Autism at 8 months?

[Anonymous]

OP, my “baby” is now 14, but your post reminds me of his first couple of years. I had terrible intrusive thoughts and I ruminated on them obsessively. It just makes me really sad for younger me that I didn’t tell anyone (I was ashamed of having terrible thoughts) and I didn’t get help. I’m glad you have asked for help and have started treatment. Keep at it until you find something that helps. I got better over time - I have to think hormones and biology had a lot to do with it. I do tend to catastrophize and ruminate when my son has troubles, but CBT practices keep me stable and mostly calm and happy. Good luck. And congratulations on your wonderful girl.

[Anonymous]

My very bright and precocious 3 year old didn't even crack a smile until she was around 18 months. She was the most serious baby ever.

Now she's a riot with a sense of humor well beyond her years.

[Anonymous]

I would ask about a hearing test just in case that is contributing to not responding when you call her name. But other than that she may just hit these milestones later. It’s fine. Pulling up to stand wt 8mo is kind of early so she may be more focused on being mobile than communication. Lots of kids are late on something because they are early on (and obsessed with practicing) something else and it all kind of evens out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does she make eye contact? If so all of this sounds 100% normal. To the extent that she was behind on something like crawling - which it doesn't even sound like she is - that isn't even indicative of autism.

My son has high functioning autism. There is literally nothing you can do at this age. If she did the autism wouldn’t affect her one bit. She’s just a baby. I would tell your concerns to the doctor and that’s it.

[Anonymous]

Call your country early intervention service if you are concerned. You have no obligation to pursue anything after the initial evaluation and you don’t need a referral from the ped. 8 months is very, very early though so don’t jump to conclusions.
We didn’t worry at that age. We only started having concerns about our child when she wasn’t meeting milestones by 12 months and she received the official diagnosis at 22 months, but in many cases it’s nothing to worry about.

[Anonymous]

btw when she's in a stroller if she is facing you she will pick up more language more quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding to the chorus of "these aren't reasonable expectations". You can chat with your pediatrician but nothing sounds unusual.

The wonder weeks app lists skills such as "plays peekaboo with a younger baby, mimics what people do, indicates that you think something is dirty, ask parent to build a tower of blocks by handing them blocks" etc. for her age. Hence my anxiety that she doesn't do ANY of these. And of course autism is what I worry about when she is mostly meeting physical milestones but social milestones appear delayed.

Maybe spend less time studying perfectly average baby behaviour? My kid (very social and engaged at nearly 2) did none of these things at 8 months. I think at that age she mostly knocked over towers of blocks and was still rolling as her primary form of locomotion. I would schedule with early intervention for your own peace of mind (it can’t hurt!) but know that there’s wide range of normal for milestones and the times those apps suggest things happen doesn’t track to every (or even necessarily most) babies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My very bright and precocious 3 year old didn't even crack a smile until she was around 18 months. She was the most serious baby ever.

Now she's a riot with a sense of humor well beyond her years.

Sorry to be that person, but having autism doesn't preclude a kid from being bright, precocious and having a sense of humor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding to the chorus of "these aren't reasonable expectations". You can chat with your pediatrician but nothing sounds unusual.

The wonder weeks app lists skills such as "plays peekaboo with a younger baby, mimics what people do, indicates that you think something is dirty, ask parent to build a tower of blocks by handing them blocks" etc. for her age. Hence my anxiety that she doesn't do ANY of these. And of course autism is what I worry about when she is mostly meeting physical milestones but social milestones appear delayed.

At EIGHT MONTHS?????? Nope, that's too early. Drop that app and get something different to use. Or don't use anything at all and surah with your pediatrician at the 9 mo checkup.

I am an early childhood educator.... breaths not an 8 month old baby who would play peekaboo with a YOUNGER baby!! Might play it with you when you initiate, but not worth a younger baby!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding to the chorus of "these aren't reasonable expectations". You can chat with your pediatrician but nothing sounds unusual.

The wonder weeks app lists skills such as "plays peekaboo with a younger baby, mimics what people do, indicates that you think something is dirty, ask parent to build a tower of blocks by handing them blocks" etc. for her age. Hence my anxiety that she doesn't do ANY of these. And of course autism is what I worry about when she is mostly meeting physical milestones but social milestones appear delayed.

At EIGHT MONTHS?????? Nope, that's too early. Drop that app and get something different to use. Or don't use anything at all and surah with your pediatrician at the 9 mo checkup.

I am an early childhood educator.... breaths not an 8 month old baby who would play peekaboo with a YOUNGER baby!! Might play it with you when you initiate, but not worth a younger baby!

Agreed almost no 8 month old is doing those things op. The wonder weeks has some thing where it says kids will develop trh skills they mention all at a different rate and sometimes in different leaps, what it is telling you is this type of skill is going to stem from this leap not that they should have that skill at that exact time. It’s confusing and the way the app is set up makes it feel like your kid is supposed to be doing xyz when that isn’t what they really mean.

I will add to the chorus that your 8 month old sounds so so normal. I would look into upping the dose of the Zoloft (I’m on it as well for postpartum anxiety) - there is a huge range I think 25-250mg or something is the range so it sometimes takes some time to get the dosing right. Sending good thoughts your way, it is hard! But your baby is doing great

[Anonymous]

This is a good age for baby sign language. Make sure you learn the signs for things she likes.

Make sure she isn't a container baby (i.e. going from crib to high chair to stroller to car seat to bouncer etc). That will kill motor milestones.

Picture books preferably with photos.

[Anonymous]

The wonder weeks is unscientific pseudoscientific woo BTW

[Anonymous]

Too early to tell, OP. My now 3 year old wasn’t even really babbling at her 9 month appointment and I am currently listening to her chatting away to her older sibling as they play.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a typical 8 month old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding to the chorus of "these aren't reasonable expectations". You can chat with your pediatrician but nothing sounds unusual.

The wonder weeks app lists skills such as "plays peekaboo with a younger baby, mimics what people do, indicates that you think something is dirty, ask parent to build a tower of blocks by handing them blocks" etc. for her age. Hence my anxiety that she doesn't do ANY of these. And of course autism is what I worry about when she is mostly meeting physical milestones but social milestones appear delayed.

At EIGHT MONTHS?????? Nope, that's too early. Drop that app and get something different to use. Or don't use anything at all and surah with your pediatrician at the 9 mo checkup.

I am an early childhood educator.... breaths not an 8 month old baby who would play peekaboo with a YOUNGER baby!! Might play it with you when you initiate, but not worth a younger baby!

Agreed almost no 8 month old is doing those things op. The wonder weeks has some thing where it says kids will develop trh skills they mention all at a different rate and sometimes in different leaps, what it is telling you is this type of skill is going to stem from this leap not that they should have that skill at that exact time. It’s confusing and the way the app is set up makes it feel like your kid is supposed to be doing xyz when that isn’t what they really mean.

I will add to the chorus that your 8 month old sounds so so normal. I would look into upping the dose of the Zoloft (I’m on it as well for postpartum anxiety) - there is a huge range I think 25-250mg or something is the range so it sometimes takes some time to get the dosing right. Sending good thoughts your way, it is hard! But your baby is doing great

Agreed. Delete this app from your phone, dont google any milestones. Your pediatrician will check her milestones at the 9 month appointment. Please don’t call early intervention over a completely normal baby because some app has set up ridiculous expectations.