Thursday, March 31, 2011

Immunizations

Since our children have delicate immune systems and other possible physical problems, the issue of vaccines is huge! Jett got one shot a visit for a total of two a month during his first five months of life. He hasn't had any more vaccines since. My present pediatrician agrees 100% to give no more vaccines even though she recommends them for the majority of her patients. His neurodevelopmentalist seems to think that Jett does show some symptoms of vaccine damage (sensitivity to light, visual stimming, inward turning of one eye). I am looking into ways to treat. If I could go back in time, I would not have given him any shots.

To understand more, I recommend these books, websites and articles:

Recent News Articles/Videos
Laurette Janak shares research about vaccinations and children with Down syndrome
February 17, 2012: http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=13073863
Prevenar (prevnar) and ACTHib both halted after four babies die.






Websites to visit

This is the web site of a classic homeopath that runs the vaccine yahoo group list.

Paul Doney has summarized a lot of info on this topic at:

www.childhoodshots.com Mary Tocco gives wonderful resourceful/helpful info. on her DVDs for purchase and more...



Books to read

by Mayer Eisenstein MD JPH MPH.


"Vaccine Epidemic: How Corporate Greed, Biased Science, and Coercive Government
Threaten Our Human Rights, Our Health, and Our Children"

The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears (I followed his modified vaccine schedule. Now I know that I shouldn't have given any.)

About vaccinations, please read the relevant chapter in Gut & Psychology Syndrome . Babies in GAPS families must not be vaccinated until they have developed strong immune systems and good physical and communication skills: this means no vaccines until the child is 4-5 years of age. Even then, if you have to vaccinate, make sure that your child is absolutely healthy and well at the time of the vaccination. Ask to see the ingredients list of the vaccine and demand that they are explained to you. Try to avoid combined vaccines, look for single alternatives.

DVDs


Forum

The yahoo group is: vaccinations@yahoogroups.com

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Promote Walking: Are Treadmills Good?

Question: Jett (DS) just turned 13 months old and is crawling all over, creeping forward 1-2 steps (prefers crawling), pulling himself up to standing and can walk forward if we hold his hands (just did it as an experiment, not that we are encouraging walking). Should I get a treadmill? I read that it's good for DS (In What You CAN Do for DS)... I think it's more important that he crawls and have no fear that he won't walk.... Once he walks on his own should I get one?

Answer: The treadmill research focused more on the parents reaction than the actual neurodevelopmental issues with the child. Many things weren't evaluated but from our experience, it is best to let the child progress at his or her own developmental pace aware of the steps (which I know you are) so that joints, reflex integration, etc. takes place in an orderly manner as the Lord intended.

Kay Ness, Neurodevelopmentalist

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Anemia Causes & Cures

Iron is very important because it is responsible for transporting oxygen to muscles and organs, including your brain. If your child's blood tests show low iron... What do you do? Seems like supplementing with iron would be an easy fix. Not so for those with Down syndrome....

Iron and Down Syndrome (from Down Syndrome: What You CAN Do edited by Kim & Qadoshyah Fish)
Iron is a “double-edged” sword. It is very important for life and growth, but it can also cause serious problems in children with DS. Do not give your child additional iron unless s/he has proven iron deficiency anemia. Iron increases the Fenton reaction and thus lipid peroxidation. It also aids in oxidative stress and damage. Oxidative stress is already increased in DS. [More detailed explanation follows in the article below by Ginger Houston-Ludlam.] Additionally, excess iron is often stored in the brain and may contribute to long-term CNS (central nervous system) dysfunction.
So, supplementing with iron is not advised. See Biochemistry 101: Iron by Ginger Houston-Ludlam for more details on iron problems in the DS population. 

 What about eating food high in iron? No, with our kid's immature digestive system, that does not guarantee adequate iron absorption.

What can you do to safely increase iron levels?

Rule out/treat Astro-esophageal reflux, Celiac Disease, hypothyroidism and hypoxia -- all of which has an effect on the body's ability to process iron. (More info below in excerpts from Down Syndrome: What You CAN Do.)
 
The International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research has published multiple studies supporting the supplementation of vitamin C with dietary iron to increase the bioavailability of non-heme iron. The amount of absorption is directly proportionate to the amount of vitamin C taken.
So before you supplement with iron, look to vitamin C to help the body better assimilate the iron that it is getting. Foods rich in Vitamin C (papaya, orange, cantaloupe, broccoli, brussel sprouts, raw green peppers, grapefruit, strawberries, etc.) can be as effective as meat meals in improving iron absorption. Read: Vitamin C to find out how best to use Vitamin C supplements. 

Folate/folic acid also can be a factor in how iron is absorbed. See "Red blood cells and DS" below.

Avoiding phytates and oxalates may help. These can interfere with iron absorption from the gut, but the research is not conclusive on this subject. Phytates are found in bran and whole grains. Oxalates are high in nut and nut butters, beets and beet greens, tea, strawberries, gelatin, rhubarb, spinach, chocolate and wheat bran. Most of these foods are the very substance of a vegetarian diet. (When I added green tea extract to Jett's supplementation, his iron went from 24 to 11. Not sure if there is a direct correlation, but something to consider.)

