tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57514629642748086172024-03-18T23:54:18.549-04:00Down Syndrome New MamaA resource for new parents of a baby with Down syndrome and a place for the experienced to share what worked and what didn't.ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-18657583213418360962013-03-28T09:02:00.002-04:002013-03-28T09:10:45.054-04:00What a New Mom NeedsWhen you have a baby, especially your first baby, you really need access to good information. Learning to feed your baby, obsessing over how many dirty diapers a day there are, figuring out which cry means what... we all go through it, and when we need help we have our moms, friends, books, the Internet, and a myriad of other resources. But the one thing we come fully equipped with is expectation. We know what babies look like. We have likely held a few, maybe helped out by babysitting, and we have certainly seen them everywhere. <br /><br />
What about when your baby is born with Down syndrome? Suddenly you realize you don’t know much about it and maybe you can’t even remember ever seeing a baby like yours. You might experience fearfulness and your previously held expectations may no longer apply. What you need is to see other babies, children, teens, adults... people with Down syndrome so that you can know right away that there is nothing to fear about your new love.
The <a href="http://www.theidsc.org/" target="blank">International Down Syndrome Coalition</a> has created a video, a compilation of awesomeness that I wish every new mom could see. Get ready for dancing, swimming, four-wheeling, rockin’ out, and a whole lotta beautiful...<br /><br />
<iframe width="400" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9VG7dh5W40I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
Oh and all that other stuff that's good to know? Click around. It's here somewhere :-)ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-10327720898617561132013-02-11T14:31:00.000-05:002013-02-11T14:32:22.690-05:00Runny Nose BluesIt is that time of year when our little ones are exposed to germs in record numbers, resulting in what I have come to call the runny nose blues (or is it the runny nose greens...eeew). It seems like all winter long we are wiping noses and whipping out the booger snoofer in an attempt to keep baby’s face clean and her nasal airways open. <br /><br />
It doesn't have to be this way. A while back I wrote about <a href=" http://downsyndromenewmama.blogspot.com/2010/06/five-great-goops.html">Five Great Goops</a>, and today I will add a sixth one... elderberry syrup. <br /><br />
Medicinal use of elderberry dates back to the Greek physician, Hippocrates (and probably back even further) with the good doctor referring to it as his “medicine chest”. <a href=" http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15080016" target="blank">Modern studies</a> have shown that he was correct. Elderberries are loaded with flavonoids which boost the immune system and the Elderberry extract, Sambucus is used to treat both bacterial and viral infections.<br /><br />
I had heard about Elderberry syrup from a friend when she noticed my daughter’s non-stop runny nose but being skeptical I had to see it in action to believe it. My answer to runny noses was a trip to the pediatrician, and in my daughter’s case a round of oral antibiotics was prescribed. The antibiotics did clear up her sinus infection, but a week after the treatment ended, the boogers were back. I immediately went out and bought a bottle of Nature’s Way Sambucus for Kids. <br /><br />
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8465019349_6c79ca78f2_n.jpg" width="248" height="320" alt="sambucus"><br /><br />
A teaspoon a day of Sambucus for a 1-6 year old wards off the common cold, sinus infections, and the like. In our case, with all of my children, it works. If I see a wet nose or I know one of my kids was exposed to a sick child, I give them the “intensive” dose for a couple days. <br /><br />
As with the introduction of any herbal addition to your child’s diet you should talk to your pediatrician first. Elderberry syrup can interact with some medications, and has possible laxative properties (though I haven’t noticed any.)
ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-78609319906950753572012-11-19T20:49:00.000-05:002012-11-19T21:19:30.035-05:00Stage Three Toys We LoveStage three... your baby has mastered some powerful gross motor skills like sitting, crawling or cruising and experimenting with self-feeding. He is now interested in the finer things in the toy box and is often able to use a toy as it was intended as well as in many other creative ways. So let’s go holiday shopping.<br />
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(Got a little one in an earlier stage? Check out <a href="http://downsyndromenewmama.blogspot.com/2009/04/ten-toys-your-baby-wants.html">Stage One Toys</a> and <a href="http://downsyndromenewmama.blogspot.com/2009/11/dear-santa-claus.html">Stage Two Toys</a>.)<br />
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<img alt="magnadoodle" height="243" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8479/8195041298_73f3aa5505_n.jpg" style="border: none;" width="320" /><br />
1. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005C3F3TI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theunkncont-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005C3F3TI">Classic Doodler With 2 Stampers - Classic Purple</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005C3F3TI" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> The Magna Doodle is an easy to use, mess free magnetic drawing board with a chubby stylus that is easy to grip. Your baby will enjoy her all important first scribbles and you don’t have to worry about her mouthing the “pen”. $19.95 at Amazon.<br />
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Mini Magnadoodle—<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0060JVU7M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0060JVU7M&linkCode=as2&tag=theunkncont-20">Fisher-Price Travel Doodler Pro</a>.<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0060JVU7M" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />Same great toy but in a smaller size so you can take it with you to occupy your baby in the car, the waiting room, or on vacation. $9.99 at Amazon.<br />
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Magnadoodle Table—<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008NR5R5A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008NR5R5A&linkCode=as2&tag=theunkncont-20">Crayola Sit 'N Draw Travel Table</a>.<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B008NR5R5A" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />This version of the drawing board has pros and cons. It is in a mini table perfect for little ones who want to sit or kneel, or even stand while they draw. However, the slide eraser is difficult to manage and your child might require assistance from you to make it work. The stylus fits too snugly in its holder and your child will probably not be able to get it out by himself. These drawbacks have earned it bad reviews. About $35 through Amazon but <a href="http://www.bjs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?partNumber=P_149149360&storeId=10201&currentPage=1&langId=-1&catalogId=10201&productId=223062&pageSize=40&searchKeywords=%27N+CRAYOLA+DRAW+SIT+TABLE+TRAVEL&originalSearchKeywords=Crayola+Sit+%27N+Draw+Travel+Table" target="blank">only 24.99 at Bj’s Wholesale Club</a>.<br />
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<img alt="babyboydoll" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8068/8195353268_44e8a991cb.jpg" style="border: none;" width="400" /><br />
<b>2.</b> Baby Doll. Young children, girls and boys, are very interested in babies. Your little one is beginning pretend play and will enjoy interacting with their own baby to bottle feed and hold. Having a baby doll is a terrific way to introduce your child to new or stressful experiences like potty training or going to the doctor. You can model what will happen and encourage your child to help with the activity. Any baby doll that looks realistic will do. The baby doll pictured here is the <a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3252893" target="blank">You & Me Mommy Change my Diaper Doll - Boys</a> available at Toys R Us for $14.99.<br />
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<img alt="ball" height="221" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8210/8193948025_9eb34e3b46_m.jpg" style="border: none;" width="240" /><br />
<b>3.</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002H37812/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theunkncont-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002H37812">AeroMat Weight Ball</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B002H37812" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />By now your baby is ready for a weighted ball. Playing with a heavier ball will help her build muscle strength and is a great way to get in some physical therapy while having fun. After all, what better thing is there to toss at a tall tower of blocks but a weighted ball? The 2 lb version is $19.49 at Amazon. <br />
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<img alt="monkey" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/8201820436_8da472bcb4_n.jpg" style="border: none;" width="235" /><br />
<b>4.</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00168CPQM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00168CPQM&linkCode=as2&tag=theunkncont-20">Alex Toys Learn to Dress Monkey</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00168CPQM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />By now your baby is probably cooperating while getting dressed. He is beginning to get interested in how his clothes work and the Learn to Dress Monkey is the perfect practice friend. The monkey’s clothes have different textures and offer opportunities to snap, button, and zip. As your child grows and gains more fine motor skills he can practice lots of other dressing activities as well. $29.59 at Amazon. <br />
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<img alt="tunnel" height="208" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8193947565_46181eda31_n.jpg" style="border: none;" width="320" /><br />
