0 - 5 years
If you have just received a diagnosis of PWS for your child, you may be experiencing one or more of many different emotions: grief, depression, anger, bewilderment, guilt, disbelief, denial, rejection, relief, or challenge. All of these are completely natural feelings which most parents and family members experience.
It is important to remember that your child is an individual in their own right - no two children with PWS are exactly the same, and they will have their own strengths and weaknesses, as do other children. The degree to which different PWS features manifest in your child may vary from mild to severe.
The future may seem bleak at this moment - especially if your child is only a few weeks or months old. You may find other parents' experiences helpful in coming to terms with the diagnosis. Our Babies and Children is a collection of short articles written by other parents about how they felt when their child was diagnosed and what has happened since. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Many of them have experienced a great deal of joy and happiness from their children with PWS. Indeed, it is common for babies and toddlers with PWS to attract admiring comments and smiles from complete strangers - they seem to make friends wherever they go.
You can find out more about the above topics and other aspects of the syndrome in our special handbook, Babies and Children with PWS - A Handbook for Parents and Carers. The first copy is free to parents. As it is a 48 page, full colour, publication, it is not available online. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Route map - 0 - 5 years
Please click here for a route map which will give you information about services in health, education, benefits and care which you may like to access.
Other articles you may find helpful
Helping the infant with early feeding difficulties: advice on helping infants to feed, with tips on techniques and equipment. Also has a section on weaning.
Speech and language in PWS: describes the different types of speech and language problems which may occur in PWS and how to access speech therapy.
Vision and care of the eyes in PWS: includes information on strabismus (squint), a common and correctable condition in babies and young children.
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