Downs - what to expect?

[DizzyBlondeBexx]

DS2 is 16 weeks old and has Downs.

He is doing everything a 16 week old should. Shuffling about his playmat, babbling, grasping at things etc. Only thing that's a bit behind is his head control.

Is this a good sign for teh future? Or is it still too soon to tell? Will he start to fall behing 'typical' milestones later?

Please be kind (but honest) this is the first time I've been brave enough to talk to anyone except the professionals we have to see about his Downs.

Are there any good Downs specific chatrooms/forums? the DSA one's a bit limited

Thansk x

Hi dizzy and welcome, I am sorry I don't know anything about down's but someone will be along who knows.
Congratulations on your little boy.

HI Dizzy,
I would say this is good. I would try not to worry about the future, take each day as it comes and enjoy every moment.
I have a son with downs whose nearly 10!!
Take care x

Dizzy, welcome to SN, and congratulations on your lovely DS2.

It really is a little too soon to tell. My DD1 has a brain malformation, and although everything was delayed, looking back, at the time she was close enough to the norm to slip through the net. It was only when she started preschool at 2.6 that BIG red flags were waved, and then the epilepsy started, so she had an MRI scan.

The brilliant thing is that you know your boy has Down's Syndrome, and so do the professionals. What that means is that it is likely that everything will be attributed to it, and you will get help immediately if they think he is falling behind, even if his 'behind' is actually within the range of 'normal' that other children have. For example, my DD didn't walk until 23 months, but it was still (just) within 'normal' range, so she wasn't flagged at that point. If your DS didn't walk until 23 months, he would likely be seen by the physio.

Keep posting, and just take everything day at a time. Most of all, don't waste the early days worrying about the future - it will come regardless

My DD1 is now at special school, and they are just lovely. We only found out she has SN 2 years ago, so it has been a bit of a rollercoaster. You have almost 3 years on us

I can't remember what my son was doing at what age, except he rolle dover twice at four weeks old, but then didn't do it again for months andwas pretty behind in general. He didn't walk until gone 3. He had very, very poor msucle tone though.

I have learnt over the years (my son is 6 1/2 now) that it really doesn't matter. He is happy, he doesn't care, and that is what is important in the end.

Welcome to the SN board. Your ds sounds gorgeous. Clearly, keeping up with his peers for the first 4m of life is significant, and I'm guessing it's rightly come as a relief. That said, I would second what everyone else says about ignoring the 'normal' ranges and getting extra input any time you think ds needs it, rather than waiting for him to fall behind.

My guess is that you've unconsciously been doing this already and he is reaping the benefits of your slight 'hothousing'... and the best bit is that you sound like you're enjoying his babyhood.

When I was at uni I did some work on the early language development of kids with downs. With early intervention eg makaton, they were able to keep pace with their peers to age 7 (& possibly beyond but the study didn't go that far). So you would be thoroughly justified in claiming dla and using the proceeds to enrol you & ds in a fun baby signing class... it's not just a posh uber-mummy fad!

Far more importantly you sound like you're really enjoying him and having fun, which is the best possible developmental intervention any dc could ever get!

Thanks all for your supportive posts x

Maria, yes it is a relief and good to hear that someone thinks a bit of 'hothousing' is a good thing. The professionals do leave me feeling like a pushy mum sometimes.

At teh start they kept telling me to 'just enjoy your baby' They did't seem to understand that for me seeing my kids develop (whatever their pace) is what I enjoy but we seem to be getting there now x