<b>5.</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009IMAS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theunkncont-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00009IMAS">Pacific Play 6' Tunnel</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00009IMAS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />Now that your little one is on the move encourage his travels (and coordination and gross motor skills) by getting him a tunnel to crawl through. The tunnel folds up flat and is stored in a zipped bag when not in use. $29.09 at Amazon.<br />
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<img alt="guitar" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8346/8195041376_04aa6d4659_n.jpg" style="border: none;" width="252" /><br />
<b>6.</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Z0VVEK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theunkncont-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004Z0VVEK">Battat Woofer Guitar</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004Z0VVEK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />This guitar is easy to play and has 20 songs that play in three modes (electric, acoustic, and hound dog howls). Your baby can strum the strings or push the many buttons to explore musical notes and sing along. This very entertaining toy has volume control and an automatic shut off to conserve its 3 AAA batteries that come with it. $32.78 at Amazon.<br />
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<img alt="dishes" height="267" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8068/8195041504_5fa716705d.jpg" style="border: none;" width="315" /><br />
<b>7.</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009K6JYW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theunkncont-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0009K6JYW">Learning Resources Pretend and Play Dish Set</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0009K6JYW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />Encourage your baby’s developing pretend play with an activity that he is very familiar with, eating! Your baby will have so much fun trying to feed you, or his baby doll, or his stuffed animals with this set of dishes and eating utensils. Pair it up with a play food set such as the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000090W81/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000090W81&linkCode=as2&tag=theunkncont-20">Melissa & Doug Birthday Party Cake</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000090W81" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />for some truly enjoyable imaginative play. $13.42 and $13.59 at Amazon. <br />
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<img alt="whackyball" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8195041136_58df3a3c40_n.jpg" style="border: none;" width="291" /><br />
<b>8.</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0047Y0VQS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theunkncont-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0047Y0VQS">B. Whacky Ball</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0047Y0VQS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />Your baby will work on her motor skills while she pushes or whacks the balls down into the mirrored maze. Once they pop out into the tray, she can put them back up top and whack them again. The company (B.)that makes this toy (and the Woofer guitar above) <a href="http://justb-byou.com/ftc/" target="blank”">gives 10 cents of every toy purchase</a> to Free the Children. $25.39 at Amazon, also available at Target.<br />
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<img alt="chicco" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8488/8201808818_8a591a6c23.jpg" style="border: none;" width="320" /><br />
<b>9.</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015XSRNS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0015XSRNS&linkCode=as2&tag=theunkncont-20">Chicco Baby Jogging</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0015XSRNS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />If your baby hasn’t taken that first step yet, she will be soon and a push toy is the perfect companion to motivate her to get up and go. Not all push toys are created equal... many tip over, or go too fast but this one will not do either because of its unique design. It also has six different positions so that it can be perfectly set to your baby’s height. Depending on the speed of walking, the lights come on progressively and the rhythm of the melody speeds up or slows down, stopping altogether if your baby stops. Takes 2 AA batteries. $55.77 at Amazon. <br />
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<img alt="fridgefarm" height="258" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8479/8201802472_3b9baabbc3_n.jpg" style="border: none;" width="320" /><br />
<b>10.</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001X0DR6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0001X0DR6&linkCode=as2&tag=theunkncont-20">LeapFrog Fridge Farm Magnetic Animal Set</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0001X0DR6" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />Your baby can practice matching and placing magnetic pieces into the slots while learning the names and sounds of five farm animals. Even mismatched combinations are rewarded with a silly song. The toy has two different sound levels and takes 3 AAA which are included. $34.50 at Amazon. <br />
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<img alt="carfridge" height="201" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8200727357_bc7c6bc018_m.jpg" style="border: none;" width="240" /><br />
The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00134V4L6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00134V4L6&linkCode=as2&tag=theunkncont-20">LeapFrog Fridge Wash & Go Magnetic Vehicle Set</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00134V4L6" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> is newer and cheaper this year, and I am guessing (hoping) the quality is the same, so if you can’t find the Fridge Farm at a good price or just prefer vehicles, this is the version for you. $24.99 at Amazon. <br />
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<b>Your Turn</b><br />
Have you started your holiday shopping? Tell us what you got for your little one, or share about a favorite toy you already have.ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-27950001921250852842012-09-24T12:04:00.000-04:002012-09-24T12:04:41.451-04:00BabyLegs Giveaway WinnerCongratulations to Nancy, winner of the BabyLegs giveaway. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562" target="blank">Email me</a> with your information so that you can get your leggings goody bag just in time for this chilly Fall weather. <br /><br />
Thanks to everyone who participated in the drawing... if you haven’t been out to the <a href="http://www.babylegs.com/Default.aspx" target="blank">BabyLegs site</a> in a while, you should go take a look at their new stuff. Oh la la, gorgeous! Here is just a sneak peek at a few of my favorites... <br /><br />
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8457/8020043019_813ec76498.jpg" width="324" height="350" alt="purpledot"><br /><br />
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8307/8020048564_3ce46c9ab7.jpg" width="327" height="340" alt="beeutiful"><br /><br />
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8460/8020048438_bd46a526c8.jpg" width="325" height="315" alt="pinkpirate"><br /><br />
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8177/8020042953_96d6f59744.jpg" width="319" height="324" alt="rainbow"><br /><br />
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8443/8020043083_45376f79e2.jpg" width="323" height="317" alt="pinkzebra"><br /><br />
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8456/8020043189_c0326382d0.jpg" width="320" height="318" alt="bluedoll">ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-75188133211819675432012-07-06T19:43:00.000-04:002012-07-06T19:47:31.858-04:00BabyLegs GiveawayA while back I posted about how <a href="http://downsyndromenewmama.blogspot.com/2009/10/hes-hot-hes-cold-hot-cold.html" target="blank">some babies have difficulty regulating their body temperature</a>, and how using leggings can help but today I am going to share another reason why I love leggings. </br></br>
Some babies hate shoes, or at least it seems that way. No matter the style or fit, they will pull them off or bite at them trying to get them off. This isn’t really a big deal at home (unless you are in that “working on standing phase” and want your little one to have some practice in shoes) but in the car it can be annoying, or even dangerous if your baby has a strong throwing arm.</br></br>
I have one daughter who is relentless with her shoes and one or both of them is off by the time we reach our destination. The only way to keep her shoes on her is to cover them with leggings. She will still work at getting them off but most of the time her efforts are foiled. </br></br>
<a href="http://www.babylegs.com/Ballerina-Legwarmers-P452.aspx?afid=72" title="kimani_babylegs" target="blank"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7248/7517368182_7852551c03.jpg" width="360" alt="bl_k_full" oncontextmenu='alert("© DSNM 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'></a></br>(click the pic to see Kimani's leggings)</br></br>
If you are tired of digging under the car seats for the missing shoe, or just want your baby to look super stylish and be protected from UV rays this summer, check out <a href="http://www.babylegs.com/Default.aspx?afid=72" target="blank">BabyLegs</a> and grab a few pairs of sanity savers. </br></br>
<a href="http://www.babylegs.com/Hearts-Flowers-Legwarmers-P794.aspx?afid=72" title="autumn_babylegs" target="blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8421/7517368220_de89f88fa1_z.jpg" width="360" alt="a_babylegs" oncontextmenu='alert("© DSNM 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'></a></br>(click the pic to see Autumn's leggings)</br></br>
<b>Your Turn</b></br>
