Raising A Child With Down Syndrome

Your Baby First

When all is said and done, as a parent you are raising your child. Your child is a unique individual with their own stellar personality. They will still have features resembling you and other family members in addition to their features that stem from Down syndrome. If you have another child who does not have Down syndrome, it is nice to know they will share a lot more in common than many might think. Perhaps the best piece of advice parents with children who have Down syndrome will share with other parents about to raise a child with Down syndrome is this: put your focus and love on the life rather than the label. After all, while it is a significant diagnosis, Down syndrome does not define those who have it.

Read about the importance of a village when raising a child, particularly one with a condition like Down syndrome, next.

It Takes A Village

It may be a cliche, but it really does take a village to raise a child. Besides parents, children need teachers, friends, and yes, medical professionals to help ensure they grow up happy and healthy. All children should have a primary doctor, a dentist, and even an optometrist. Since children with Down syndrome often encounter additional challenges, they often require other specialists, such as a speech therapist, physical therapists, as well as a pediatrician who specializes in Down syndrome.

The pediatrician who specializes in Down syndrome is particularly important, as many general practitioners do not have the same expertise or the time required to dedicate towards children with Down syndrome. These pediatricians will be able to put parents in touch with the necessary specialists for different aspects of Down syndrome and will know which ones have the expertise in handling this condition specifically.

Discover the importance of support systems next.