8 months old: too early for autism worries?

[Anonymous]

My daughter is 8 months old, and showing some developmental delays, especially gross motor (not yet sitting up, not bearing weight on arms/legs, although she does roll over). She's still floppy (we're getting her signed up for early intervention--just waiting for a call back).

She is pretty serious and doesn't smile or giggle that often (especially to herself). My husband and I can get her to smile (she smiles when she sees us and we greet her picking her up from daycare, she smiles when we jump around a bit singing to her, etc.), but it takes EFFORT. She makes eye contact and looks in our direction if we call to her usually. She is very quiet, too, and she doesn't mimic expressions or sounds (although looks at us as if she's studying us intently).

She just got a flu shot and a hep b vaccine and didn't cry at all.

I don't know. Her ped says just wait and see but I'm getting so nervous that something isn't right. According to Dr. Google, she's definitely showing signs of autism (aside from the fact that she makes good eye contact and likes to be held). Does anyone else have similar experiences? I don't even know what I'm looking for here, but I feel very alone and worried.

[Anonymous]

Trust your gut, OP. The best thing you can do right now is get that EI eval, which you're doing--and then follow through. Plenty of pediatricians will blow off various signs and symptoms, but you know your kid. My best friend's son has autism, and was blown off by their ped for months, but she knew something was up.

[Anonymous]

Great on the early intervention - you should work on the gross motor skills and make sure that the therapist gives you homework to do at home

The rest is just going to make you crazy. Keep talking, singing, reading and engaging with your daughter. i'd get the Hanen 'it takes two' book [written to help parents facilitate speech -- but the ideas will help you learn how to play with / engage your daughter.

Doing this stuff will be helpful regardless of whether she has any other issues.

[Anonymous]

Op- she is only 8 months- it’s so hard to determine if there is an issue or if she is just on her own developmental timeline. My dd was very late on gross motor milestones- it meant nothing. Stay off google- it will make you crazy.

[Anonymous]

Did you post earlier this week about a floppy baby? Firstly, I send you hugs. I also think you should talk to a different pediatrician to get a second opinion. That will either put your mind at ease or maybe they will see things differently and catch something the other pediatrician missed.

[Anonymous]

Go ahead and do early intervention so she can try therapy for the gross motor delays but from your post I see no reason to think she has autism. Some babies just have delays.

[Anonymous]

Hey OP, my son has pretty severe autism, is non-verbal, very difficult and exhausting. But he is loved, is generally a happy person, and we have a good life. Most likely your baby is fine - but if she is not, it’s okay over here too. I read something once about the futility of worrying - if the ‘bad’ thing happens, you have now spent even more time than needed experiencing it through all the additional worries. It’s hard to have that perspective, but something I try to keep in mind. Hugs to you.

[Anonymous]

What you describe is suggestive more of CP or hypotonia than autism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you post earlier this week about a floppy baby? Firstly, I send you hugs. I also think you should talk to a different pediatrician to get a second opinion. That will either put your mind at ease or maybe they will see things differently and catch something the other pediatrician missed.

Nope, not me! (This is OP from that thread). But hey OP of this one, I feel like we could exchange contact info to feel better about our daughters' gross motor skills! Are you in DC?

[Anonymous]

OP, my second DS was gross motor delayed. Sat up late, did not walk until 20 months. No one knows the reasons. He is a completely typical toddler now.

FWIW, your daughter might just be a serious baby.

Keep on with early intervention. It will not hurt.

[Anonymous]

OP, a diagnosis isn't likely this early, but you can do all the same things to help her. EI is a great start and they can work on her gross motor skills. And then just keep doing what you're doing talking to her and engaging her. And try not to worry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, my second DS was gross motor delayed. Sat up late, did not walk until 20 months. No one knows the reasons. He is a completely typical toddler now.

FWIW, your daughter might just be a serious baby.

Keep on with early intervention. It will not hurt.

This was like my dd- she didn’t walk until 20 months either. There seems to be no reason for the delay.