Avoiding milk could also solve the problem. A diet high in milk or milk products can increase iron deficiency because these are high protein, low iron foods. Soy beverages are high in iron (also iron fortified infant soy formulas) but soy should be avoided for our kids because it interferes with thyroid function. Better alternatives would be flaxseed milk or coconut milk. (Almond milk is high in phytates or oxalates so wouldn't be a good choice either.)

Cook in cast iron pans as that will increase the iron content of your diet. However, this form of iron is not absorbed very well.

Longvida Curcumin can chelate iron, so consider that when supplementing. 
 
Symptoms

Weakness, a haggard look, fatigue, lack of energy, tired looking eyes, shortness of breath, dull and poor memory, headache, premature wrinkles and dizziness on exertion are some of the indications of anemia.

Normal Range

The normal range of ferritin in children increases as they age. In children between the ages of 1 and 5 years, the normal range is 6 to 24 ng/mL. In children between 5 and 9 years of age, the normal range increases to 10 to 55 ng/mL. These levels continue to increase into adulthood, at which point they can be up to 200 ng/mL.

Instead of iron supplements, you may want to try these first:

Liquid chlorophyll by World Organics. ($6-7) It does not contain Fe, but because the chlorophyll molecule is similar to hemoglobin, it can quickly, raise the Fe level (much less than the standard 6 weeks for Fe supplements).

Organic Black Strap Molasses (see below for detailed info)
Organic/Grass Fed Beef Liver

Supplemental Sources of Iron

If your child is iron deficient and your doctor advises supplementation, here's info about the different kinds. 

Important: Iron supplements should not be taken within four hours of thyroid medication or else the thyroid medications will not work properly.

Iron Bisglycinate, is a non constipating Iron supplement. Brands include
Solgar Gentle Iron
Solgar Chelated Iron
Now Foods Iron
Floradix 
The absorption rate of Floradix (liquid iron gluconate) is twenty-five per cent compared to solid iron tablets that have an absorption rate of two to ten per cent. Floradix provides maximum absorption by using the most highly absorbable form of iron, iron gluconate. Floradix also contains B vitamins and vitamin C to enhance absorption, herbal extracts to increase digestion, and fruit juices to ensure proper stomach acidity. So it is non-constipating, but it does contain a lot of B6 which our population needs to avoid.

Spatone
Spatone costs $19.95 for a 28-sachet box. If your total order exceeds $50, there is free shipping and handling. If your total order is less than $50, there will be a $7.95 charge added.

Unfortunately, iron supplements such as Spatone often cause constipation. To offset that side effect, make sure you eat sufficient fiber (11.5 grams per 1,000 calories consumed) and drink plenty of water.

Increasing Iron Through Diet

From HealthCastle.com

Absorption of iron from food is influenced by multiple factors. One important factor being the form of the iron. Heme Iron, found in animal sources, is highly available for absorption. Non-heme iron on the other hand, found in vegetable sources, is less available. Iron rich foods of an iron rich diet are listed below:
Iron Rich Foods containing Heme Iron

Excellent Sources:

  • Clams
  • Pork Liver
  • Oysters
  • Chicken Liver
  • Mussels
  • Beef Liver
Good Sources:
  • Beef
  • Shrimp
  • Sardines
  • Turkey

Iron Rich Foods containing Non-Heme Iron

Excellent Sources:

  • Enriched breakfast cereals (to be avoided because of added synthetic folic acid)
  • Cooked beans and lentils (make sure they are soaked before cooking)
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Black strap Molasses

Good Sources:
  • Canned beans (avoid canned goods because of aluminum, if you must, only use cans from Eden organic, they use BPA free lining)
  • Baked potato with skin
  • Enriched pasta
  • Canned asparagus
The absorption of Non-heme iron can be improved when a source of heme iron is consumed in the same meal. In addition, the iron absorption-enhancing foods can also increase the absorption of non-heme iron. While some food items can enhance iron absorption, some can inhibit or interfere iron absorption. Avoid pairing these iron-inhibiting foods when you're eating the iron-rich foods in the same meal.
Red blood cells and DS

from The Guide to Good Health for Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome by Brian Chicoine M.D. & Dennis McGuire Ph.D:
"Abnormal lab Results- MCV One lab test in which results are commonly elevated in people with DS is the MCV....if red blood cells are released from the bone marrow before they mature, the cells will be larger and the MCV will be elevated.

It is thought that red blood cells are often released early from the bone marrow of people with DS. One theory is that rbcs die more quickly in people with DS so less mature cells are released in order to replace them. Another theory is that there is an abnormality in folic acid metabolism in people with DS that may lead to larger rbcs.

An elevated MCV is generally not considered an abnormality that requires additional assessment in a person with DS so long as he has a normal blood count (hemoglobin and hematocrit) (that is, he is not anemic)......"
------

Anemia Home Remedies: Best Natural Cures

If anemia is diagnosed and no other disease is associated with it, then the following home remedies for anemia may be useful:

Figs
Eat four dried figs daily for a month and continue thereafter for another month if results are to your satisfaction.


