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How to Introduce Down Syndrome to Family and Friends

Many families have to encounter the decision regarding how to tell other family members and close friends that their baby either not yet born or newborn has Down syndrome. Adults are usually easier to explain the disease process to and they have at least seen children with Down syndrome before so they know what to expect. The most difficult issue is telling older siblings about their new baby brother or sister and how to explain Down syndrome and prepare the children for the differences that their new sibling will exhibit.

First of all, it is important for the new parents to submerge themselves in information about Down syndrome. The more educated they are, the better they can educated their other children about Down syndrome and on their individual intellectual levels. There are many resources for parents of Down syndrome children as well as books that are designed for the siblings. Parents are recommended to sit down with their older children and read the books while discussing the different aspects that specifically apply to their situation. For most children, they will ask questions at that time but they will also have questions over time. It is important to let them know that they can ask questions anytime and that the parents will always be there to talk to them. When talking to others about Down syndrome it is beneficial to focus on the positive aspects. Children need to understand that their new sibling has positive traits and that even though it will be more difficult it is not all a very bad thing. Even if the parent may be feeling that at the time it is a terrible situation to be in, it is imperative that the new siblings are explained the positive aspects of well and encouraged that not matter what the baby is like he or she will be loved by all family members.

Pictures can be good tools to use to explain to children what to expect. They do need to understand that their new sibling will look different from them in some ways. Another important factor is that because many children with Down syndrome have medical problems, the older children will need to be prepared for hospitals and for the fact that their new brother or sister may spend extra time in them. If the children have never been to a hospital it might be a good plan for the parents to take them on a tour of where the child will be born and focus on the positive but that way they will know what the parents are talking about when told the baby is in the hospital.

The main thing for parents is to make sure that their children know that the new baby is a special gift and that he or she was designed on purpose. The need to know that it is not anyone's fault and not anything, anyone did to cause the new baby to have Down syndrome. As children, they will more than likely just see a new baby and they will love the baby as a member of the family.