Physiotherapy and swimming for Down syndrome diagnosis deserve special attention, because the benefits are immense. From my experience, most children with Down syndrome are hypermobile, meaning their joints are very flexible. Their muscles are often softer and slightly weaker than average, which can make certain developmental milestones harder to reach—and usually means they reach them later.
My son is two years old now. He started physiotherapy and swimming at four months old. At ten months, he began belly crawling. At one year and four months, he started crawling on all fours. Around eighteen months, he began pulling himself up with support.
Now, at two years old, he spends a lot of time standing with support and moving everywhere by holding onto chairs, sofas, beds, cupboards—anything within reach. He stands while holding hands and takes steps that way too, sometimes even letting go for a moment. If he needs to get somewhere quickly, he crawls fast and confidently.
A Long Break from Swimming—and the Joy of Returning
At one year and three months, my son had ear surgery to remove fluid and insert a small tube (a grommet). Because of that, he couldn’t swim for a long time. We waited ten months, which was honestly very hard. Swimming had helped him so much.
Now the tube has come out, and we were finally able to return to the pool. We go swimming and to physiotherapy twice a month. The value of swimming is hard to overstate. It’s a workout that strengthens and relaxes the body at the same time—and it engages the whole body at once.
Before the surgery, he swam with babies. This time, he joined a group of older children, around three to four years old. It was amazing to watch. He copied the big boys’ fast movements, splashed water everywhere, grabbed all the floating animals, and eagerly did the exercises. Keeping up with him was no easy task!
The coach praised him a lot. She hadn’t seen him in a long time, but she remembered him well. My son has such a joyful, sunny personality that he quickly becomes everyone’s favorite.
Sometimes I think I should have taken my daughter to swimming lessons from a very young age too. Swimming builds courage, strength, flexibility, and confidence. We’ll keep going for as long as we possibly can.
Physiotherapy: A Space Where Everything Is Allowed
Physiotherapy is the second cornerstone. The gym is large and full of equipment to explore—climbing stairs and ramps, trampolines, obstacle courses, small ride-on cars, hopping balls, climbing ladders, sensory tools, soft mats, and small chairs for crawling and practicing steps.
Every session teaches me something new too.
Especially now in winter, my son is completely tired of spending hours in a small room at home. My partner has already had to install shelves near the ceiling to store things safely—TV, books, photo albums, his sister’s art supplies, hair accessories. Everything had to be cleared from windowsills, tables, and cupboards because my son pulls everything down and throws it around.
Thankfully, my partner has golden hands.
The physiotherapist said something that really stayed with me: the issue is often that children simply don’t have enough space to move or enough things they are allowed to do. That is so true. At home, there are many “no” areas—wires, computers, sockets. We’ve made everything as safe as possible, but still.
At the gym, he’s allowed to do everything. Explore everything. At home, the toys don’t interest the children anymore anyway. After talking with the physiotherapist, I even got the idea to put most toys away completely.
Now I’m planning to ask my partner if he would build a climbing ladder on the wall—it wouldn’t take extra space. I’m also looking into where to get rubber stairs, wedges, and other physiotherapy tools for home use.
Spring will soon arrive, bringing months of mud. Since my son doesn’t walk independently yet, outdoor play is limited. In winter, he mostly sits in the stroller. Snowbanks are impossible for him, and in spring I won’t put him into cold mud either.
So we need to be creative and turn our small indoor spaces into places where children are allowed to move freely and wildly.
Active Children Are a Good Sign
It’s exhausting—but it’s also a good sign. It shows curiosity, strength, health, and interest in the world.
With my daughter, things are easier. She’s taller, walks and runs independently, and finds things to do outside on her own. My son’s first independent steps aren’t far away now, and soon we’ll need to get him orthopedic shoes to give his ankles more stability. Right now, his ankles move side to side a lot. The physiotherapist said it feels like trying to stand on a half-inflated ball—and that makes stepping very difficult.
Thankfully, he no longer curls his toes inward, which he did for a long time.
What he never lacks is motivation, strength, or courage.
Movement as a Family Experience
Once, my daughter came along to physiotherapy with her brother. It was pure joy for both of them. For me, it was exhausting—getting both kids in and out of the car, navigating hospital corridors, meals, and logistics—but it was worth it.
Usually, I go with my son alone so he gets my full attention. My daughter has dance and movement classes at kindergarten. At home, when she practices her dance moves, my son copies her—and it’s wonderful to watch both of them get out of breath together.
I sometimes wonder whether our third child will be just as active. Is it the breast milk? Who knows.
One thing is certain: there is every reason to be proud of these children.
You are not alone in this.
If you would like to go deeper, you can buy the e-book Our Journey – A Different Path for honest reflections and lived experience beyond this post:
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You can also purchase supportive routine templates designed to help parents and children navigate daily life with more clarity, structure, and understanding:
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