Citrus Fruit
Due to high Vitamin C content, eat one orange or tangerine daily.


Beets
Beets are very a potent treatment for anemia. Beet juice is full of natural minerals like potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur, iodine, iron and copper. It also contains vitamins B1, B2, B6, niacin, and vitamin P. Beets are very helpful in curing anemia. Beet juice contains potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulphur, iodine, iron, copper, carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins B1, B2, B6, niacin, and vitamin P. With their high iron content, beets help in the formation of red blood cells.

Cabbage
Drink 1/2 glass of white cabbage juice on an empty stomach twice daily.

Lettuce
Eat 100 gm lettuce twice daily, chew well.

Spinach
Eat various preparations made of spinach daily or extract 1/2 cup of spinach juice for daily consumption.
 Astro-esophageal reflux and Anemia 
 from the book, Down Syndrome, What You CAN Do:
This occurs when food that had already passed into the stomach and beyond comes back up into the Esophagus and may be vomited up. Most healthy people experience this from time to time. It is more common in babies because their food is liquid and therefore more easily brought back they spend less of their time upright the muscle at the top of the stomach that should prevent this is not yet well established. Some also have a hiatus hernia where the top part of the stomach is pushed just above the diaphragm into the chest. Babies with Down syndrome are more likely to have reflux, probably because the muscles of the stomach and esophagus that work to push food along seem to work less effectively. Symptoms may be very mild and merely a nuisance. Simple measures mentioned above may help. However, vomiting may be considerable and the child may not gain weight. In addition, the acid contents of the stomach irritate the lower esophagus causing discomfort, and sometimes bleeding from the esophageal wall. This can cause anemia. In these cases, medical treatment is necessary. Several different kinds of medicine are used, often in combination. They work in a number of ways - by preventing the stomach contents flowing back, by neutralizing the stomach acid and by improving the gastrointestinal motility. Very occasionally, these measures won't be sufficient and an operation to tighten up the junction between the esophagus and stomach will be necessary.
--------

Celiac Disease  
from Down Syndrome, What You CAN Do
This is a condition in which the bowels are unable to absorb particular nutrients from food. This can cause the body to run short of some nutrients, and the stools to be abnormal. Possible malabsorption of a number of different vitamins and minerals has been described in Down syndrome from time to time. However, the evidence for this is inconsistent and whether the malabsorption leads to any health problems is uncertain.

There is, however, one important type of malabsorption that is more common in Down syndrome called Celiac Disease. In this, the body develops an allergy to part of a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat and some other cereal grains. Symptoms include poor growth, abnormal stools (diarrhea, frothy, foul smelling or bulky stools are typical), swollen stomach, tiredness and irritability. Anemia may also result. Special blood tests are available which may help with diagnosis, but a jejunal biopsy may be necessary. In this test a small tube is swallowed, and a sample of the wall of the jejunum is removed for examination under a microscope. Treatment is by special diet excluding gluten. This should he supervised by a dietitian....

Thyroid & Anemia
from Down Syndrome, What You CAN Do
The adverse effects of abnormal thyroid function are well-known. An under active thyroid gland leads to cognitive impairment, increased risk of coronary artery heart disease from hypercholesterolemia (14), dry skin, constipation, and anemia.

Folic Acid
from Down Syndrome, What You CAN Do
Folic Acid is particularly important in the population of people with Down syndrome. It is needed for the synthesis of DNA and RNA, which are the building blocks of cells. Folic Acid also helps prevent changes to the DNA that could lead to cancer. It is also needed in both children and adults to be able to make normal red blood cells and prevent anemia. Read about the best types of folic acid for the DS population:  Why B12 & Folinic Acid

Piracetam and Hypoxia
from Down Syndrome, What You CAN Do
Hypoxia is a condition of low oxygen levels in the tissues. Hypoxia can be caused by lack of oxygen in the air (hypobaric or high-altitude conditions), decreased oxygen carrying capacity of the blood (anemia or carbon monoxide toxicity), by impaired circulation (ischemia, heart attacks, blood clots, etc.), or other causes.

 For decades piracetam has been studied as an anti-hypoxia agent. This may have special application to DS due to developmental delays in the closing of the heart muscle wall between the right and left sides of the heart. This results in the mixing of blood from the right side of the heart (which pumps oxygen-depleted blood to the lungs) with blood on the left (which pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body). This effectively diminishes oxygen delivery capacity and exposes affected individuals to some degree of chronic hypoxia.

 Hypoxia has an adverse effect on cognitive functioning, which piracetam effectively prevents [see SDN v1n10].
Hypoxia is also associated with increased lipid peroxidation, which is inhibited by piracetam and antioxidants [Nagornev et al., 1996]. This effectively increases human resistance to high altitude. In aged patients with ischemic heart disease, the combination of piracetam and tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) provides better control of angina pain, increases exercise tolerance, and positively influences hemodynamic measurements [Pimenov et al., 1997]. These observations confirmed earlier work [Pimenov et al., 1992].

 Hypobaric hypoxia of pregnant rats causes memory impairment and learning delays (in both passive and active tasks) in newborn pups. Postnatal piracetam (200mg/kg/day) in the second and third weeks of life partially corrected behavioral disturbances and physical development, but not adaptive behavior, caused by this prenatal hypoxia [Trufimov et al., 1993].

 The adverse role that oxidative stress can play in cognitive functioning can also be blocked by piracetam. Craniocerebral trauma in rabbits causes 1) increased free radical activity, 2) decreased antioxidant function, and 3) increased lipid peroxidation throughout the brain. These effects are prevented by piracetam or amphetamine (which are stimulants), but not by phenobarbitol (a CNS depressant) [Promyslov and Demchuk, 1995]. The lack of any direct antioxidant effect of piracetam or amphetamine in an in vitro model suggests that the antioxidant effect is entirely mediated by secondary metabolic effects of these compounds.

 Helpful Website

If your child has anemia this is a great web page: https://sites.google.com/site/superdownsyndrome/sleep/iron

Sources

http://www.livestrong.com/article/195055-does-vitamin-c-increase-iron-absorption/#ixzz29ff0A5NK

http://www.livestrong.com/article/207206-normal-ferritin-levels-for-children/#ixzz1JWkDsED8

Down Syndrome: What You CAN Do edited by Kim & Qadoshyah Fish

The Guide to Good Health for Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome by Brian Chicoine M.D. & Dennis McGuire Ph.D 

HealthCastle.com 

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It's Potty Time!

Young babies

Teach your baby to be diaper free right away:
http://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com/elimination-communication.html

Jett hasn't gone #2 a diaper in many months and he's only 13 months old now! He whines until we put him on his potty then he goes every time! He went in a public bathroom at 12 months old. And we brought the potty with to visit my sister this weekend and he went at her house as well. If your child never gets used to wearing a soiled diaper, he'll be much more likely to communicate to you when he needs to go.

When I did have him go diaperless, he was communicating that he needed to pee by the end of the day. But then winter came so I had to but clothes back on him! This is much easier to do than you'd think.

I recommend reading Diaper Free by Ingrid Bauer.
----
Babies or young children with a digit span of 2 or 2.5

You'll need to watch for signs to tell you when your child is ready. At 22 months old, Jett had been waiting until I checked his diapers, which were dry and THEN peeing on the changing table. So, it was easy for me to transition him from peeing on the table to peeing in the potty (which he has been doing for a long time, just not consistently.) So it just hasn't been a struggle.
While I'm taking off his diaper, I sing whatever nursery rhyme comes into my head at that moment like: "Let's pee pee in the potty, the potty, the potty, Let's pee pee in the potty & see where it will go!" Or "this is the way we pee in the potty, pee in the potty, pee in the potty, etc." He gets excited and says "pee" and "potty" and then does it. Of course, this is one of many strategies I've been using, but he seems to WANT to hold it and we've had a lot of dry diapers this way. (I only had one wet diaper yesterday and it was my fault!!) Now if I could just get him to TELL me when he needs to pee... that would be great! (He's refuses to poop in diapers, so that was an easy one.)

Another method to teach a child with DS how to use the toilet (in four days):

http://tinyurl.com/43rrl4w

http://downsyndrome.com/down-syndrome-potty-training/comment-page-1/
---
This is Miriam's article, from the Einstein syndrome website, on her experience with the one day toilet training method http://einstein-syndrome.com/development/potty_training_description/ She started when her child was 20 months old.

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Massage Your Baby

I recommend massaging your baby everyday with an oil you would ingest yourself (organic olive oil or coconut oil work great). Jett's dry skin was so bad that I had to slather on olive or coconut oil several times a day. Massaging stimulates growth hormone release, feel good hormones, bonding hormones, promotes sensory awareness (both tactile and olfactory, if your oil is naturally, not chemically scented) and better muscle tone.

You can start massaging your baby more or less from day one. To help prevent colic, you may want to start when your baby is around one month old.

However, if you didn't, it is never too late, although it is kind of hard to massage a baby that crawls away... Although Jett will hold still for one--at least when he's sleepy.

What Kind of Oil?

Choose a good organic oil for the baby massage. And choose one that doesn't have a strong smell.

Linda Sherman has a child with DS and owns Heritage Essential Oils. She has an information page devoted to DS & oils here http://heritageessentialoils.com/downsyndrome.php. Oils was the first thing I used with Jett when he was born because it could be absorbed through the skin and I had to massage him so many times a day.

I've also heard of Young Living products, which is set up sort of like Amway, but these folks swear by the oils. Based on Biblical premise of healing with oils. http://www.youngliving.com/en_US/index.html

Of course you can buy the oils at Whole Foods or any local health food store as well.

Use only a few drops at the time. Rub the oil in the palm of your hands to make it warm before massaging.

Attend a class

Infant massage is not difficult! But it may be bit tricky the first time. Attending a baby massage training is a perfect way to learn how to do it. And it's fun! But if you can't find a course that works for you, you can buy a book or a DVD or check one out from the library.

If your baby has some tummy pain (Jett had it every night it seemed), massage is a very good idea!

Check the video below to get an idea of how to do it.


Warm room temperature
Since babies easily get cold, it is very important to carry out the massage in a warm room.

