kinesio tape for a baby with Down syndrome

After seeing this post from Cowgirl Up!, and a hit on the traffic source for "kinesio tape on stomach baby", I realized that I never did elaborate any on kinesio taping after Kamdyn had it done.  She had it done right after this post , when she was 7 months old. 

I wish I had taken a picture of hers, but I never did.  Kamdyn's OT put it on her stomach and back.  Her stomach looked like the baby on the left:


picture from Milestone Mom

More information on the purpose and advantages of kinesio taping can be found at Pedia Staff and Milestone Mom


I can't find a picture of what it looked like on her back, but it was a small round circle shaped piece with anchors on each side to give her the extra back support as well.

It certainly wasn't an instant fix, as you can see from her chill, floppy, lounging position in this picture:



But I definitely noticed a difference, especially after the first couple of times.  The taping gave her muscles a little wake-up call, if you will.  Her PT, who is actually not much of a believer in it, even commented that she noticed a difference.  I think the improvement was a combination of her body being at a point where it was ready, as well as a little extra help from the tape. 

Kamdyn was taped on a Monday, and it would stay on until Thursday or Friday, when it started to fall off on its own.  She had the weekend tape-free, and she was taped again on Monday. 

Over the next two months, she made improvements, and she was sitting independently about 3 months later.

My only warning is not to pull off the tape if it is not loose and starting to come off on it's own.  If it's been on for a week, and you are ready to take it off, put your baby in the bath and let the tape soak and become loose.  If you try to take it off, when it's not ready, it can leave a pretty nasty rash.

colds and kinesio taping

We were supposed to take Kamdyn to the eye doctor tomorrow morning, and then go to lunch with a good friend.  But Kamdyn has a pretty nasty cold and a fever, so I think we are going to cancel our plans and just take her to the pediatrician.  I'm pretty sure she has an ear infection.  I have a feeling that tubes will be in her future.  We've been through it before with Austin, so I know it's no big deal.

Tomorrow morning is our occupational therapy day too.  I actually really enjoy therapy.  I love all three ladies who come to our house.  I don't know if they know that they aren't just therapists for the babies, but it's therapy for the moms too.  They give me someone to bounce ideas off, get advice, encouragement, just someone to talk to.

Kamdyn is scheduled to have kinesio taping done in the morning.  I'll have to let you know more about it after tomorrow (if she's feeling up to therapy).  But from what I understand, it's a special tape, that is soft and very flexible.  It will be applied on her stomach and back in an effort to stimulate her abdominal muscles and encourage her to sit up.  It will stay on for a few days before it falls off.  I know she's not going to sit up immediately, but I have been told that it just gives a little extra push.  We'll see.

Here is the best therapist Kamdyn could ever have: