does not work out, or throws tantrums when you try to pick him up from the playground and from his favorite swing. Yes, like other children, he is very joyful and sunny when everything is fine and he is happy, but he can also be darker than clouds. When teeth are coming in, it can generally whine all day long and there is no smell of "sunshine" here.
2. These children love everyone
It's not. Mika often does not fall into the hands of many people, even relatives are often wary. Some people take a long time to get used to. For example, in kindergarten, I didn’t even take any food from the teacher for the first few months.
Didn't trust. So not everyone is loved.
3. It is very difficult for these children to memorize and learn something
I noticed that Mika memorizes the information that is interesting and important to him literally all at once. That is, if he likes any game, then he quickly understands what is needed from him. Or, for example, he remembered the way from home to his favorite playground, when he was not even two years old, he runs there ahead of me.
4. They always need help with everything
Yes, this is true in many ways, Mika often needs more help to learn than children with 46 chromosomes. But more help does not mean that help will be needed forever and ever. Mika is now 2 and a half years old. He already eats and drinks by himself, dresses with my help, but he already puts on a lot of things himself, plays well and watches books for quite a long time. I generally keep quiet about the knowledge of the tablet. Here he is better than me. He opens his favorite games himself, switches between applications and perfectly performs all games from guessing words (he knows the names of vehicles, animals and musical instruments best of all) to collecting puzzles from a large number of parts, knows colors and sorts them perfectly.
5. These children are sick
Unfortunately, this year I heard such a wording. What can I say. I have already written before that the syndrome is not a disease, it cannot be caught or cured. A syndrome is a set of features. Moreover, it is different for each person with the syndrome. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. And yes, immunity in children with trisomy is often much weaker than in "normal" children, they get sick more often. Mika got sick a lot of times in the past year. But he did not suffer from the syndrome, he does not have such a disease. He just has such a feature.
from 0 to 19 months
The presence of an additional, 47th, chromosome affects the development of the internal organs of the child, his abilities for mental and physical development. However, statistics say: 4 out of 5 children with this genomic pathology are trained, and some may well achieve significant success in life. There are a huge number of variations of the syndrome that have a different effect on the potential of the child - sometimes he does not need to draw up special programs at all, and his development is within the limits applicable to age.
And yet, in most cases, children have problems with speech - for example, a delay between understanding and producing a word. Also common is the slow development of fine motor skills, which is inferior to other motor qualities in the pace of their improvement. Such children can stand up later - from 2 to 4 years. Therefore, doctors adhere to an early intervention approach: it is noticed that the earlier physical therapy and special classes are prescribed, the earlier examinations reveal limiting factors (for example, hearing problems), the faster the child develops and the less he lags behind his peers.
Causes of Down syndrome
Excess genetic material correlates with the age of the mother, father, and even maternal grandmother. However, it is impossible to predict whether a child will be born healthy or sick - his parents almost always turn out to be healthy people, and pathology is detected only at the stage of fetal screening. Indirectly affect the development of the syndrome can:
- conception in a closely related marriage;
- presence among relatives of a person with this mutation;
- late births with a mother over 35 years old and a father over 40 years old;
- the presence of bad habits, unhealthy diet and lifestyle.
The syndrome is not related to the sex of the fetus and is diagnosed using invasive and non-invasive techniques. At birth, the development of the child is almost always normal, with the exception of minor delays. At the same time, brothers and sisters with the disease are similar to each other, but not like their parents.
Differences since the early days:
- children with the disease have a flattened face and shortened nose;
- on the shortened neck there is a characteristic fold;
- at the inner corner of the eye, an epicanthus is noticeable, which is unusual for children of non-Mongoloid races;
- the corners of the eyes have different heights, which is often accompanied by strabismus;
- The tongue is enlarged, making it difficult for the child to keep his mouth closed;
- there is a curvature of the little finger, clinodactyly;
- in 20% or more, congenital leukemia, epilepsy, problems with the genitourinary system are also diagnosed.
Features of development
At the age of 3 months, a child with Down syndrome is characterized by the following level of development:
- expresses a feeling of hunger by crying, and satiety - by joy;
- reacts emotionally to the attention and appearance of significant adults;
- no problems with sucking and swallowing milk;
- when lying on his back, actively moves his arms and legs;
- lifting the head not lower than 4-6 cm from the surface, holding the head - 8-12 seconds;
- when lying down, holds the head for about a minute;
- compresses and decompresses the cams well;
- can touch his own face with his fingers;
- actively observes interesting items;
- recognizes the mother's voice and responds to it;
- recognizes familiar people and emotionally expresses this.
At the age of 4-6 months:
- makes attempts to communicate with relatives, coos and babbles;
- knows how to laugh;
- shows apprehension and doubt at the sight of strangers;
- actively pulls pens into his mouth;
- sits and holds the head without much difficulty;
- observes interesting objects;
- well distinguishes acquaintances, up to frequent guests, from strangers;
- keeps track of favorite toys and other items of interest.
Older than 6 - up to 10 months:
- responds to tickling with laughter;
- smiles when playing or in response to affection;
- learns to speak short words of a couple of syllables;
- knows that if an object is dropped, it will be picked up;
- cries or shows other negative emotions if a toy is taken from him;
- knows how to eat from hands, drink from a mug held by an adult;
- begins to crawl and stand up independently with the support of an adult;
- passes objects with one or two hands;
- shows curiosity about the world around him, cognitive attempts.
At the age of 10-12 months:
- reacts by crying to scolding or swearing;
- understands that items can be given in response to a request;
- eats independently;
- hugs parents;
- rolls from back to stomach at will;
- walks with adult support;
- begins the development of fine motor skills in games;
- understands when spoken to.
13 to 15 months:
- waves and claps as appropriate;
- can respond with affirmative or negative head movements;
- gets up and walks independently;
- plays with a ball, a constructor, cars, a pyramid;
- makes the first drawings.
Age 16-19 months:
- understands simple instructions from adults and does them on his own or with help from others;
- gives items to adults upon request;
- learns to take off his own clothes;
- washes himself;
- can go up and down stairs with the help of an adult.
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