BabyLegs is giving away a grab bag of leggings and other goodies worth $50 to one lucky Down Syndrome New Mama reader. To enter the drawing leave a comment here letting us know that you “liked” the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/babylegs" target="blank">BabyLegs Facebook page</a> or that you are now following <a href="https://twitter.com/babylegs" target="blank">BabyLegs on Twitter</a> by July 20, 2012.ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-173354014379491732012-06-27T09:01:00.000-04:002012-06-27T09:02:21.418-04:00Health Insurance for Babies with Down SyndromeToday Ryan McCostlin, a team member at <a href="http://www.bernardhealth.com/" target="_blank">Bernard Health</a>, is going to share the Top 5 Health Insurance Tips for new parents of babies with Down syndrome. <br />
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When new moms and dads have a beautiful new baby, the questions can seem endless. What are the right foods? ...the right child care? ...do I need to buy Kidz Bop records, or is it okay if I play The Rolling Stones? <br />
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And while learning how to be a new parent can be a heck of a lot of fun, finding the right health insurance strategy... well... isn’t. . I happen to be someone who spends most of his time thinking about health insurance, and even I can admit that on the fun spectrum, shopping for health insurance can fall somewhere between tax audits and root canals.<br />
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That said, all parents spend time thinking about how to plan for expected and unexpected medical expenses. And for parents of babies with Down syndrome, there can be additional costs associated with neurological exams, cardiology exams, thyroid screening, etc. So while finding the right health insurance strategy might not be very much fun, it is important. <br />
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So, what should new parents of a baby with Down syndrome know as they begin to research health insurance options? Here are the top 5 tips:<br />
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<a href="http://insurekidsnow.gov" target="blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7454222930_9e66bedd0d_m.jpg" width="240" height="67" alt="ikn" style="float:right; margin: 0 0 20px 20px;"></a>1. Depending on your income and your state’s rules, your child may qualify for a government subsidized health insurance program called Medicaid. The name for the program varies from state-to-state... for example, it’s called MediCal in California and TennCare in Tennessee, but each state’s program is a version of the federal Medicaid program. If your annual income is too high to qualify for Medicaid in your state, your child may qualify for another government program called CHIP. To research government subsidized options in your state, you can <a href="http://insurekidsnow.gov/state/index.html" target="blank">click here</a>.<br />
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2. If you have group health insurance through an employer, most employers have a 30 day window from the birth of your child to add him/her to your plan as a dependent. If you choose to add your child to your employer’s health plan, make sure you share your good news with your HR representative so you can fill out the appropriate paperwork!<br />
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3. If you don’t have access to insurance through your employer and you don’t qualify for a government program, you can still get coverage for your child through an individual health insurance plan. Child-only plans aren’t available in every state, but because of healthcare reform, children cannot be denied coverage by health insurance companies as long as at least one eligible parent also applies. <br />
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4. Consider enrolling in a Health Savings Account based health insurance plan if your employer offers one... and especially if you’re enrolling in an individual plan for your family. At first glance, it may seem like a co-pay based health insurance plan is a better option, but Health Savings Account based plans often have a true annual out-of-pocket limit on spending. After you meet your deductible, your child’s healthcare is free for the rest of the year. Families with lots of healthcare expenses often find that Health Savings Account based plans can help them come out ahead<br />
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5. Health insurance can be complicated, and it’s especially important for new parents of Down syndrome babies to consider all of the available options. If you need more help, there are several resources available who can provide guidance. As you consider where to seek additional help for your family, know that there are three basic categories of advisors: <br />
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<blockquote>First, each state has a State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) that can answer basic questions about health insurance eligibility. Advice from SHIP employees is free, and you can find your state’s SHIP contact information online.<br />
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Second, you can find a health insurance salesman who may be able to help you research private health plans. Health insurance salesman don’t charge you anything up front, but they get paid when they sell you an insurance policy. <br />
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Finally, many families find it helpful to work with fee-based health insurance advisors who, for a flat fee, can help you navigate the complexities of the individual health insurance market. This option is similar to a tax advisor or CPA who helps you prepare your taxes. While the flat fees vary, health insurance advisors usually don’t work on commission, so their only incentive is to help you get the right strategy in place for your new child.</blockquote>
<i>More about the author: Ryan joined Bernard Health in 2010 to help families save time, save money, and get peace of mind as they consider <a href="http://www.bernardhealth.com/individuals/health-insurance-advice" target="blank">affordable health insurance options</a>. Through a network of retail stores, Bernard’s team of licensed, non-commissioned health insurance advisors provide face-to-face advice to families across the country. He earned a BS from Vanderbilt and an MBA from Yale. Ryan can be found on <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmccostlin" target="blank">LinkedIn</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/rmccost" target="blank">Twitter</a>. </i>ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-85345798419920165592012-06-22T09:34:00.002-04:002012-06-27T09:01:49.738-04:00We Are LeftiesOk maybe not all of our children are lefties, but an uncanny (and disproportionate ) amount of people with Down syndrome are either lefties or ambidextrous. While 13% of the general population is left-handed, our (non-scientific) poll showed that 41% of people with Ds are left-handed and 10% are ambidextrous. <br />
<br />Got a lefty? Here is a <a href="http://www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/" target="_blank">wonderful website</a> that sells everything you can think of in a left-handed version. <br />
<br /><b>And the winner is...</b><br />
Stephanie from <a href="http://myfavoriteloves.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Two Times the Fun</a> is the winner of the $25 Amazon gift certificate. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562">Email me</a> with the email address that you would like the certificate purchased for, and I will get it right to you. Thanks to everyone who participated in the poll. <br />ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-68453792496103655792012-05-25T09:08:00.002-04:002012-05-25T09:10:03.577-04:00Resorting to Bribery :-)There are hundreds of us, even thousands of us... parents, siblings, caretakers... people who know—really know— someone with Down syndrome. Combined we have a wealth of knowledge that surpasses any book written about Down syndrome, any expert’s opinion, and all stereotypes.<br />
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The only way to harness that knowledge is to come together and share it. Does left-handedness occur more often in the population of people with Down syndrome? Only we can answer that question. I am asking you to share your expertise on your child. I did a little begging on FB and now I am going to try bribery...<br />
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Take the poll over in the left column, leave a comment saying that you did (and how you voted if you want to) and you will be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card. If 500 people take the poll, I will up it to a $50 gift card. (If you are one of those who already voted, just leave a comment saying so and you are in.)<br />
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Thank you for participating. Every one of us matters.ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-76745095738316333522012-05-11T15:32:00.001-04:002012-05-25T09:09:48.970-04:00Fact or Fiction? Many People with Down Syndrome Are Left-HandedBeing left-handed means that the right hemisphere of the brain is dominant. The right side of the brain controls music, art, creativity, perception, and emotions. It is what we would call the holistic thinking mode. Left-handed people are more likely to be visual thinkers.<br />
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Right-handers have left-brain dominance which controls the areas of speech, language, writing, logic, mathematics, and science. It is thought of as the linear thinking mode.<br />
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In most cases being left-handed is a matter of heredity... it must be passed down to you by your parents genes, however there is some evidence to show that people with neurological differences tend to be left-handed. People with Down syndrome would fit into that category.<br />
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It would be easy here to tap into personality stereotypes and suggest that maybe the 21st chromosome has something to do with right-brain dominance but instead I am going to go with personal observation. I have three children with Down syndrome, all biologically unrelated, and guess what? They all favor their left hand. The oldest is 5 and the youngest is 2, so none have completely settled on which hand it will be but for now they lean left.<br />
