ASD parents: what do you remember about your baby crying?

[Anonymous]

He was a dream. Never cried, never fussed. Had to wake him to feed him bc underweight. Crazy easy toddler too. Could easily entertain himself. Those were red flags though, too content, didn’t seek our attention.

[Anonymous]

Constantly crying the first few months. Wouldn't sleep alone but often less likely to cry when awake when we weren't holding her. Didn't sleep on her own until 7 months and didn't sleep through the night until 20 months.

[Anonymous]

Identical twins with autism who have been very different from birth. One had a very high pitched cry, and starting at about 6 months old was very, very fussy and had a lot of separation anxiety from me. His brother was pretty average in terms of crying, if anything more toward the cuddly and more easygoing side.

[Anonymous]

My ASD/ADHD kid did not cry or fuss much. He slept through night before 2 months old. He was so easy to take care and always happy.

[Anonymous]

My dd w/asd was generally content, but when she cried-it was 'zero to sixty'. Like, Bam! she'd be crying. I had thought that was different, my other kids didn't do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: My dd w/asd was generally content, but when she cried-it was 'zero to sixty'. Like, Bam! she'd be crying. I had thought that was different, my other kids didn't do that.

+1 she was a dream unless something was uncomfortable and then it was like a switch flipped.

[Anonymous]

Our kid was born right before COVID. Was very chill and content, not much of a fussed. Regular sleeper, napped regularly. Hit all the usual milestones.

I remember being like “Why is it called the Terrible Two’s? This kid is pretty great.”

Then when he turned 3, it’s like a switch flipped. Started to become extremely particular about food. Stopped napping. Meltdowns became huge. Became extremely sensitive to textures. Refused to wear new clothes or shoes, even when he outgrew them.

It’s like his 3rd birthday was when every thing just rushed to the surface all at once. By end of first semester of PK3, the teachers were pushing an IEP and stating he needed all therapies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: My dd w/asd was generally content, but when she cried-it was 'zero to sixty'. Like, Bam! she'd be crying. I had thought that was different, my other kids didn't do that.

+1 she was a dream unless something was uncomfortable and then it was like a switch flipped.

+1

[Anonymous]

Borderline colicky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very easy baby. Nothing out of the ordinary crying-wise.

+1

[Anonymous]

Crying was a lot less instructive than observing my child’s level of physical activity when overtired. This kicked in around age 3-4. Yowza. Other people had these sleepy, dozy dolls. I had whirling dervish. Still like this at age 10. AuDHD.

Other differences that could have given us clues early on : absolute terror of public toilets and other mechanical noises (leaf blowers, vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, etc).

No proprioception (ability to know when needing to go to the bathroom, observe hunger signals, etc)

The lack of proprioception coupled with extreme fear of public toilets made leaving the house between the ages of 3-6 very dicey.

Extreme trouble with transitions. Rigidity when routine was or expectations changed.

Perfectionism that started really early.

[Anonymous]

Cried a ton.

[Anonymous]

Barely cried at all, was easy to feed, ate very well, slept well, didn't fuss much about anything. Was super easy, met milestones with slight delay up to 18 mo. Then some oddities started to come up. But was still very sweet and easy all through age 3.5, no terrible 2's at all. In the retrospect, lack of crying as a baby was lack of connection I think. If you have any doubts - do not wait, get an evaluation, you can self-refer and call Infants and Toddlers for a free eval.

It takes time to get the diagnosis and time to set up any supports (can be weeks or months). Do not wait. Better to be too paranoid and it's nothing, than just wait out and lose precious time for early interventions.

[Anonymous]

My ASD baby cried probably less than most kids. My non-ASD baby, however, cried so much he could have powered a city like in Monsters’ Inc.

[Anonymous]

Very memorable. When she’d wake up from her nap she was inconsolable. Nothing worked except playing her favorite music (some YouTube channel starting with cartoon twinkle twinkle). I gave up trying to comfort her and would put the music on and put her in the stroller and eventually she’d calm down.

Diagnosed with adhd in kindergarten. ASD in 2nd grade.