As a parent, caring for a disabled infant or toddler is a difficult responsibility that can at times feel overwhelming. It is of primary importance that you accommodate the disability of your disabled infant in his home environment, making any adjustments necessary. While it can be emotionally difficult as a parent, you should focus on providing quality child care and using early intervention to maximize the ability of your child to develop to the best of his potential.
Step 1
Find a professional child care service that has experience dealing with your child's disability. Professional care givers can not only share your burden, but will have expertise and knowledge to share regarding how best to adapt your lifestyle and environment to suit your disabled child. According to the Center for Law and Social Policy, quality intervention services for children aged up to 5 years old help to identify and address cognitive, physical and emotional disabilities at a young age.
Step 2
Establish a daily routine for providing child care to a disabled infant. An established routine will not only benefit your child and encourage a feeling of security, it will make it easier for you as a parent to care for your disabled child, while taking care of other responsibilities in your life. The California State Board of Pharmacy explains that some disabilities, such as autism or Down syndrome, are helped by routine and order.
Step 3
Learn about your child's disability. Learning can help you prepare adaptive equipment that could help around the home, or let you know what behavior is typical and how best to respond. The University of North Carolina cites lack of knowledge as one of the biggest barriers to parenting a disabled child.
Step 4
Guide your child toward leading a healthy lifestyle. The HelpGuide.org website explains that this is even more important when caring for a disabled child. Teach him how to consume a healthy diet full of fruit, vegetables and grains. Encourage him to regularly perform fun physical activity, and to get enough sleep at night. Keep his sleep schedule consistent.
Step 5
Define how your child's disability will impact her learning. Their school environment could be altered to accommodate, but part of her mental development is to put her in an appropriate learning environment for her condition. The University of Michigan recommends you consult your doctor for help in finding a learning center a disabled child. The sooner you get started, the better for the development of your child.
References
- California State Board Pharmacy: Care of Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities
- University of North Carolina: Child Care, Disability and Family Structure
- University of Michigan: Learning Disabilities
- Center for Law and Social Policy: Addressing Child Care Challenges for Children with Disabilities
- HelpGuide.org: Parenting Children with Learning Disabilities
