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Your baby has Down syndrome: what to do first

Checked: 10 August 2026 Down syndrome

The main thing to know: modern early intervention gives children with Down syndrome enormous developmental opportunities.

Short answer

Down syndrome is a genetic difference where a child develops more slowly — but develops. Two key directions at the start: health monitoring (heart, hearing, vision, thyroid) and early intervention, best begun in the first months of life.

What you can do

  1. Complete the recommended checks: heart ultrasound, hearing and vision screening, thyroid hormones.
  2. Contact your local early intervention service — for children under 3 it's usually free.
  3. Reach out to a Down syndrome organization: many offer free consultations for new parents.
  4. Talk to your baby as usual: lots of speech, smiles, shared attention — that's the foundation of development.
  5. Get support for yourself — parent communities help a lot at this stage.

Further materials

National Down Syndrome Society
ndss.org

Source: Early intervention guidance for children with Down syndrome