Tight pants and Tripods

Bennett is now sporting his new "hip helpers"! Well, not all the time (thankfully), just during therapy. He actually doesn't "frog" his legs out that much but he does have looser hip joints than babies that don't have Down syndrome (more flexible due to DS) so they help keep his hips in line, especially while sitting.

His OT brought several sizes over and she had these in red and then the next size up was bright pink-thank goodness these fit:) But they work amazingly well to help Bennett stand and put weight on his legs. The big issue with standing is with his feet and ankles- they are very flexible so when he puts weight on his feet, he wants to stay like that but his little ankles are so flexible that at times his feet turn up causing his knees to buckle. It also doesn't help that his little thighs are now quite chunky so those flexible ankles have got a tough job! But the hip helpers really work to keep his legs from spreading out to the sides while working on standing and his feet are more stable as well.

Ainsley said "ahh, what is Bennett wearing mom?" I just laughed and asked what she thought about them and she said "ahh, they're cute...I guess" and then she wanted me to try the pink ones on him. LOL

*Edited: The PT said the bright pink ones fit better ;( -sorry Bennett, but mommy won't let anyone see them but your sisters and your therapists!*

Bennett is also getting really good at the tripod position....

However, I just read that this position should not be encouraged too much (great, now that Bennett is good at it!) I guess I need to have him prop his hands on some sort of a play tray on his lap so I don't encourage leaning forward and holding his head back in his neck while sitting-who knew?

But he did sit by himself for 10 seconds last week! He's still totally wobbly but his trunk control is getting so much better.

And here he is just hanging out with his best buddy, big sis Ainsley. Ainsley loves playing with Bennett and I have a feeling they are always going to have a very special relationship.

A little update- he went to the eye doctor (recommended at 6 months) and his eye sight and tracking were great, the only thing the doctor found was that Bennett has a slight astigmatism in both eyes. The doctor said it was common in kids with DS (of course it is, I'm thinking, everything different is common with DS-sorry, sometimes it just gets annoying!) but he said it doesn't mean he needs glasses and he may never need glasses. We go back in a year.

Bennett is still coughing a little so I'll probably wait until after the new year to get his blood tested again-I'll keep you posted on that! Bennett is now 7 months old!!