Fasten Your Seatbelt: A Crash Course on Down Syndrome for Brothers and Sisters

my daughter was 17 when she became a big sister to her baby brother with DS. babies aren't really her thing, so the first year was me just sharing occasional tidbits with her. the older her brother got and the more obvious his delays were then i started looking for material for her. she was also a huge help taking him to all his drs appointments. so i thought it was very fitting that she find out exactly why all that was necessary and how common the issues were for DS babies. there are books for little kids that help describe what DS is, but this one was perfect for an older sibling who doesn't want to read 'parenting', almost borderline medical books about DS. she said it was a good mix of medical explanations/definitions and day to day expectations, as well as the future too. it was not condescending or scary but reading it helped her get a better broader picture about DS. after some drs appointments she would tell me things she read about pertaining to what the dr was addressing. a few times when we saw older DS children she would also refer to the book about what their apparent delays or behavior. the best thing i got out of it was many occasions to have lengthy discussions that she initiated! i think the book helped her feel included and not just a big sister that has all this attention towards her new baby brother, especially since she was an only child for 17 years! i love that someone had enough sense to write something that is age appropriate for the often overlooked older siblings. i wish i would have read it myself to get a more accurate gage, but hearing her feedback is what really matters. i donated it to the resource library for the early intervention program. this would be a great gift to an older sibling who is not only adjusting to a new sibling, but one with special needs.

Lots of good information. Not written for younger children to read by themselves, or in such a way that you would read it verbatim to a child under 5. Very useful, though, as you develop your approach to explaining things to the sibling.

My 9 year old grandson is on the Autism Spectrum. I bought this book for his 15 year old brother to give him a better understanding of why and how his mom an dad parent their special needs child. This book is geared for Down syndrome children, but worked perfectly for us

This book is a wonderful resource for anyone who has a sibling (or child) with Down Syndrome, but it is particularly geared to teenagers. Frank and candid discussions/answers. Not at all "clinical." A great find when very little seems to be available on these issues.

Even though my child with down syndrome is 10 yrs. old and has 2 older brothers, I learned so much from this book...even after 10 years. I think that all families of children with down syndrome should have this book in their homes as it is a wonderful resource. It's the kind of book you don't have to read cover-to-cover..you just reference what you need. Everything is explained in simple, understandable terms. My 13 and 15 yr. old sons could have used it over the last 10 years although they will still benefit from it even now. I also felt that the book would be great for teachers of students with down syndrome to read...especially if your child is in any inclusion settings. And...the book is humorous! You can't beat that!

Reading this book is just as beneficial to parents as it is for siblings. It is very helpful and insightful for siblings but just as much for parents. It gives a window into the diversity of thoughts and feelings that siblings have but might be afraid to discuss with parents. It is a good springboard for parents to have discussions with all their children about thoughts, fears and feelings at all different developmental levels. It's wonderful for siblings to have their very own book, written just for them!

This book is a must have for any parent who has a child with down syndrome. It has been great guide to help when our daughter has questions about her brother and even for us as parents.

I purchased this book for my godson who's brother has downs. At the age of 10 he was getting confused with the situation and already the book has helped him enormously.