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Teaching a baby with Down syndrome to eat with utensils can be difficult if the baby is a budding lefty trying to use righty tools. My one daughter refused to self-feed using a spoon or fork and continuously ditched the utensils to use her bare hands. It was frustrating for both of us until I realized that she wanted to, and would, use utensils in her left hand to feed herself.<br />
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<div class="parseasinTitle ">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X9STGK/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=theunkncont-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000X9STGK" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL110_&ASIN=B000X9STGK&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=theunkncont-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a>If you have a lefty, you may want to pick up a set of left-handed utensils for your budding eater. These <span id="btAsinTitle">EasieEaters curved utensils go for about $15 on Amazon.</span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000X9STGK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002KCNLFC/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=theunkncont-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002KCNLFC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL110_&ASIN=B002KCNLFC&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=theunkncont-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a>If you are not sure yet which hand your sweetie prefers, you can get a set of Benders that your baby can practice with. I like these because you can bend them side to side or even up to suit your child’s current skills, though I find them to be only really useful with foods that stick to them because of their small bowl size.<br />
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<b>Your Turn</b><br />
Take the poll in the sidebar. Is your child with Down syndrome a lefty, righty or ambidexterous? Let’s find out if there is any truth to the left-handed rumor.ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-25959224540541208312012-04-24T11:03:00.000-04:002012-04-24T11:03:23.517-04:00Meet Annie & the Wobble Penguin WinnersThank you to everyone who entered in the drawings and shared them on FB with friends. <br />
<br /><img alt="bookwinner" height="150" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7210/6963608350_072aff248c_q.jpg" width="150" /><img alt="penguinwinner" height="150" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7183/7109682961_c68e815f46_q.jpg" width="150" /><br />
<br />The winner of the Meet Annie book was Twilson9608 and Stacy and Mike won the Go Baby Go! Bat and Wobble Penguin. If you will <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562">email dsmama</a> your contact information, we will get your gifts out in the mail ASAP.ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-82791590333151131872012-04-10T08:00:00.001-04:002012-04-10T08:01:44.885-04:00Book Review and Giveaway—"Meet Annie"Lisa Morguess who blogs over at <a href="http://lisamorguess.wordpress.com/" target="blank">Life as I Know It</a> also has another blog titled, <a href="http://turnthepagelisa.wordpress.com/" target="blank">Turn the Page</a> where she exclusively writes book reviews. She is an excellent and fair reviewer so I was pleased that she agreed to write a review of <span style="font-style:italic;">Meet Annie</span> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/meet.annie/" target="blank">Heather J. Scharlau-Hollis</a>. <br /><br />-------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604621486/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=theunkncont-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1604621486"><img style="float: left; margin: 0px 20px 20px 0px;" border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1604621486&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=theunkncont-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" ></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1604621486" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />In this short and sweet book aimed at young children, we meet Annie who is just like you and me in all the ways that count to little kids: she likes to play with her toys, she likes to splash around in her swimming pool, and she sometimes gets in trouble. But Annie is also a little bit different - she has Down syndrome. Although the book doesn't explain what Down syndrome is, it touches on the fact that Annie looks a little bit different and learns a little bit differently, and that everyone is a little bit different in their own way, and those differences make us who we are. My favorite aspect of the book is how the author invites and encourages its audience to identity with Annie by asking a question at the end of each page:<br /><br /><blockquote>"Sometimes my zipper doesn't zip right. I ask Dad for help. Do you ever need help?"<br /><br />"Sometimes I cry when I get scared. Do you ever get scared?"</blockquote><br />Encouraging empathy and compassion without resorting to condescension or stereotypes, this is a wonderful book that should have a place on everyone's bookshelf who is touched by a child with Down syndrome.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Giveaway</span><br />The author of <span style="font-style:italic;">Meet Annie</span>, Heather J. Scharlau-Hollis, will send a signed copy of the book to one lucky winner. To enter the drawing simply leave a comment below by Wednesday April 18th. Good luck!ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-35162837312517107902012-04-07T09:14:00.003-04:002012-04-07T09:24:36.916-04:00Adorable CharlotteLisa and Ian are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Charlotte... born on World Down Syndrome day! Charlotte has three big brothers and a big sister who all love her dearly. No blog yet but you can leave words of joy here or visit with Lisa in the FB group, “Our Adventures with Down Syndrome.”<br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7076/7053492209_cd6772fc7f.jpg" width="400" alt="charlotte" oncontextmenu='alert("© DSNM 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'/><br /><br /><br /><br />If you would like our community to know about the arrival of a child with Down syndrome, please <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562" target="blank">send an email to ds.mama</a> with the baby's info and an email address or blog/website address of the baby's mom or dad.ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-51650897572910619952012-03-29T09:56:00.011-04:002012-04-04T10:18:56.233-04:00Tech Baby Loves the iPadDon’t all babies just love electronic gadgets? T.V. remotes, cellphones, Wii consoles... how many times have you had to pry one of these no-nos from your little one’s grip? And it’s a well-known fact among the diapered crowd that toy versions of grown-up stuff really don’t cut it.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/6880623204_247ac91655_n.jpg" width="400" alt="ipad_baby" oncontextmenu='alert("© dsnm 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'><br /><br />Consider getting your baby an Apple iPad. The iPad is a perfect toy for your baby because as she is playing with it, she is learning from it. And as she grows, it can grow with her into a diverse learning and communication tool. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Five Favorite Apps for Baby</span><br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7110/7026692963_829f2aa5f2_n.jpg" width="200" alt="soundshaker" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;">Sound Shaker by Tickle Tap Apps 1.99 - touted as the 21st century rattle, Sound Shaker lets children create and play with chime, whistle, drum, barnyard animal and mystery sounds by simply tapping and tilting. Repeated taps generate new sounds, while longer taps grow sounds and trigger surprise animations. Tilting makes sounds spin and collide in whimsical combinations. <br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7058/6880593820_443ec298c8_n.jpg" width="200" alt="itsybitsy" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;">Itsy Bitsy Spider by Duck Duck Moose 1.99 - A musical book based on the popular song, with fully interactive, original illustrations. Follow the spider through the captivating, inter-connected scenes as he goes up the water spout, comes down with the rain, and watches the sun dry up all the rain.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7215/7026693049_f29ca416a9.jpg" width="200" alt="soundtouch" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;">Sound Touch by Sound Touch 3.99 - Sound Touch has 6 categories, which are shown at the bottom of the screen as pictures – animals, wild animals, wild birds, vehicles, musical-instruments and household. Each page has 12 items displayed with bright, cute cartoon items. Tap a picture, and a real life photo of the item pops open, accompanied by the sound it makes. Tap the picture anywhere, and it disappears. There is a sound option in settings that makes it so that the app says the name of the item prior to making the sound.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7059/6880593868_bca80bc311.jpg" width="200" alt="peekaboo" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" >Peekaboo Barn By Night & Day Studios, Inc. 1.99 - This cute app features barnyard animals and the sounds they make. Babies can open the barn doors to find a new animal animation by touching the screen. They’ll learn about cause and effect and become familiar with animal names and sounds. As a bonus, you can record your own voice saying the animal name.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7110/7026692997_12e1ac26b3.jpg" width="200" alt="talkingtom" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" >Talking Tom Cat By Out Fit 7 Ltd. Free- Baby’s first pet :-) Tom the cat responds to your touch and repeats everything you say or babble with a funny voice. When you pet him, he purrs.