Re: Questions about the baby I babysat today

[Guest guest]

A lot of those characteristics (large forehead, epicanthal folds, low-

set ears, protruding tongue) sound like Down Syndrome. But I'm

assuming this would have been mentioned to you by your friend?

> Hi

> I'm not sure this is the right place to turn, but I am worried and

> have questions running through my head. I was babysitting a friend of

> a friends baby tonight, and started to see disturbing things. She is

> a 5 month old girl who seems to be behind in her milestones. She can

> roll from back to front, but not front to back. She doesn't have any

> muscle control in her trunk and will bend completely in half if I try

> to sit her up on her own. She has a horrible flinch reflex when I was

> playing with her. And I do mean horrible. She acted like I was going

> to hit her or something. Her tongue seems too big for her mouth and

> causes trouble eating.

> Then she has some physical characteristics that point to possibly

> some kind of birth defect, but I'm not sure what. She has the

> epicanthal folds by her eyes as is common in fetal alcohol syndrome,

> and her mid face is rather sunk in. Her forehead protrudes and her

> ears are set very low.

> I know this is very off topic for this site, but I am really

> disturbed by what I saw today. I have never had a baby flinch from

> me, let alone a 5 month old. It breaks my heart that someone might be

> hurting this baby. Does anyone have any idea what could cause the

> physical characteristics?

> Thanks, Dawn

>

>

>

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>

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[Guest guest]

Dawn, I don't have any answers. But, early intervention can do an

assessment on her. I would suggest if you can connect with the mom

enough to get her to call to schedule the assessment such that the

baby is 6 mos. My reasoning is many standardized tests have benchmarks

at the 6 mo level so she would be more likely to score for services

after 6 mos than just prior because of numbers. Not that you want her

to get services if she doesn't need it, but you also wouldn't wanna

have to wait 6 mos or so for a retest because she was tested 2 weeks

too early.

Any reason to suspect baby may have Down Syndrome? I'm definitely not

a Down expert, but from my short recollection children with Down

generally begin exhibiting physical characteristics around the age

baby currently is. One thought, a mom of a child with Down Syndrome

once told me her first suspicion was her son's big toe & second toe

making a large V. Also, children with Down Syndrome tend to have thick

hands with few folds. Don't know if that helps or not.

Gosh, good luck. You definitely aren't in an easy position.

Debi

[Guest guest]

surely something would have been noticed at the time of birth wouldnt it? i

mean, its obviously obvious from what you are saying. would the mother be in

denial? knowing there is something, but hoping it just disappears? i mean, we

have all been through denial, i know i have with autism.............whatever you

do, handle with kid gloves.

Cheryl S [chez]

To: Autism_in_Girls@...: sugarmagnolia1070@...: Sun,

11 Jan 2009 05:33:15 +0000Subject: Questions about the baby I

babysat today

HiI'm not sure this is the right place to turn, but I am worried and have

questions running through my head. I was babysitting a friend of a friends baby

tonight, and started to see disturbing things. She is a 5 month old girl who

seems to be behind in her milestones. She can roll from back to front, but not

front to back. She doesn't have any muscle control in her trunk and will bend

completely in half if I try to sit her up on her own. She has a horrible flinch

reflex when I was playing with her. And I do mean horrible. She acted like I was

going to hit her or something. Her tongue seems too big for her mouth and causes

trouble eating. Then she has some physical characteristics that point to

possibly some kind of birth defect, but I'm not sure what. She has the

epicanthal folds by her eyes as is common in fetal alcohol syndrome, and her mid

face is rather sunk in. Her forehead protrudes and her ears are set very low. I

know this is very off topic for this site, but I am really disturbed by what I

saw today. I have never had a baby flinch from me, let alone a 5 month old. It

breaks my heart that someone might be hurting this baby. Does anyone have any

idea what could cause the physical characteristics? Thanks, Dawn

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[Guest guest]

My friend asked me because I have the most knowledge

about stuff like this with my daughter in therapy

since she was 2. I should have mentioned that the mom

is a real loser. I'm not being high and mighty, she

really is. The poor kid has no clothes that fit, but

mom has her smokes and can go to the bar every other

weekend when my friend babysits. I'm thinking of

calling child services. This kid needs help now, not 5

years down the line.

Thanks all

--- cathylynn2 wrote:

> A lot of those characteristics (large forehead,

> epicanthal folds, low-

> set ears, protruding tongue) sound like Down

> Syndrome. But I'm

> assuming this would have been mentioned to you by

> your friend?

>

>

>

> On Jan 10, 2009, at 9:33 PM, sugarmagnolia1070

> wrote:

>

> > Hi

> > I'm not sure this is the right place to turn, but

> I am worried and

> > have questions running through my head. I was

> babysitting a friend of

> > a friends baby tonight, and started to see

> disturbing things. She is

> > a 5 month old girl who seems to be behind in her

> milestones. She can

> > roll from back to front, but not front to back.

> She doesn't have any

> > muscle control in her trunk and will bend

> completely in half if I try

> > to sit her up on her own. She has a horrible

> flinch reflex when I was

> > playing with her. And I do mean horrible. She

> acted like I was going

> > to hit her or something. Her tongue seems too big

> for her mouth and

> > causes trouble eating.

> > Then she has some physical characteristics that

> point to possibly

> > some kind of birth defect, but I'm not sure what.

> She has the

> > epicanthal folds by her eyes as is common in fetal

> alcohol syndrome,

> > and her mid face is rather sunk in. Her forehead

> protrudes and her

> > ears are set very low.

> > I know this is very off topic for this site, but I

> am really

> > disturbed by what I saw today. I have never had a

> baby flinch from

> > me, let alone a 5 month old. It breaks my heart

> that someone might be

> > hurting this baby. Does anyone have any idea what

> could cause the

> > physical characteristics?

> > Thanks, Dawn

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------------

> >

> > Autism_in_Girls-subscribe

> > ------------------------

> > Autism_in_Girls-unsubscribe@...!

> Groups Links

> >

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dawn, I would certainly support your advocating for this kid if mom

isn't going to. I guess her lifestyle feeds back into the possibility

of FAS?

Debi

[Guest guest]

dawn to me this is of a first things is of to ask of the friend if the

baby has of down syndrome or some known disorder and share to this

friend why you are of asking , because maybe it was of not disclosed

but is a known by you friend since this friend is of friends with that

person. but yes a childrens service things is of good to explore for

safe and concerns of this child.

sondra