Really young babies may very well start crying when undressed even if the air temperature is as high as 80F (27 C).

A tip is to choose the smallest room you have, shut the door and put in an extra radiator for a while to get the room temperature up.

A small bathroom or a walk-in closet works well as long as you have enough space on the floor to do the massage.

The older your baby gets, the less sensitive he will be to the temperature.

Not drafty

Even if the room temperature is alright, if it is drafty, your baby might not like the situation anyway. Close the window!

Undressing the baby

If you want to give baby massage to an infant younger than 2 months, it might be a good idea to not undress the baby completely from the start.

Many newborn babies seem to feel insecure or cold when naked and just cry until dressed again.

Not too hard, not too gently

I think it is really easy to be too gentle when massaging a tiny little baby. Of course you can't be heavy-handed, but a too gentle touch will only tickle the baby. Be a little bit firm.

If you watch your baby carefully you will soon notice what he prefers.


Choosing the time of the day

If you attend class, try choosing a time if the day when your baby is likely to be awake.

If you have no routines yet, choose a time that you find convenient.

At home, it may be wise to do the massage in the evening. This can help your baby navigating in the 24 hours of the day - "now it is evening and I will soon go to sleep".

It can also prevent tummy pain at night.

Source

http://www.easybabylife.com/baby-massage.html

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Teach Your Baby Math

Very important and easy to do! Jett started this at 13 months and he loved it (at first)! Make sure you only do a couple a day because Jett got really sick of them quickly.
Read How to teach your child through the dot method from childandme.com.

Also, there's a free e-book about it on brillbaby.com. 

 Making your own dot cards

You can make your own power point presentation and show the slide show or print them out. I just painted the dots with non toxic tempera paint on paper by "swirling" the brush into a circle. You can use a small "spouncer" (round sponge on a stick from a craft store) or dot stickers as well. He loves having the papers in front of him, plus, you want to avoid exposure to computers/electronics as much as possible. It's a good idea to keep some plants by your computer and printer at all times (away from baby!) to absorb the toxins they emit.

Free printable dot flash cards 

Reviews of Math Programs

BrillKids Math Program a computer based program

Numicon Math a hands on kit


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Tummy Time

Getting your baby crawling should be on the top of your agenda since it's vital for brain organization. (See Crawling: More Important than Sitting or Standing) And it's also so important for our kids to be active and get used to moving around -- excising actually stimulates brain growth! (Read more.) Being active may also help with constipation issues. (See Constipation: Causes and Cures.)
It also prevents your baby from getting a flat head.

Encouraging lots of time on his tummy is the best way to achieve all these goals. In fact, according to many child development specialists, babies not spending time on their tummies often are more delayed in their motor skill development than babies who spend a lot of time on their stomach. Tummy time is a great way for helping your baby to learn to push up, roll, crawl and eventually pull to a standing position.

Some babies are unhappy on their tummy, though. Jett wasn't a fan, at first. Fortunately, there's a lot you can do to make your baby comfortable and to eventually love it!

Baby on your chest technique

1) Lie down on your back on the floor, in a recliner, bed or even in the bath.

2) Put your baby on his tummy on your chest so that you will be lying tummy-to-tummy. Jett slept like this on me for many months. (It also allowed me to better monitor his breathing and over all well being.)

3) Talk to him. Get his attention and try to get a positive response. You can point to and identify his body parts (eyes, nose, arms, hands, etc.). Make it a fun experience. And try to encourage and maintain interest by changing the tone of your voice when talking to him.

If you're feeling playful and once your baby has sufficient head control, you can raise and lift him. He'll probably love the new view. This is great for keeping things fun. Or you can play airplane by putting your baby's tummy against your legs, his head at your knees. Then bend your legs while holding on to him firmly. Making things fun for your baby is probably the most important to get any baby exercise to work.

If he starts to cry — even if it's only been a minute — try to coax him a bit longer by talking with him or playing with him. When he's had enough, but isn't hysterical or anything, pick him up and try again later. His tolerance for tummy time is likely to increase gradually with experience and a bit of coaxing. And many babies are more content on their tummy once they can roll over and it becomes a matter of choice.

Do this technique several times a day, increasing the amount of time at each session. Try it daily for two weeks or longer before simply deciding that it doesn't work.

Although this exercise does not give immediately results, it's a powerful way to encourage and get him comfortable on his tummy. Hang in there, it's really good for him. He may protest a little, but he'll eventually love it!

Time it right

Make sure your baby isn't hungry or tired when you set him tummy-down. On the other hand, don't place him on a full belly, which might be uncomfortable.

You can roll him over on his tummy for a little while after every diaper change. It's easy to remember to do it, and your baby may come to expect it. He may also enjoy the view, if he's up on a changing table or near a window. Just be sure to hold on to him so he doesn't roll off.

Keep your baby company

You can distract him from the unfamiliar feeling of being face-down until he gets used to it by joining him on the floor. Encourage him, talk with him, shake his rattle, make funny faces, play peekaboo. He might even enjoy watching you do your leg lifts or crunches.

