Newborn & Baby
Basic Care for Your Baby
Babies on the FASD spectrum may have many difficulties. Understand that your baby's brain works differently. Your baby could be very sensitive to touch — before holding your baby, wrap him/her snugly in a soft blanket.
- Hold your baby for all feeds.
- Use soft lighting.
- Avoid loud noises — play soft, calming music.
- Introduce new things like toys slowly, and only when baby is calm and ready.
- He/she may take longer to sit up, crawl, walk, talk and reach other milestones.
- Sucking can be difficult — try laying baby in your lap and gently holding the cheeks to keep the lips around the teat. A feeding cup or spoon can also be used.
Jerking & Sensitivity
Jerking of the limbs when withdrawing from alcohol can be eased by stroking and wrapping tightly. At times some babies with fetal alcohol disorder don't like to be touched, as it seems as if their nerve endings are raw.
It has been found that there is usually one place that the baby likes to be touched. One baby could be soothed by placing the mother's mouth just below the baby's ear; on another, rubbing or patting the chest. Holding baby with his/her back against your side and hanging over your arm also soothes.
Tip: Giving baby a warm bath may also help ease jerking and discomfort. Observe your baby carefully to discover their unique soothing spot.
Dehydration — Act Quickly
Babies that don't feed well will also dehydrate very quickly. Make sure baby gets plenty of fluids and if you are at all worried, get baby to the doctor as quickly as possible.
Recipe for Rehydration Fluid
1 litre of boiled water — add 8 level teaspoons of sugar and ½ teaspoon of salt. Shake well and let baby drink as much as possible every 2 hours and after every dirty nappy.
General — Thumb Position
If baby keeps his/her thumb tucked inside the fingers, at every opportunity place baby's thumb out flat and hold it in the open hand position on a flat surface. This gentle correction, done consistently, helps with hand development over time.
Behaviour & Structure
Try Differently — Rather Than Expect the Child to Conform
Children with FASD thrive on structure, consistency and patience. The goal is to adapt the environment to support the child — not to force the child to fit into environments that don't work for them.
- Daily routine — unchanging, repeat and repeat.
- Firm rules, consistently enforced with consequences.
- Positive attitude — reward with praise.
- Avoid dangerous and frightening places.
- Create a calm, well-lit environment.
- Redirect behaviour rather than confront it.
- Praise good behaviour and notice it actively.
- Encourage and celebrate small wins.
- Use short, simple sentences with one request at a time.
- Encourage independence.
- Give choices whenever possible.
- Help with home tasks to promote self-worth.
- Assume a child may do something dangerous — use pictures (e.g. sun on hot tap, snowman on cold).
- Try different approaches — children react differently to colours, lights or sounds.
- Shop when stores are less busy — avoid crowds and loud music.
- Use chairs and tables that are the right size for the child.
- Have a calm area for the child to decompress after stress.
- Lay out clothes for the next day before bedtime.
- Use simple rules and the same language repeatedly.
- Develop Hello and Goodbye rituals.
Routines to Establish
Building Daily Routines
- Give child advance warning before transitions — bedtime, end of play, going home — both visually and verbally.
- Insist child finishes one thing before starting the next.
- Define a play area with a mat or rug.
- Maintain a firm routine for all meals.
- Set short, manageable tasks.
- Set and enforce limits with consistent discipline.
- Talk about cause and effect in simple terms.
- Encourage exercise before quiet time.
Discipline & Communication
- Use 'time out' on a calm chair placed within sight — short, simple, immediate and calm.
- Children with FASD are often tactile-defensive — create more opportunities for appropriate sensory stimulation.
- Begin each sentence with your child's name.
- Stress what is yours and what is mine — boundaries are important.
- The child may appear to understand more than he/she actually does.
- Don't debate or argue over rules — just do it calmly and consistently.
- Avoid asking "Why" — substitute with "How", "What" or "Where".
- Maintain eye contact through directed speech, as body language is difficult to read.
About the Author
Vivien Lourens
I am a foster mother of a little girl who has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). When I got her, she was 10 weeks old and I was told that her future did not look very good. However, with a great deal of love and help she has amazed everyone. I have also been foster mother to other FAS babies and have written this leaflet in the hope it will help other mothers to overcome some of the problems I have come across.
This information is the property of Mrs V.A. Lourens and may not be reproduced without her express permission. Contact: 082 509 9530
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