Congrats Notes by adults

This booklet is aimed at children and parents who have just

welcomed a new baby with Down syndrome into their family.

We hope it will help you answer some of the questions that

your children may have about their new brother or sister.

Depending on the age of your children you may

prefer to discuss Down syndrome with them in

the future, as and when they ask questions about it.

What is Down syndrome?

Down syndrome is a condition that some babies are born with.

It is caused by an extra chromosome in the baby's cells that

make up their body.

It is a tiny part of the way they are made. It is not an illness

or a disease and it cannot be 'caught'.

Will my brother or sister always have Down syndrome?

Yes.

Down syndrome is part of

who they are and

they will always have it.

What does it mean?Your new baby is a precious new member of your family, just like any other

baby. You will enjoy getting to know them, playing with them and maybe even

helping your mum and dad look after them, just like any other new baby.

Because they have Down syndrome, they may take longer to

learn how to do things than most other babies and they may

need extra help to learn how to talk.

They may have floppy muscles, which make it harder to

sit up, crawl and walk. They may have to spend time in

hospital and they will have extra appointments with

doctors, physiotherapists and other people who will help them.

When will my new brother or sister be able to play with me?

You can play with your new baby right away!

They will love listening to you talk to them,

watching you play and enjoy your cuddles and tickles.

As they get older they will start to join in your

games just like any other brother or sister.

They will do all the things that other children do;

they will just take a bit longer to get there.

Huddersfield Down Syndrome Support Group arrange

social, sporting and educational events and activities

for children with Down Syndrome and their families.

We organise lots of things that the whole family can take part in.

Take a look at www.hdssg.org or contact us on hdssg1@gmail.com.

Take a look at the siblings section of our website:

www.hdssg.org/new-parents/siblings