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ok, stop. Yes, I know an iPad is a really expensive toy for a one-year-old, but consider it an investment. New iPads start at $500, and first generation iPads can be found on auction sites and lists for about $200-ish. Here are some ideas on how you might afford an iPad for your baby with Down syndrome.<br /><br />Chip-in birthday gift: Perhaps for your baby’s first birthday you could create a chip-in fund and let family and friends know that you are trying to raise enough for an iPad for your little one. <br /><br />Medicaid Coordinator Alternative Funding: If your child has Medicaid or the Medicaid Waiver, your coordinator may be able to find you grant funding for your baby’s iPad.<br /> <br />Win one: iPads are a popular draw for online fundraisers. Keep your eye out for the chance to win one. Usually you can get a drawing entry by donating a small amount or even just by posting the fundraiser on your FB, blog, or Twitter account. Right now through March 31st, <a href="http://babynumber10.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-if.html" target="blank">Patti over at A Perfect Lily is giving away a beautiful brand new iPad 3 as part of a very special adoption fundraiser, so be sure to head over there and get an entry to win.</a> <br /><br />Update: Two more chances to win an iPad... (valid to 4/6/12) over at <a href="http://bringinghomeourchinesebutterfly.blogspot.com/2012/03/fundraiser-extended-new-prizes-added.html" target="blank">Our Chinese Butterfly</a> and (valid to 4/8/12) over at <a href="http://thestarsaligned.blogspot.com/2012/03/love-multiplied-giveaway.html" target="blank">The Stars Aligned</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Babyproofing the iPad</span><br />If you do get an iPad for your little sweetie, be sure to babyproof it with a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SGSHE8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theunkncont-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004SGSHE8">back shell</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004SGSHE8" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />and a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TRYENE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theunkncont-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004TRYENE">screen protector</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004TRYENE" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />. You will be glad you did.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Your Turn</span><br />Do you already have an iPad for your child with Ds? What are your favorite apps?ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-69834215443454302432012-03-27T12:09:00.003-04:002012-03-27T19:12:41.731-04:00Birth Announcement & GiveawayFor those of you who got all excited thinking I was going to announce the birth of a darling baby and then give him away on my blog, awww sorry ;-)<br /><br />Lisa and Mark are proud to announce the birth of their son Connor. As you can see, he is one heck of a cutie. Lisa blogs at <a href="http://onemoreboymakesfour.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Life with Connor - Perfect with a Little Extra</a>, so be sure to visit her there and watch this darling grow. <br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7075/6874988588_598d35fec9_n.jpg" width="400" alt="connor" oncontextmenu='alert("© dsnm 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'><br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7099/6874988632_e086c4c2e9.jpg" width="400" alt="connorpic" oncontextmenu='alert("© dsnm 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Now for the giveaway...</span> <br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7109/6875095278_f9dd0aa3d6_n.jpg" width="320" height="319" alt="penguin"><br /><br />The Fisher-Price <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W3RYQS/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theunkncont-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000W3RYQS" target="blank">Go Baby Go! Bat and Wobble Penguin</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theunkncont-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000W3RYQS" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> looks like it might be fun for our little ones to practice gross motor (leg-extension) kicking and (arm-extension) pushing skills. I have a brand new one, but no baby to try it out with. So if you would like to win this toy, leave a comment telling Lisa how lucky she is to have such a scrumptious little boy and mention that you would like to be in the drawing. I’ll draw a random entry in mid-April.ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-87904898604753513642012-03-07T22:18:00.002-05:002012-03-07T22:25:36.059-05:00Breastfeeding Your Baby with Down Syndrome - Part TwoLast week guest blogger Lisa Morguess from <a href="http://lisamorguess.wordpress.com/" target="blank">Life As I Know It</a> shared her personal story of overcoming several obstacles to develop a breastfeeding relationship with her son Finnian. This week she shares with us some of the tips and resources she found helpful.<br /><br />----------------------------------------<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tips and Tricks</span><br />~ First and foremost, if anyone tells you that breastfeeding your baby will not work because she has Down syndrome and you have your heart set on breastfeeding, walk away. Believe it can be done; plenty of moms have successfully nursed their babies with Down syndrome.<br /><br />~ Find a good lactation consultant, preferably one who has some knowledge about Down syndrome and the unique challenges that can be associated.<br /><br />~ Experiment with <a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/breastfeed/nursing_positions.html#" target="blank">different nursing positions</a>. There is no one position that works for all moms or all babies. I had the most success when Finn was a newborn with the cradle hold, the cross-cradle hold, and the football hold. I found the football hold especially useful when using a SNS/LA, and the cross-cradle hold when using breast compression. <br /><br />~ <a href="http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8:breast-compression&catid=5:information&Itemid=17" target="blank">Breast compression</a> is an effective way to increase your milk production and increase baby's intake. It works by manually compressing the breast as baby is nursing, slowly and repeatedly, thereby stimulating milk production and encouraging a baby who may have a weak suck to take in as much milk as possible. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Useful Contraptions and Accoutrements</span><br />~ A good breastfeeding pillow is a must. A Boppy probably won't cut it, as the low muscle tone associated with Down syndrome necessitates a very firm foundation on which to support your baby. I highly recommend the <a href="http://www.mybrestfriend.com/" target="blank">My Brest Friend</a> pillow.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/6963317337_75ed90a320.jpg" width="291" height="227" alt="friend_pillow"oncontextmenu='alert("© DSNM 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'/><br /><br />~ Some babies with Down syndrome do better with the sensory input of the more rigid shape of <a href="http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/tips-and-solutions/112/nipple-shields" target="blank">nipple shields</a>. Using the shields is usually only short-term, while a newborn is learning to efficiently latch and suck. <br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6963317327_6c12a286b4.jpg" width="400" alt="shield" oncontextmenu='alert("© DSNM 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'/><br /><br />~ Sometimes it is necessary to use a <a href="http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/52/starter-supplemental-nursing-system-sns" target="blank">supplemental nursing system (SNS)</a>, also known as a lactation aid. If your baby is having an especially difficult time with latch and/or suck, and because of this she isn't gaining weight appropriately and your milk production is diminishing, an SNS might help. The SNS allows baby to receive supplemental milk while at the breast, and this in turn stimulates milk production. If you need to use an SNS, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cam9CFSi4qw&feature=related" target="blank">try making your own</a> instead of buying one. The ready-made systems are difficult to use and they're not cheap. A homemade one is inexpensive, easy to make, and easier to use. <br /><br />A breast pump is a must for any breastfeeding mom, for those times when you are separated from your baby (for a variety of reasons), and need to keep your milk production “on schedule.” If your baby has any medical issues that require a separation from you, it will be extremely important to establish milk production as soon as possible by pumping your breasts at regular intervals (or if the separation is later, for instance due to heart surgery, it will be important to keep your milk production going). A breast pump is also extremely helpful in establishing and maintaining your milk production while a baby who has any feeding/latch/suck difficulties works out the kinks. Though I won't recommend a particular brand, I do encourage getting an electric double pump, as they are far more efficient and effective than manual breast pumps. You can rent a hospital grade pump from almost any hospital for a nominal cost, or you can buy one new from a variety of websites and baby stores, and you can even buy a used one at a discount on eBay or Craig's List. When you buy a used pump, you're basically buying the motor; you will need to buy your own new, sterile tubing, collection bottles, and breast shields.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Supplements to Increase Milk Production</span><br />A well-balanced diet and ample fluid intake are necessary for sufficient mild production. If you find, that your milk production is lacking (which often happens when a baby has feeding difficulties), <a href="http://nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21:herbal-remedies-for-milk-supply&catid=5:information&Itemid=17" target="blank">herbal supplements can help</a>, including fenugreek and blessed thistle taken together. These herbal supplements are available in capsule and tincture form from any health food or whole foods retailer.