You might also put him on the bed, near the edge, and sit on the floor with your face next to his. He might appreciate the softer surface, and you can easily interact with him in this position. With Jett, I laid him face down on the sofa while I sat down on the floor so that my face was level with his. It took him a while to enjoy tummy time, but the effort spent was worth it. And, we had to start this all over again after heart surgery!

Provide entertainment

Prop a board book open in front of your baby, or place a favorite toy within his reach. Invest in a tummy-time toy or gym, designed especially for babies to play with while on their belly. Some have lights, mirrors, moving pictures, music and/or squeaky toys attached. Or place him on a colorful quilt or an activity mat designed just for babies. Some mats have prop-up toys or mirrors, and others are filled with water, for added fun. Take your baby's socks off so he can get good traction on the mat. Mats and gyms with contrasting colors such as black and white or dark colors with yellow are especially stimulating. (Babies can't see pastel colors!)

This activity board from 3 of 31 blog is a great idea for tummy time.

Have your baby's sibling(s) play nearby when he's on his tummy. (You may want to use a play yard so he won't get stepped on. But, full access to a lot of wiggle room is best.) Watching a brother or sister — or even a family pet — may just keep him happily distracted for a bit.

Prop your baby up

Perhaps giving their baby a new perspective — by propping him on a rolled towel or nursing pillow, for example — will help. If your baby has some neck strength and head control (by age 3 or 4 months, in the typical population) but can't get up on his forearms, simply place the towel or pillow under his chest and armpits, with his arms in front of it. (If he tends to roll forward, keep your hand on his bottom.) When he can get up on his forearms independently, remove the pillow and let him work on his motor skills without it.

Some babies enjoy rolling on a big exercise ball. Hold him on it tummy-down while you gently rock the ball back and forth. Jett loved this!

Tune in to your baby

Try to figure out if there's anything in particular about tummy time that your baby finds distressing. Maybe his blanket is uncomfortably bunched up or the shag carpet is scary. Maybe it's too cold on the floor or too slippery. Maybe he just needs something to chew or suck on to to enjoy it. Just listen and watch for your baby's cues.

Massage

See if your baby likes to be massaged while he's on his tummy. If he does, it could help him feel comfortable in that position. See Massage Your Baby for tips on how.

Tip: Make sure your child's sitter or daycare provider understands the importance of tummy time and actively encourages it.

Go here for more tips during tummy time.

Rolling Over

Getting Your Baby to Roll is a great OT post on helping your baby to roll over.

Sources

Babydevelopmentnews.com
Babycenter.com



Related Posts

Massage Your Baby
Keeping Nasal Passages Clear & Mouths Closed
Tummy Time
Getting Your Baby to Communicate
Books to Read to Your Baby
Deep Pressure Tactile Therapy
Low Muscle Tone: What to Do
Oral Motor Therapy
Games for Baby: Grasping Skills
Teaching Your Baby to Crawl
Crawling: More Important than Sitting or Standing
Teaching Your Baby to Read
Teach Your Baby Math and
Teaching Your Young Child Math
Handwriting Resources
Walking and Children with Down Syndrome.
Toys that Support Crawling
Milestones: Standing
Promote Walking: Are Treadmills Good?
When to Teach Your Baby to Read
How to Spoon Feed
Breastfeeding
Nontoxic Teethers
Toxin Free Babies

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Teaching Your Baby to Read

Here you can see Jett's Reading Readiness at 16 Months.

 At 17 months, Jett started sight reading and he learned new words everyday! 

 At 18 months old (Sept. 5, 2011) after Kindermusik, I was talking to the owner of the building and there was a sign that had a list of snacks on it. Jett pointed and said, "Wassthis?" and made me read it. Then he interrupted me and pointed and said, "Chips!" And the guy just about fell over because the next word on the list was chips! I had just told the guy that Jett could sight read a couple of words. I assured the guy that "chips" was one of Jett's words and that he can't REALLY read, like phonetically. But the guy was amazed nonetheless! 
Here's Jett Reading at 19 Months.

At 20 months old, his speech therapist was trying to get him to say "book" and "duck," etc. but he wouldn't cooperate (he did say "quack, quack"). She was packing up to leave and he took the Brown Bear book out of her hand, plopped it down and read, OUT LOUD: "What do you see?" while pointing to the words. She stared at me with her mouth hanging open. I said, "Well, I said he could read some..."

 At 22 months old, Jett is reading books with me--out loud! So fun!! Plus, he's figuring out words that he's never seen before. Today, he read a little girl's name: Reese. NOT one of our flashcards or words in any of his books!! Personally, I think this is amazing! I need to video this ASAP! (Sorry for all the exclamation points--I just had some chocolate....) 
Here's Jett reading out loud at 23 months old.

At 25 months, Jett read his first whole book by himself out loud. He read the 27 page The Eye Book by Dr. Seuss. It's at the late kindergarten level. We were in the back seat of the car and he just opened the book, pointed to each word and read it to me!

