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 Hi Everyone,

Here's a blog post from my heart on Down Syndrome Awareness day. I dont often talk about my family, or indeed Rose, who was the inspiration behind the Shnuggle Basket...

Down Syndrome is a funny one, so many of us don't know much about it. We have all seen or met people who have Down Syndrome, but rarely are we equipped emotionally to deal with it.  So we ignore it.

Worse, we ignore the people that have it.

It's not malicious, or evil, or mean. It's just not understanding. It's not our fault - who tells us about it, educates us about the implications of having it, and how it affects the lives of the people who have it.

I was the same. I was ignorant. I didn't know about it. It didn't affect me, so I just politely ignored people or smiled nervously as they went about their business.

Unitl the 5th May 2009. 

The day that our beautiful Daughter Rose came into the world. All bright red and rosy cheeked. But quiet and a a bit limp. But happy and hungry. And strong.

Something's not right, Sinead said, looking lovingly at our new daughter.  The midwives looking uncertainly at us and our new baby.  No I said - she's just a bit squished - She's fine.

But I was wrong. Sinead was right (as she usually is) something was not right.  It turns out it was an extra chomosome.

As we digested the idea that we, a fit and healthy young couple in our twenties, had given birth to a child with a disability, we cried. A lot. What did we know about Down Syndrome? Nothing.

After several visits from Paediatricians it was confirmed that they did think Rose had Down Syndrome.  And they wanted to do a test.  They wanted to stick a big needle into our baby and draw blood. It seemed so wrong, but it had to be done.

It was a bank holiday weekend, so we waited in the hospital for 3 days before we got the results. Then it was confirmed, Rose had DS.

She had some various other complications too, but thats another story, but after a week in PICU at the Fantastic Royal Hospital in Belfast, and while we were in the Childrens Cancer ward undergoing mild dose Chemotherapy we had another call from the genetics lab.

"Good news" they said. "Rose has a rare variation on DS. It's called Mosaic Down Syndrome."

Which meant that some of Rose's cells had an extra chromosome and some of them didn't and were 'normal'  In a nutshell, this means that her condition is generally less severe that full DS, but that the extent of the affected cells is impossible to know.

We are now almost 6 years on from that fateful day, and boy has it been eventful!

We have been lucky in that Rose's health has been very good. No long term complications. She wears quite strong glasses, and her hearing is not 100% but she is so happy, and friendly and mischievous. In fact she is a normal little girl. She just has a few extra chromosomes hidden throughout her body.

We took a vow that the only restrictioctions we would put on Rose, were the ones that would be a risk to her health or her safety. We have raised her as any child would be raised. She gets told off when she is naughty, and praised when she is good.

She strops when she is not happy, and sings (a lot) when she is.  She goes to a mainstream school and she is around the middle of her class in ability. She has the neatest writing in her class. She reads at Key Stage 4 (almost Stage 5) and she is only just turning 6.

Sometimes she doesn't hear, and sometimes she doesn't listen. She is harder work that a 'normal' child. But so what!

She is the most popular girl in her class, and possibly the school.

There are days we ask "why us", but we love our Rose (and her Brother Liam) more than anything in the world!

So, if you can take one thing from our story, it's that people that have down syndrom are still people.  They have a condition which means they are a bit different. But they still love, and care, and have feelings, and are naughty, and nice. And have dreams and ambitions.

So next time you see someone who has down syndrome dont treat them specially, but dont treat them differently. Treat them like you would any other person. Say Hi, Smile and maybe make a new friend!

Thanks for reading

Adam (& Sinead & Rose 7 Liam)

This is a great question and one we hear all the time.  New parents are looking for their first Moses basket and head over to internet forums such as Mumsnet or Askamum to ask experienced parents for their advice.

Often it starts like, “I really love the idea of a Moses Basket, but my sister had one and it only lasted 2 months” So, we wanted to add a little clarity to the situation to help new parents to make an informed decision about whether or not to use a Moses basket, and which type to choose.

There are now 3 types of Moses basket available on the market.

Traditional Maize basket.
This is made by weaving maize leaves together to form a basket.  These tend to be quite small and generally are quite flimsy and weak.  These are the cheapest baskets available and can usually only be used for one baby up to around 2-3 months old.  These baskets typically come from  China, and have to be treated with Pesticides when they are imported. These are never “Organic Baskets” as they have been treated chemically.

Wicker Moses basket.
This uses the branches from willow trees woven to form a larger and more sturdy basket.  They can be quite noisy & creaky and often the willow dries out it can start to crack and break. Broken willow branches can be quite sharp and dangerous, so these baskets should be inspected regularly. These are usually very stiff and not very giving for baby.

Shnuggle Basket. 
This is the newest kind of Moses baskets available and is about 10% larger than traditional baskets. It has been designed to suit babies right up to 6 months old.  The Shnuggle basket is made from a hypoallergenic and super strong material called HDPE. This material is 100% recyclable,  hygienic and free from BPA and Phthalates. As it is not woven, there are no nooks and crannies for dirt or bacteria to hide, meaning it can be completely cleaned with soapy water or even Milton.

Which should I choose?
This is a great question and it’s a different answer for everyone.  If you the cheapest basket, you will probably want a maize basket.  These are available as cheaply as £30.  But beware, the covers are probably polyester, there is probably no padding and the basket will have been treated with pesticides. Expect baby to outgrow in 2-3 months.

If you plan to keep baby in your room for up to 6 months, as per the guidance from healthcare professionals, then you will be considering a Wicker or Modern Moses basket.  Price wise they are about the same, with the Shnuggle basket being slightly larger.  Both are stronger than traditional baskets, but the wicker basket will start to crack and break whereas the Modern basket will last time and time again.  

Dressings that come with Moses baskets vary, with the cheaper ones using polyester which is a manmade fibre, which can is not very breathable and can contribute to overheating. Higher quality baskets will use 100% cotton or Bamboo materials, which are completely natural and breathable. Shnuggle baskets only use 100% cotton for the covers.

Lastly, consider the noise issue! The Modern Moses basket is made in one piece, so there are no creaky noises as baby moves about. In wicker baskets, this noise can be quite disturbing to both parents and baby.

We hope this helps you decise which kind of Moses basket is best for you, be it be a traditional Moses Basket, Wicker Moses Basket or a Modern Moses Basket.

Sinead & Adam
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