<br /> <br />If herbal remedies don't do the trick, there is <a href="http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/domperidone.shtml" target="blank">Domperidone (Motilium)</a>, a prescription drug whose intended use is treating certain gastrointestinal issues. It has an off-label use of increasing milk production in lactating women. (The FDA issued a warning at some point against using it for this purpose, and I'm not going to go into the ins and outs of that particular issue except to say that it has been used safely by a great many women who may not have been able to successfully nurse their babies otherwise. I used it for over two years and never suffered a single side effect.) If your doctor does not want prescribe it for you to increase milk production, it is available without a prescription from various international pharmacies online. Be assured that this is perfectly legal. The pharmacy I used to obtain Domperidone was inhousepharmacy.biz.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Some Wonderful Resources</span><br /><a href="http://nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1" target="blank">International Breastfeeding Centre</a><br /><a href="http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/" target="blank">Breastfeeding Inc.</a><br /><a href="http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/" target="blank">Breastfeeding Online</a><br /><a href="http://www.kellymom.com/" target="blank">Kelly Mom</a><br /><a href="http://www.llli.org/" target="blank">La Leche League</a>ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-64661532916223706032012-02-29T07:44:00.003-05:002012-02-29T07:49:54.943-05:00Breastfeeding Your Baby - Part OneIn part one of this two post series on breastfeeding a baby with Down syndrome, guest blogger Lisa Morguess from <a href="http://lisamorguess.wordpress.com/" target="blank">Life As I Know It</a> shares her personal challenges and triumphs nursing her son Finnian. Next week in part two, she gives practical advice on how to establish and maintain a successful breastfeeding relationship with your newborn.<br />-------------------------------------------<br /><br />One of the many widely-held misconceptions about Down syndrome is that babies with Down syndrome won't be able to breastfeed. Though breastfeeding a baby with Ds can be challenging, I would like to offer some encouragement to expectant and new moms of babies with Down syndrome who would like to breastfeed.<br /><br />I'm not a medical professional or a trained lactation expert… but rather just a mom who, before my own son was born with Down syndrome, successfully nursed five babies for the long haul, and was determined to breastfeed my sixth baby, Down syndrome or not. <br /><br />Not every baby with Down syndrome is faced with difficulties in breastfeeding but for those who are, the two main things that hinder breastfeeding are low muscle tone, and immediate and prolonged separation of mom and baby due to issues the baby might have that require a stay in the NICU. Finnian and I were challenged with the latter issue.<br /><br />Finn was born at home, where he stayed for roughly half a day before we had to rush him to the ER because he was spitting up blood. In the first few hours after his birth, he was so sleepy that he never really woke up enough to latch on well and nurse. In the ER he was hooked up to all kinds of tubes, wires, and monitors and by that evening, he was diagnosed with a duodenal atresia. He was admitted to the NICU and had corrective surgery the following morning.<br /><br />For several days, while his intestines healed from this major gastric surgery, he was fed intravenously and I was not allowed to attempt nursing. My milk came in during that time, and I began pumping at regular intervals around the clock and storing my milk for him. I was told that he'd most likely have to start with bottle feeding, and it became clear to me pretty quickly that we had some major challenges ahead of us. <br /><br />I was heartbroken at the prospect of not being able to nurse Finn. For me, breastfeeding is a huge part of how I mother my babies, and I could hardly fathom not being able to share that with Finn.<br /><br />When Finn was cleared to tolerate oral feeds about a week after his surgery, the nurses in the NICU were supportive of my desire to breastfeed; however, it was frustrating because everything in the NICU had to occur by the clock and by the numbers. He had to be fed on the schedule the nursing staff set down for him, and if I couldn't make it to the hospital in time, he was given a bottle (of my breast milk). If I was there to nurse him, he had to latch on within a certain number of minutes or I was made to call it quits and give him a bottle. The same went if he didn't take the prescribed number of ounces in the time allotted. It was all very stressful, and I spent a lot of time crying. The stress and the pressure didn't go very far in helping us get a good breastfeeding relationship established. There were lactation consultants on hand, and they were helpful, but all in all, it was a frustrating, discouraging situation.<br /><br />Convinced that Finn would do better at home where I could nurse him around the clock without the constant supervision and vigilance of the nursing staff, I couldn't wait to get him out of the hospital. By the time he was discharged twelve days after he had been admitted, we were nursing, but it was hit or miss. I was using nipple shields because he seemed to do better with the rigid shape of the shields, which were similar to the bottle nipples he was already becoming used to. I would nurse him and then my husband would follow up with a bottle of expressed breast milk to make sure he was getting enough.<br /><br />As I suspected, he did seem to do better once we got home, and within a couple of days I was able to ditch the nipple shields. He was latching on well (it seemed), and nursing well (it seemed). It wasn't long before we stopped supplementing with bottles of breast milk, and I was exclusively nursing him.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7201/6940915143_f0c86b71b2.jpg" width="380" alt="lm" oncontextmenu='alert("© DSNM 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'/><br /><br />It soon became clear that he wasn't gaining weight. He had weighed 6 pounds at birth, lost the typical several ounces that babies lose directly after birth, then lost more after his surgery. I think in the NICU he went as low as around 5 pounds. By the time he was discharged, he was back up to his birth weight, but after a week at home, he was still at 6 pounds. Then after another week or so, he had only gained another ounce or two. <br /><br />I'll never forget our pediatrician - whom I love for the most part - sending me home with several cans of formula and telling me that Finn most likely just wasn't going to ever be able to nurse well because of his Down syndrome. I was devastated. None of my babies had ever received formula, and I felt like a failure.<br /><br />Fortunately, my midwife insisted that: (a) if I was going to supplement, it should be with the breast milk I had stored while Finn was in the NICU, and (b) I needed to find a really good lactation consultant. I did both. I found a lactation consultant who refused to believe that Finn couldn't nurse simply because he has Down syndrome. Yes, it was going to be a challenge, but it could be done, she insisted.<br /><br />The LC set me up with a supplemental nursing system (SNS) and spent oodles of time with me and Finn over the course of several appointments, observing us and giving me tips on positioning, etc. With her help, Finnian and I were able to overcome the hurdles that were in place. <br /><br />Despite my perception that Finn had learned how to latch and nurse well, it apparently wasn't the case, and because he actually wasn't latching properly and his suck wasn't great, my milk production went down, so he wasn't getting enough, and the cycle was set in motion. Even after Finn’s latch improved, my milk production did not recover and I began taking herbal supplements to increase yield. Supplements helped to a degree for a time, but eventually I turned to Domperidone which helped immensely, and was the final missing puzzle piece for us.<br /><br />Finn nursed until he was thirty-three months old when he self-weaned, which was bittersweet for me because he was going to be our last baby (he is not though... you never know what life is going to throw at you!). Getting breastfeeding going was definitely an uphill battle for us, but through perseverance and good support, we were able to make it work, and it was completely worth it to me.<br />---------------------------------------------<br /><br />Tune in next week to get the specifics you’ll need to overcome complications and breastfeed your baby with Ds.ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-77909738863043806942012-02-24T19:52:00.002-05:002012-02-24T22:43:07.773-05:00Breastfeeding PollsNext week begins a two-part series on breastfeeding a baby with Down syndrome. To get ready there are a couple polls on nursing over in the left column. Please take a moment to share your experience in the polls. <br /><br />Because breastfeeding can be complicated there are several ways to answer the question: did you breastfeed? For the purpose of this poll, the question is did your baby end up nursing from your breast? Even if you used nipple shields or an SNS feeder, please still select one of the options indicating that you were able to breastfeed. <br /><br />We would love to hear your thoughts on your breastfeeding experience, so please leave them in the comments section.ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-91135144958005053792012-02-16T22:32:00.000-05:002012-02-16T22:33:48.844-05:00Congratulations to a New Ds MamaAdrienne is about 30 weeks pregnant with a little darling who has Down syndrome. She is blogging about her pregnancy (and other neato stuff) at <a href="http://theupsideofwes.wordpress.com/" title="Visit Adrienne">The Upside of Wes</a>. Check her out and get a sneak peek at Wes. <br /><br /><a href="http://theupsideofwes.wordpress.com/" title="Visit Adrienne"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7058/6889583897_283c9cd884.jpg" width="400" alt="adrienne_blog" oncontextmenu='alert("© dsnm 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'></a>ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-379277173678768652012-02-09T07:00:00.001-05:002012-02-09T07:00:09.276-05:00Hippotherapy—Just Horsin' Around?Guest post by Alyson who blogs at <a href="http://wordsofhisheart.wordpress.com/" target="blank">wordsofhisheart</a>. (Make sure you check out her blog. She has a wealth of great speech resources there.)