He can read any word and has no fear about reading any sized word. He can read phonetically, which I didn't teach him, but he figured out, by 20 months old--I figure. I didn't realize it because I didn't test him but I hadn't taught him EVERY word through flashcards and by then he was reading signs everywhere we went. He also figured out cursive on his own, around about that time as well. He can also silent read. I first noticed this when I'd write a word that he liked that he had heard earlier in the day and he would smile and smile. At 2 1/2, he reads very quickly-- I mean as fast as you can! When he does read aloud, you can barely understand what he is saying because it's so fast. He will slow down for you and loves to give emphasis when there's an exclamation point.
How did Jett learn to read?

I don't know how well he would have done without supplements to support memory and brain function, but this is what I did while supplementing him. See Jett's Complete Supplement List if interested.
1) Flashcards

Starting at age 4 months or so, I followed the Doman method exactly according to How to Teach Your Baby to Read by Glenn Doman, Janet Doman. It only takes a few minutes a day although it takes a month or so to make the flash cards yourself. 
At 8 months, I stopped the flash cards because his neurodevelopmentalist said to wait until his eyes were more developed. See When to Teach Your Baby to Read for details. 

I continued them at 12 months. I did five cards, three times a day. He wanted more, but I didn't want to make it a chore. That way, he was excited every single time.

 The flash cards seemed to make him notice words and become interested in them. And with the hugging/praise after each set, he associated pleasant feelings with words. So he learned to love them very quickly.

 Learn how I made them and other made them in the How I made Jett's Flash Cards section.

 Here's an article explaining why teaching sight words work for young children.

Here's an article that shows how flashcards help improve spoken vocabulary.

 2) Reading to him

I read books to him that met the Doman criteria. See Books to Read to Your Baby for my list of appropriate books as well as tips on how to make reading to your baby exciting.

 Flash cards, in conjunction with the reading--very happy tones & excited/  changing voices -- got him really interested. So much so that he learned to recognize words on his own. (I mean to learn the words that he wanted to learn by listening to me read and asking me to repeat them--not phonetically yet, although he did sound out some words at 19-20 months old.) I read at least 15 books a day to him. If he seemed the least bit uninterested, I didn't read. But he was very interested. I just followed his cues.

 3) Magnadoodle

I picked this up at a garage sale, just to save paper. Turned out that Jett was super interested. It's certainly faster than making flashcards and cheaper. But, you have to write fast and erase fast and have the list of words next to you. (I also have to write upside down, but you can position your child so you don't have to.) The magnadoodle is nice because Jett sits and anticipates what word I'm writing. So it's exciting for him. He initiates this at least once a day. After a while, I have to distract him and put it away. A little goes a long way so that he won't get sick of it and will always be excited to work with it. I don't leave it out on the floor for him to get to. I also found a travel one for only $2 at Michaels.

 4) Brillkids Little Reader, Readeez & Between the Lions

This is the support media that I use. Readeez at age 8-9 months (usually to distract him when feeding supplements), Between the Lions at 12 months (only when he's on the potty) and Little Reader at 19 months. Please check out these posts for reviews of each: My Media Reviews and Review of BrillKids Little Reader

Here are free stories from Between the Lions: http://pbskids.org/lions/stories/
It's read out loud and shows the (nice, big) words highlighted while it's being read. PLUS you can also choose closed caption and it appears with upper & lower case! (This is rare, so I find it rather exciting.) You have lots of well produced, cute stories to choose from. (Be sure to check out all the different categories on the left of the screen.) Jett loves this show, but our DVDR lost data so we lost all the episodes & it's no longer on our local PBS station. Stories are only like 5 minutes or less so it's perfect for a quick distraction while giving supplements!
Here are some (over 100!!) free Readeez videos: http://vimeo.com/search/videos/search:readeez/st/6407bb8c Careful, there is a Beastie Boys video, "Shake Your Rump" that has some weird psychedelic graphics that FREAK Jett out! And Jett also HATES the video called "Dynamics" because it plays with volume and so is surprising. (Jett will even cry if my husband suddenly laughs too loud.) So, if your little one has sound sensitivities, do yourself a favor and skip it. Otherwise, Readeez is AWESOME!!

 5) Phonics Book Series

I don't know how much of this he absorbs, but at 19 months, I started reading him books that emphasize phonics. The Cat in the Hat is one fun example. Our local library has a whole collection of Rebus Readers/ SandCastle/ First Rhymes series books. Titles include Thad and His Dad, May by the Bay, The Pig with a Wig etc. They start with the photographs of the words to build the vocabulary. Then they put the photos in the sentences. Then they replace the photos with the words in sentences. Then they have a story with the words in it. The stories are boring, but Jett really enjoys the books. The photographs are great and the bold words are nicely sized.

At 36 months, Jett loves the phonics book series and definitely learns from them. He likes to make up his own rhymes now. 

 6) Reading "Advanced" Books with your Child

At 3 years old, Jett reads books on his own (and has for sometime). I make books on his level fully accessible to him whenever he wants. For more advanced books (basically ones with paragraphs on each page rather than two sentences), I be sure to read them with him first. I read 2-4 books above his level with him a day. I do at least one in the morning so that any new vocabulary words he learns I can be sure to incorporate it into our day and other homeschooling activities. Since he reads phonetically, he'll often "mispronounce" words since some don't follow the normal rules of phonics. For instance, for "Duck Dyna-sty," He says, sty as in "sty" and not "stee." He used to "argue" with me when I'd correct him on such words because it doesn't follow the phonics pattern that he figured out. But now he understands that some words are just pronounced differently than they should be.

