Down's Syndrome - Advice for New Parents
Practical Tips to Welcome the New Baby
Congratulate and celebrate It’s important for friends and family to congratulate the new parents on their arrival. Send cards and gifts, consider cooking a meal for them, open some champagne. If a baby is spending time in neo-natal care, you can purchase a practical gift such as travel toiletries or a pretty cool bag to make their time in hospital more comfortable.
Be Realistic Friends and family must also acknowledge the shock the family may be feeling, and offer support. Over-optimism can sound flippant and patronizing, so take time to listen to their fears and worries and offer to be there for them.
Similarly different generations within a family might have varying levels of understanding about what Down’s syndrome means. It’s important to listen to everyone, and gently re-educate to bust a few myths if necessary.
Be Gentle on Yourself Likewise as a new parent don’t be too hard on yourself. Accept that you are going through a period of adjustment and that this is bound to throw up lots of confusing emotions. You are not alone, we’ve all travelled this path. Be open and honest and talk to others about your feelings.
Avoid outdated language and clichés This new little baby is going to be more like their own family than any other child with the condition. They will share their beliefs, traditions and look similar. Down’s syndrome is just one part of that wonderful person. Try to avoid stereotypes when talking about them.
Natalia is a well-rounded individual who experiences all the same moods and emotions as her sister. She makes choices about the hobbies she enjoys and there is certainly a lot more to her than simply being ‘musical and loving’.
Accept Your Baby for Who They Are Learn what makes your baby giggle, what kind of activities he or she enjoys and how they learn best. Whilst it is important to give your baby lots of stimulating activities such as singing and sharing books, pictures and attending baby groups, don’t view your child as a project. It’s easy to spend so much time on flash cards that you forget to simply enjoy time together.
Get Social It’s important to find the right support for you and your family. You might want to join a local support group and meet other families, or you might prefer to read blogs or join online support forums. I found play groups and baby yoga a great excuse to get out and meet others. Natty was just a part of the gang and she benefitted greatly from being fully immersed into all the same activities as her peers. Just popping round to others parents’ houses for coffee was a godsend in the early days when it was easy to feel isolated.
Nurture Yourself It’s really difficult to carve out time when you have a newborn but try to take a walk, enjoy a bath. Breath some fresh air, drink more water and eat healthily to keep yourself well.
And most of all take your baby’s lead, for they will be your best teacher ever. Your journey might not be what you had planned, but I guarantee you will not regret one second of it.