<br /><br />The first time I heard about hippotherapy, I didn't take it very seriously. I envisioned children who should have been in physical therapy instead donning cowboy hats and going for a leisurely trail ride.<br /><br />But when Noah turned 5 and <i>still</i> wasn't speaking, I remembered posts I had seen on our local Down syndrome network from parents singing the praises of hippotherapy. After doing online research and watching some amazing YouTube videos of children participating in speech, occupational, and physical therapy while riding, it became clear that these therapies were successfully coordinated into the hippotherapy session, mimicking real life experiences.<br /><br />Seeing the integration peaked my interest because Noah was having a difficult time processing the information necessary for speech along with all the other skills he was acquiring. When his speech therapist confirmed a diagnosis of apraxia, I knew it was time to pursue hippotherapy. <br /><br />Was it grasping at straws? Maybe. But the amazing results we’ve seen in the four weeks Noah has been participating in hippotherapy have convinced me of its value as a legitimate therapeutic modality.<br /><br /><a href="http://wordsofhisheart.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/pictures-weve-got-pictures/" target="blank"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6844784277_58b8580d6f.jpg" width="400" alt="riding1" oncontextmenu='alert("© dsnm 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Four Week Scoop</span><br />Week 1: An adult rode on the horse with Noah. They spent a few minutes in the arena walking and then throwing balls into a basketball hoop where Noah worked on color identification. Next they rode outside on the trail where the trees were full of hanging animals—a perfect opportunity to work on vocabulary and signing. I was worried that he would be terrified; he wasn't. <br /><br />Week 2: Noah rode the horse by himself. His therapist and the arena volunteers walked along either side of the horse. During this session Noah's posture had improved. Instead of the common low tone slouch, Noah was sitting straight and tall. This was an instinctual posture correction that was necessary to feel the most secure on the horse. No prompting was necessary.<br /><br />Week 3: Noah couldn't get on that horse fast enough. When his time on horseback ended, Noah’s PT had him do some running, throwing, and climbing using onsite equipment.<br /><br />Week 4. Noah rode that horse backward! The PT actually had him sit facing the horse's tail for part of the session. He rode in from the trail in that position, and it was evident by his posture and expression that his confidence level was very high. After the ride, he continued his running, throwing, and climbing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Results</span><br />The biggest change for Noah has been the area of speech. Prior to hippotherapy, he could say only a few words clearly and would attempt speech only if it was modeled for him. After only four sessions, Noah speaks about 20 words clearly and is making approximations of several more, sometimes spontaneously. Something extraordinary happens to Noah when he is up on that horse and it carries over to his daily living. The feeling of the rhythm of the horse walking seems to be helping Noah’s brain organize what it needs to make speech happen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Hippotherapy Vs. Horseback Riding</span><br />There is a notable difference between hippotherapy and horseback riding. In hippotherapy, the horse is used as the treatment tool to achieve physical, speech, and occupational therapy goals. In horseback riding, the rider's focus is to improve on their horsemanship skills, and in the process develop companionship, responsibility, confidence, and leadership skills.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Getting Started</span><br />So, you're interested in hippotherapy for your child... now what? If your child is at least 2 years old and currently receiving early intervention services, ask his or her therapists if they offer board-certified hippotherapy or if they know of a local therapist that does. I was not even aware Noah's center offered it until I asked. You can also visit the <a href="http://www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org/hippotherapy/find-a-therapist/" target="blank">American Hippotherapy Association</a> to find a therapist in your area. Remember, this is not just a physical therapy option; speech and occupational therapists can also be board certified to conduct hippotherapy sessions as well. <br /><br />And now for the question everyone wants answered: Will insurance pay for it? Under some policies, yes insurance will pay for it. When submitting therapy claims, the insurance company is not usually interested in what equipment is used in therapy; they just want to know who provided the service and that the therapy did take place. Unless a policy specifically excludes equine-assisted (horse) therapy, they will likely cover it. Unfortunately, Medicaid is an insurer who specifically excludes hippotherapy. The good news is that many of the hippotherapy centers offer scholarships, so don't hesitate to ask if you need one.<br /><br />Happy Trails!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Your Turn</span><br />I was so excited after reading Alyson’s post that I went straight to the AHA and located a few therapists in our area. We are going to pursue hippotherapy! How about you? Has your child participated in hippotherapy? If so, were you impressed with the results? If your child hasn’t done it yet, are you interested in checking out hippotherapy?ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-60556747183641231922012-01-30T11:41:00.002-05:002012-01-30T11:44:45.777-05:00Another Lovely BabyChris and Kami are pleased to introduce their beautiful daughter Brya. <br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6790042571_c0fd001c23.jpg" width="400" height="341" alt="brya" oncontextmenu='alert("© dsnm 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'><br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7158/6790039437_9b69e9f6b0.jpg" width="400" alt="byra1" oncontextmenu='alert("© dsnm 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'><br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7009/6790042847_5bd0436442.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="brya2" oncontextmenu='alert("© dsnm 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'><br /><br />You can leave Chris and Kami some words of inspiration here in the comments or in the FB group, Our Adventures with Down Syndrome.<br /><br /><br />If you would like our community to know about the arrival of a child with Down syndrome, please <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562">send an email to ds.mama</a> with the baby's info and an email address or blog/website address of the baby's mom or dad.ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-76391882857232348162012-01-28T22:34:00.001-05:002012-01-28T22:36:43.845-05:00Birth AnnouncementTim and Vicki are proud to announce the birth of their son Kannon. He will be ever so loved by his six older sisters: Kendra, Kaylee, Karisa , Kasidy, Kambry, and Keanna, and his older brother Kyle.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6779621061_f5db2b0aa7.jpg" width="400" height="124" alt="konnor" oncontextmenu='alert("© dsnm 2012 You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'><br /><br />Vicki isn’t blogging yet, but she is thinking that maybe she might start. When she does, we’ll let you know and you can follow along on Kannon’s journey. <br /><br /><br />If you would like our community to know about the arrival of a child with Down syndrome, please <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562">send an email to ds.mama</a> with the baby's info and an email address or blog/website address of the baby's mom or dad.ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-17867001237523403552012-01-26T12:14:00.006-05:002012-01-26T20:49:58.719-05:00Calling All Beautiful BabiesI have never seen a baby with Ds that didn’t melt my heart with stunning eyes or an adorable smile, and I would bet that Melanie from <a href="http://www.melanierosephotos.com/" target="blank">Melanie Rose Photography</a> hasn’t either.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6766446949_cf259b4680_m.jpg" width="214" height="212" alt="mel-noah-sm" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; border: none;" oncontextmenu='alert("© 2012 Rick Smith. You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'> Melanie has embarked on a photography project, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/joelandfriends" target="blank">Joel & Friends</a>, that aims to showcase the beauty and essence of children with Down syndrome. She kicked off the project in NYC when she photographed Noah and she hopes to complete the project by late Fall of 2012. Throughout the project, Melanie will be <a href="http://joelandfriends.com/about/" target="blank">blogging the results</a> of the photo shoots and preparing for exhibitions and ultimately a gorgeous coffee table book. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">How to Get Involved</span><br />Melanie plans to travel across the US setting up multiple photo shoot appointments in major cities. She has a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/joelandfriends" target="blank">Facebook page</a> and a <a href="https://twitter.com/thejoelproject" target="blank">Twitter feed</a> that will keep us informed of activities. Families that participate in the project can expect to spend about 30 minutes in the photography session. In exchange for permission to publish the photos captured in the session, parents will receive digital copies of medium resolution photo files (great for producing high-quality prints up to 8 by 10 inches) and the option to order professional prints through Melanie Rose Photography at cost.