A note on testing:

Your child IS learning--you just have to stick with it. You'll soon see that s/he is getting it. As curious as I was, I did not test. But, I realized that he could read some words and only then did I "test" because the curiosity was killing me. I don't do it on a regular basis. Just for videos. He gets mad if you show him words he knows already. He would cooperate on video because I was teaching him actions with new words and some words he knew so it felt "new." I only video when he picks up the magnadoodle himself and "asks" us to write for him. Otherwise, it's doubtful that he would have cooperated. So even though, in the video, I'm testing him, it's not advisable to do so. You don't want to make them mad, bored or feel like they are lacking in any way.


Check out: Phonics vs. Sight Reading by ND, Cyndi Ringoen

 Resources

 These are great resources to show you how to teach your baby to read.

Be sure to check out the related posts for more details on teaching your baby or young child to read. 

 Books

 How to Teach Your Baby to Read by Glenn Doman, Janet Doman
This is a super great book. You don't need to start this until your baby can identify pictures, but you need time to read it and to make or purchase the flash cards. If you are making them yourself, you need a couple of months to do it so you won't be overwhelmed.

For reviews of various educational DVDs and reading-related television shows, see the post My TV/Video Strategy 

 Websites

http://www.childandme.com/howteachbabyreadenglish/

http://www.ehow.com/how_4563704_teach-baby-read.html

http://www.internationalparentingassociation.org/Materials/index.html
 
Blog Posts

When to Teach Your Baby to Read
A List of Books to Read to Your Baby that support the Doman method of teaching reading.
Help Your Child Write a Book at Laura's blog
 

Free flash cards

http://www.brillkids.com/free-download/flash-card-printouts.php

Make your own flash cards: http://www.kitzkikz.com/flashcards/

Flash cards need to be laminated in order to implement the Quick Flashing Method.
How to Laminate your flash cards at Laura's blog.

Flash cards for older children learning sight words (the print is too small for babies) http://www.trendenterprises.com/ProductLrg.cfm?ITEMID=T-53004

How I made Jett's Flash Cards

You'll need:

  • white poster board 28" x 22" (as many sheets as you want)
  • 6-inch Omnigrid Quilting Ruler (photo here)
  • pencil
  • 1/2 inch flat paint brush (photo here)
  • red non toxic tempera paint (Usually, the more expensive the better quality. I used the cheapest and it was gloppy. More expensive paint would be acrylic and you may have to use outside in case of fumes. Watercolor paint will not work because it's too light and won't adhere to the shiny side of the paper and will bleed into the matte side of the paper.)
  • a lot of time and/or help
Directions:
  1. I used my mother's quilting ruler that was six inches wide to measure out four 6-inch cards. 
  2. Then I drew a line for the bottom of the letters to touch, a line for the uppercase letters to touch and a line for lower case letters to touch. The uppercase letters were four inches tall and the lowercase letters were 2 1/2 inches tall.  
  3. I cut the poster board into five 6-inch strips. 
  4. I lightly drew a word on each card with a pencil. 
  5. I used a 1/2 inch flat paint brush to paint the letters with red paint so that one stroke would cover the letter rather than a smaller brush that would take many, many strokes to cover. 

Painting tips:

  • Fill the paint brush on one side but try to leave the edges clear so that the paint can spread without spreading too wide.
  • Put a good amount of paint on your brush so you can make a full stroke w/out having to reapply paint to your brush.
  • For letters with circular parts, still use one stroke by turning your hand in a circular motion w/out lifting the brush off the page. (This does take practice.)

I am an artist and used a paint brush every day for about ten years at that point, so it was easy for me.

Later, my sister, who had access to a large printer, printed out more cards for me. You might want to contact a local printer and see if they can do it for you. They could cut out the flash card strips out for you or, to save money, you can cut them out yourself. The cards in the picture are the ones my sister printed out.

Discounted Electronic Reading Program

Here is a link to the information on getting a special needs discount on BrillKids programs - 30 to 100% off,
http://downsyndromeupupupandaway.blogspot.com/2011/03/exciting-announcement-from-brillkids.html

 Here's my Review of BrillKids Little Reader

If you apply for the discount, make sure you apply for the LittleMath discount as well as LittleReader. People having been getting them for the full 100% discount - they usually cost about $270 or $280, so it is an awesome deal!

Free Learning Program materials



Support Forum

You'll find me here from time to time
TeachYourBabyToRead@yahoogroups.com
Inspiration


See and Learn Language and Reading resources
Free downloads

I haven't tried these yet, but you can download these free resources from the following See and Learn Language and Reading packs:
See and Learn First Word Pictures - download resources
See and Learn First Written Words - download resources
See and Learn More Word Pictures - download resources
See and Learn First Sentences - download resources

How to check/calculate reading levels
 
http://homeworktips.about.com/od/homeworkhelp/a/readinglevel.htm

Related Posts

When to Teach Your Baby to Read

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