How should I care my baby if he has Down syndrome?

It does take more care for a baby with Down Syndrome as opposed to a baby without a disorder. The baby with Down Syndrome will need more vaccinations and screenings than others. These include hearing testing every six months, T4 and TSH every six months, screenings for eyes and teeth, Coeliac disease, sleep study and neck x-rays. These are done in order to assess common problems that occur with babies with Down Syndrome. Hearing aids may be needed for babies with Down Syndrome as well as speech therapy.

These just depend on each individual child with down syndrome. It is important to monitor their sleeping and set milestones for goals, and watch for heart defects and hearing loss. They should try to keep the child’s schedule as normal as possible.

If your baby has down syndrome, he must be well taken care of. Babies that have down syndrome have higher risk of having enlarged tongue which can fall to the back of their throat and thereby causing a sleep apnea, a situation that causes a baby to stop breathing within a short instance of time. It can also affect the mental ability of the baby if not quickly taken care of. Thus, you have to exercise much patience and stay optimistic as your baby learns to walk, sit and develop other skills.

Often, while you hold your baby in a standing position, bounce him on your lap, help him to roll over so he can become stronger and more mobile. Stimulate your baby to use and control his leg’s muscles and that of his arms. Physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy are important to look out as they can be helpful for your baby. You can as well enroll your child in an early intervention programs, it can be a good source of information and tips for what to do.