Delicate issue

Rockstar*

Hi people

Guy I know,his girlfriend has recently had a baby,the baby has down syndrome I should be ok congratulating him on the situation shouldnt I?

Thanks

Silverfish

Depends on how they're taking it really.


When my brother was born, my mother was disgusted when people didn't congratulate her, as far as she was concerned, he was a healthy baby boy, and it could have been far worse.

Her friend who had a baby with Down's Syndrome was upset when people congratulated her, she wanted sympathy.

Hard to know. One of those play it by ear things. But it can help the people themselves an awful lot to get congratulated, it can make it seem like it's not the worst thing that could happen.

lmtduffy

Its important I fell to treat the child like any other child and help the parents do this too,

the limitations this child might face in the future will not be apparent for some time,

and it is really only when these limitations arise that you should start to treat the child differently,

its important that it can reach its full potential like anyone else,

so I say do,
and you should not feel in any way bad no matter how they react,
if they react badly I think they may have some trouble,

Carrigart Exile

Rockstar* wrote:

Hi people

Guy I know,his girlfriend has recently had a baby,the baby has down syndrome I should be ok congratulating him on the situation shouldnt I?

Thanks

what a cracking mate you are, I would just have blundered in without thinking that through. I would still go with hearty congratulations.

spurious

That child is still the most beautiful creature in the world to his/her parents.

I would congratulate them.

cowzerp

they may think you have a problem if you dont congratulate them, just be sincere-they will love the child either way..

Glowing

I remember a family down the road had a child a few years ago with DS - neighbours gave them sympathy cards!!! FFS!!

Go with congratulations - the child will be their pride and joy regardless.

Cionn

Congratulations the only way to go.

My brother in law has DS and he's a great guy, had him out for a pint a couple of weeks ago and all he did was check out the skirt. It was really funny although when he made a few comments he hasn't quite mastered quiet comments.

Miss Fluff

Buy them a little gift for the baby and a congratulations card

Raytown Rocks

Something similar happened to me years ago.
A friend had a baby boy with downs.
Most people didnt know what to say. I gave him a hearthy congrats and told him his son was beautiful and would be the apple of his eye for all of his life.
We shed a tear and had lots to drink.
Congratulations is the way you should go.

DublinDilbert

I'd maybe start off with asking how the little fella is doing, then based on his reaction you could say congrats or not.... also by asking how he's doing it shows you care...

John_Mc

Congrats are the only way to go, anything else is out of order

Talliesin

Congratulate them, but be prepared to be a shoulder to cry on also.

Get the baby something.

Better yet, get the mother something, she's probably still knackered.

aidan24326

Glowing wrote:

I remember a family down the road had a child a few years ago with DS - neighbours gave them sympathy cards!!! FFS!!

Outrageous. Those neighbours deserved a letter bomb in return.

Congratulations is the way to go, a person with down's syndrome is still a human being like the rest of us and deserves to be treated the same as anyone else (differing future needs not withstanding). Like another poster said the extent of the child's limitations will only be become apparent later.

missmatty

Ask after him and get a congrats card and present.

My little cousin has Down's and he's only gorgeous

The only thing is that Down's babies often have medical complications (ie heart problems) so ask how he is anyway. My cousin was lucky that her son has none that we know of.

Leeby

DublinDilbert wrote:

I'd maybe start off with asking how the little fella is doing, then based on his reaction you could say congrats or not.... also by asking how he's doing it shows you care...

I'd put this the other way down, congratulate him first, then ask how the baby is doing