<br /><br />Don’t miss this awesome opportunity to show off your beautiful child! Email Melanie at melrose (at) melanierosephotos (dot) com to let her know you would like to participate. Please put your home city and state in the subject line of the email.<br /> <br />I gotta admit, I am so looking forward to drooling over darling babies like this one:<br /><br /><a href="http://noahsdad.com" title="Beautiful Noah" target="blank"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6766446929_965681e8ae_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="noah" oncontextmenu='alert("© 2012 Melanie Rose Photography. You may not copy, distribute, alter, transform, or build upon this image."); return false;'></a><br /><br />Noah from <a href="http://noahsdad.com" target="blank">Noah's Dad</a>ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-77893700934571421972011-03-26T12:59:00.003-04:002011-03-26T13:10:24.690-04:00Which Walker is Best?Just because they named it a walker doesn’t mean it will help facilitate independent walking for your child. There are no studies that support the idea that putting your child with Down syndrome in a walker will help him to reach that milestone sooner. In fact there is some evidence that shows that children who use walkers actually learn to walk on their own later than their peers.<br /><br /><strong>Pros & Cons of Walkers</strong><br />Like any baby contraption that has a seat and some toys attached, a walker can be useful when you need to put your child in a safe, entertaining place while you answer the phone or cook dinner. <br /><br />If your child is not ready for a walker, there are risks involved with putting him in one. A walker allows your child to bear weight on his joints that he may not be ready for if he does not have the core strength and stability to handle it. These abnormal forces on the joints can cause damage and can also teach your child patterns of posture and movement that are not typical for his development. Most walkers interfere with the child’s ability to see his legs and feet and therefore hinder his ability to receive important motor information about how his body works.<br /><br />Having your child in a walker for long periods of time can also hamper sensory motor development because it controls what the child can “go for” and puts a barrier between the child and the world around him. <br /><br /><strong>When a Child Can Benefit from a Walker</strong><br />If your child has the desire to be up and moving around and can walk along the couch or coffee table, or can walk while holding on to a push toy, or can walk while you are holding his hands, yet cannot walk independently due to trouble with balance, susceptibility to fatigue, or some other underlying cause for delay, he might benefit from a therapeutic posterior walker.<br /> <br /><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5091/5561661428_88be3e0bf8_m.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="walker" style="float:right; margin: 0, 0, 10px, 10px; border: none;" />A posterior walker provides the support and mobility a child needs to be able to walk around, yet does not inhibit proper gross motor and sensory development. A posterior walker should be introduced to your child by a trained physical therapist and his time using it must be closely monitored by a caregiver or therapist.<br /><br /><strong>Ok, So...</strong><br />Now that you may have changed your mind about buying a commercial walker, you might want to throw the big question out there, “When should my baby walk?” There is a very large age range for this skill and many factors determine when it comes. Some children with Ds start walking as early as 14 months, others are over the age of 4 before they master it. So unless a doctor or therapist has indicated that there may be a secondary cause for delayed walking, be patient... it will come. And, for those times you need to confine your child for his safety (or your sanity), stick with an exersaucer or playpen.ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-1762720980905486142011-03-18T12:26:00.002-04:002011-03-18T12:33:51.839-04:00Back in the SaddleMy blog “maternity leave” is officially over... and while I was away so much has been happening in your world. There have been lots of pregnancies, births, and adoptions, many new blogs and new blog addresses, new resources and goodies, and lots of new questions. <br /><br />So where should I start? First off, if you are pregnant with a baby who has been diagnosed with Down syndrome, if you had or adopted a baby with Ds over the last 10 months or so, or if you have a new blog or blog changes, please <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562" target="blank">email me</a> so we can share your stories. <br /><br />I have been reading many blogs, catching up with new little ones... and I am reminded of how much milestones seem to matter to us parents in the beginning. We are nervous and wondering how this new child will fare... we still believe that hitting those early marks is important, a sign of how well our baby will “function”. We still have so much to learn and so much to let go of. <br /><br />With that in mind, I will repost the very first ds.mama post “Stage Not Age”. The link to the development journal has been updated, so if you have already read this post and could not get your copy, <a href="http://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/ES49" target="blank">try again</a>. <br /><br /><strong>Stage Not Age</strong><br /><br />One of the first things to get over when you have a newborn with Down syndrome is looking for milestones based on your baby’s age. We have all heard stories about so-and-so’s baby who held his head up before the placenta was delivered and walked at six months old. Most of us have read some form of a What to Expect book and have a general idea of how old a baby is when certain things happen. Flush that knowledge from your mind and try not to pay too much attention to Mrs. So-and-so.<br /><br />Babies with Down syndrome develop along the same path as a typical baby, meaning they reach most milestones in developmental order but they do it on their own schedule. They also have a lot more milestones to celebrate. Who knew there were a zillion sensory and gross-motor skills that are reached before a baby rolls over? You are going to need a whole bunch more cute stickers for that First Year Calendar than the measly 10 that came with it.<br /><br />There is an amazingly detailed resource out there for setting expectations for your baby’s development and tracking your child’s progress from birth through about the first five years. It is called the The Developmental Journal for Babies and Children with Down Syndrome. It is put out by the English government program, <a href="http://www.earlysupport.org.uk/" target="blank">Early Support</a>. The material is provided for <a href="http://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/ES49" target="blank">free online in pdf format</a>. When you see the journal you’ll realize that this group has put a ton of research and effort into this project, and you will be thankful to the Brits for this contribution to your resource arsenal.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYP3ZX5oeLcY1B5XsEr2RsWURgu1LaFMRWFATer-BCAMcmxsNpIkhD1PfJ8Q2qB8JbUeyg4mtEb8CjP6ILQsq_Rc-xUL7j0clFUHB0Pxxkvu9WS1VlX7jOcLRvBihI6aNLXMXe9pXDeuen/s1600-h/cover.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330133345124920578" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYP3ZX5oeLcY1B5XsEr2RsWURgu1LaFMRWFATer-BCAMcmxsNpIkhD1PfJ8Q2qB8JbUeyg4mtEb8CjP6ILQsq_Rc-xUL7j0clFUHB0Pxxkvu9WS1VlX7jOcLRvBihI6aNLXMXe9pXDeuen/s320/cover.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaPkctcv06N3Q0x0cRRF5tvvXCV1PPUPk2EnYvwGCJI2DPHR_GO0gBInbpUmuiOH6e1g0IeYgf6lm8ENdrgbKb_nPQgT26oBBsGCBmRUVY3Z3o9wAemlzPcy4IUCWnRYbCFIfHqxFUxhf/s1600-h/charts.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330132952044082946" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaPkctcv06N3Q0x0cRRF5tvvXCV1PPUPk2EnYvwGCJI2DPHR_GO0gBInbpUmuiOH6e1g0IeYgf6lm8ENdrgbKb_nPQgT26oBBsGCBmRUVY3Z3o9wAemlzPcy4IUCWnRYbCFIfHqxFUxhf/s320/charts.gif" border="0" /></a><br /></p><br /><br /><p>The journal includes the five areas of development (communication, social-emotional development, cognition and play, motor and sensory development, and self-help) and is categorized by 11 developmental steps. For each item, there are three columns to track your baby’s progress. There is also room for adding notes and questions.</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1aWlx-SYUFx2V6NQTeMZNktIXCeTsw6dNzcYykHJ8inlAPlsL7iHXiB4SHq-21sO9CkzwQG34THQ1ExyiVDG8rFIUp-RMQYZ9GhSBw0Zrh57r5t551z51pdBt7objwb9ZF1dk5uifcOo/s1600-h/detail.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330132959444153314" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1aWlx-SYUFx2V6NQTeMZNktIXCeTsw6dNzcYykHJ8inlAPlsL7iHXiB4SHq-21sO9CkzwQG34THQ1ExyiVDG8rFIUp-RMQYZ9GhSBw0Zrh57r5t551z51pdBt7objwb9ZF1dk5uifcOo/s320/detail.gif" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br />Enjoy your baby's stages because while they sometimes seem like they'll last forever, they won't. And, make sure you go get your <a href="http://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/ES49" target="blank">journal</a>!ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751462964274808617.post-18823614751018143462010-07-22T15:19:00.000-04:002010-07-22T15:21:58.779-04:00Goody Bag WinnersThe winning numbers were 1 and 4, both of whom are pregnant :-) Congratulations Tara and Kim. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562">Email me</a> your addresses and I will send out your packages right away. I’ll split the prenatal DHA between you.<br /><br />Thanks to everybody who entered and enjoy the rest of summer. I will see you in the Fall.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4818417319_fa2b01f461.jpg" width="314" height="167" alt="random" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4818417353_b406a67a15.jpg" width="315" height="162" alt="random2" />ds.mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08631570001473985562noreply@blogger.com2