New Parent Of A Child Born With Down Syndrome?

Congratulations on the birth of your new baby…! Do not forget over the next few days that you have a baby who needs love, and will be more like the baby you were expecting than different. However, I have been in your shoes and it is ok to grieve the loss of a child that you envisioned, and grieve for the challenges your little one will face in their future. Do not be afraid to cry, but remember to celebrate!

Your friends and family will likely not know what to say to you, and several will likely say things that you will laugh at in the future. You will get several “they are a blessing”, and probably a few “I’m sorry.” Everything you are feeling is normal. There is a lot of information out there and this is just a starting point that can hopefully get you through the first few days before you really dive in.

Resources For New Parents

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Start here!

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The New Parent Guide To Down Syndrome

This is a resource written by my wife who also happens to be the mother of a child diagnosed with Down Syndrome, and a Medical Doctor! It tells with many of the questions and issues that you will have during the first month after the birth of your baby. I would highly suggest you start with this helpful New Parent Guide.

Down Syndrome Guild Of Dallas Guide For New Parents

This new parent guide, produced by the Down Syndrome Guild Of Dallas is a comprehensive guide for new parents. It is available as a free download by clicking on the link above.

Subscribe To NoahsDad.com

I would encourage you to visit the link which will give you the option to stay connected by RSS, Email, Twitter, and Facebook!

Thank you so much for stopping by our site. Our hope is that we can be a source of encouragement, resources, and facts for you! If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or just need someone to pray for you, please feel free to contact us!

Looking forward to getting to know you!

Rick, Abbie, and Noah Smith

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  • I love what you are doing! My friend told me about this blog and your FB. My daughter Marlee is 17months old now and we feel so Extremly lucky to have her in our lives. I listened to you on the radio the other day and I'm so glad you are getting the word out about our children, it's a beautiful thing:) Thank you for all you are doing!!

  • I love what you're doing!  Your son is so adorable!  He looks so happy and proud for his crawling!  If you ever visit NYC make sure to visit the new Gigi's Playhouse that just opened up!  

  • I just want to say - this blog has been amazing! We just discovered our son has DS (at 4 months..) and this has helped up to get through a lot and gives us so much to look forward to! I look forward to continue reading everything you have posted! So helpful! :)

  • HI I M CHIRANJIT LIVING AT INDIA, MY 14MONTHS BABY NAME: AKSHAT

    HE HAS DOWN SYNDROM, PLS TELL ME WHAT ARE THE EXERCISE OF DOWN SYNDROM BABY TO IMPORVE THEIR FITNESSNESS.

    IS THEIR ANY VIDEO SO THAT I CAN DOWNLOAD IT AND CAN PRACTICE TO MY BABY.

    PLEASE HELP ME
    I M WAITING FOR YOUR FAVOURABLE ANSWER

    CHIRANJIT BHATTACHARJEE
    INDIA
    EMAIL ADDRESS: cybernetbhattacharjee@gmail.com
    CONTACT NO: +91-9433196509

    • So glad you found us all the way from India :) how cool is that. Have you seen the books Gross Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome or Fine Motor Skills for Children with Down Syndrome. If you look at amazon and type in "topics in down syndrome" it pulls up great resources. I am not sure where your child is at currently as our videos are at a younger age, but we have several videos of our therapy sessions if you go back and look at our archives. We use an exercise ball a lot as well as swings. If you let me know what milestones you have achieved so far it will help me give you a better answer :)

  • Dear Rick and Abbie,

    What an emazing site you have created! I am so grateful to come across your story and admire your attitude that ispiring many people like us. We were blessed with our baby boy named Rayan born on 12-06-2012 with down syndrome. Reading your story was like reading ours... I truly admire you two and feel like knowing you and Nohaalready.

    We are based in Auckland, New Zealand and looking forward to take Rayan home once he is discharged. Rayan was born after 35 weeks in a norma delivery. He is doing fine and the focus is to get breastfeeding established before sending home. We are both accadonic have a lot to learn and cope.

    We love what you are doing!

    Best for you all,
    Akbar, Sara and Rayan

  • Thank you for what you do. My husband and I have a 5 month old son who happens to have downs syndrome. So much to learn but wouldnt change him. He and our daughter give us so much joy. Your blog is awesome and inspires me!!

  • Hello, Rick. I like your site and videos. Noah sure is a cute kid! My wife and I are expecting our third in less than 2 wks. We found out last spring that she (Olivia) has T21. So far the ultrasounds look good. We are very excited about welcoming our new baby!

      • My grand daughter has features of DS although not diagnosed I as her grandmother have noticed some signs my daughter and her husband refuse to acknowledge my feelings. I have ask them about Chloe and they both say she doesn't have DS and have ask sea themselves. They say she was tested During pregnancy as well as other test done as a infent I have approached this w caution. I love her no matter what. I feel that if I am wrong I will be delighted. But if I am correct the Drs have done a great disservice to my daughter as well as my granddaughter for not pushing this to the for front if they as parents are In denial what do I do as a grand parent .

  • Hi Rick & family,
    Nice to know u and I am from Malaysia and I got a third son who detected to be ds and he is three years old now ..he can stand without support now ..not yet walk ..can u guide me how to make him walk soon..
    And he crawl not in correct way ..like hopping like rabbit how to correct him .. where u get the walker to train u son walk..
    Tq for sharing u blob
    .I learn alot

  • Dear Rick, Abbie and Noah.
    What a great website you have here, very positive and full of inspiration and information. I would like to know if I could have your permission to use some of your lovely photos of Noah and yourselves for a leaflet assignment I have to do as part of my University degree on Early Childcare and Education? The photos would not be used for reproduction without your consent.
    Regards
    Sue Tarling
    suetarling68@hotmail.co.uk

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