Are there EARLY autism signs? Are these behaviors normal?

BabyCakes3

DS does 2 things that worry me.

1) He will repeatedly hit with his left hand. It's almost constantly moving. If he's sitting still, his hand will hit the floor or his leg. If he's taking a bottle he will hit the bottle. If you put your hand in the area, he will hit your hand. DD did not do this.  Wonder if he's just a busy boy or if he's trying to stay awake? Will have to see if it's more before nap/bedtime.

2) When he gets frustrated (this is hard to describe) he will stick his head/neck forward/up a little & "eeehhhh" with an almost "straining" look on his face. DD did not do this either.

He was crawling at 5 months. Pulling up right after that. Just now starting to eat solids, even though we introduced at 5m. He will crawl in your lap when he's getting hungry or tired. (I'm impressed with this "communication" b/c DD never did this!) He "plays" with DD. He makes eye contact. HATES the car seat. Wants to climb everything!  I know none of these are signs but other than the above 2 things, he seems normal.

sillypit

DD totally does the flailing arm "hitting" thing with her left arm.

giantsgirl55

I think it might be too soon to tell, but I'm not sure, if you are that worried, contact your pediatrician. Kids swat and want to touch everything.

A good sign is that he IS making eye contact.

emilydholmes1

It's too early to make a definitive diagnosis. Just watch closely and share your concerns with your pedi. I'm sure it's fine.

sodelish

sillypit:

DD totally does the flailing arm "hitting" thing with her left arm.

Yep. Mine, too.

BLUEIEDHIPPY

H did the whole hitting with his hand thing too, when I asked his Dr about it he said it was just his way of feeling things out...& also I think its just a way to keep his little mind busy so he won't fall asleep I think your lo is just fine but if you have an concerns I would just talk to your Dr & see what they think. Hope all is well!!!

write2nicole

DS does the hitting thing. I haven't noticed it being limited to one hand (thought it's one at a time, at least). He also does it when holding objects in one hand. I asked my mom, and she said it's just a normal phase of figuring out what his hand and arm do and how to control them.

DS also grunts and strains when he's frustrated, but I really only notice it while he's trying to crawl (not quite there yet).

I don't think these are things to worry about at this time. At most, I would write them down as questions to ask at your next regularly scheduled pedi appointment (assuming they're still happening). Really, there are a lot of behaviors that might be considered symptoms of autism in a couple years (or more), but right now they are normal stages of development. That's part of why they don't usually diagnose until age 2.

detokiet

DS has just started hitting the tray on his high chair when we put him in there. He has also just started scratching his head when he's drinking his bottle and getting ready to go to sleep. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

TheBuddha

Z does the arm thing too.  When he is really worked up he gets almost a helicopter going.  It makes me laugh out loud.

He also strains with his neck stuck out.  I thought it was just constipation.

monkeybelly

My DS will repetedly hit his crotch. My friends baby a few days older than mine would smack everything over and over. I thought it was weird until DS started doing it too. I think hitting things is just what some babies do.

chach916

I've never heard of this being a sign.  I'd be more concerned about if there was no smiling and no eye contact at this age.  But like the others said, its to young to make a diagnosis. 

JJ1973

Early autism signs are primarily social-communication kinds of things. Is he socially related? If he makes eye contact, socially smiling, responds to his name, enjoys to-and-fro kinds of games (peek-a-boo), is achieving language milestones (at this age, those are things like imitation and babbling). Also, there is a huge range of normal at this stage, so don't freak out if one of those doesn't hold true - it might a week from now.  Infants and toddlers do a variety of repetitive things that are very developmentally appropriate, so try not to read into those things.

BabyCakes3

JJ1973:

Early autism signs are primarily social-communication kinds of things. Is he socially related? If he makes eye contact, socially smiling, responds to his name, enjoys to-and-fro kinds of games (peek-a-boo), is achieving language milestones (at this age, those are things like imitation and babbling). Also, there is a huge range of normal at this stage, so don't freak out if one of those doesn't hold true - it might a week from now.  Infants and toddlers do a variety of repetitive things that are very developmentally appropriate, so try not to read into those things.

Thanks everyone! We've had so much going on with him lately (tubes, then eyelid surgery) that I think I'm just a nervous nelly now. He loves peek-a-boo. Babbles like a maniac! Lots of times he will even repeat my babble. LOVES interacting with DD. 

MJHershey

DS loves to smack everything... it's how he plays and feels things/tests it out. I think it's hard to really tell this early...

Lindsay2907

DS hits everything right now. His leg, the bathtub wall, his highchair, his toys, the dog.... tonight his belly.... Its just his current method of "checking out" his surroundings.  Sounds pretty normal to me!

New_MrsP

I'm really nervous of Autism too. Here's a link that made me feel better about J's development.

https://www.helpguide.org/mental/autism_signs_symptoms.htm