It has been my experience that many (certainly not all) children with Down's
Syndrome have feeding difficulties. These may or may not be related to an
associated cardiac problem. I've always seen a strong association between the
child's larger than average size tongue, and the generalized "low-tone" that
many of them present with. These problems can (and do) follow these babies
into childhood, and many continue to have difficulty chewing and swallowing
what would otherwise be chosen as "age appropiate foods". Many low-tone
babies can benefit from deep jaw &/or bucchal support during feeds- Whatever
the feeding method chosen to help support breastfeeding, it can be very
aduous and frustrating. My heart goes out to these families.
Joan RN,IBCLC