My wife and I are very concerned about our baby's development and need some practical advice, reassurance or just some experience from other parents who have experienced a similar thing.
Our baby is almost 10 weeks old and despite suffering from colic in the evenings is otherwise fit and healthy. However we are very worried about his social development as he almost constantly stares at the light or the ceiling, he never gives a social smile in response to us smiling at him and he doesn't turn his head towards us when we speak to him. However he does very occasionally smile at other times, usually on his own, just not 'socially', but this is very rare.
A couple of weeks ago he traced a dark object left and right a few times and we were extremely happy, and while he has done it a few times since, it is quite rare behaviour. He does babble to himself at times making a range of cooing noises.
When we look directly at him (when he is calm) he will turn his head away most of the time and look away. My wife spends a lot of her time trying to interact with him but he will not look at her, he will keep his head to one side and will not respond to her.
Last week we took him to the doctors for his 8 week check prior to his initial jabs and although he passed physically, he was very agitated so she was unable to see a social smile or see him startle to a sudden noise. The doctor has asked to see him again this week and also asked us to take a photo to show her if we were able to capture a smile.
Clearly we are worried about him and desperately trying to find out information about possible autism. Can anyone give us any reassurance or comfort about this. Was your baby a late social developer? Is there any comfort to be found in the fact that he does sometimes track an object etc?
We would love to hear your experiences.
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Behaviour/development
Worried about our baby's development
Secretary125 · 09/06/2014 21:29
My dd2 didn't really smile.
Dd1 had done a really obvious smile, sudden eye contact and huge mouth open smile at exactly 5 weeks, and then repeated it the niext night at exactly the same time. And was regularly smiling after that.
Dd2 I was still wondering if she had really smiled at 4-5 months. She would occasionally do fleeting smiles, but not one I was sure was a real smile. I'd see her smile, think, that's it, look at her, and it would go, and I'd be left thinking "was it really a smile".
Dd2 was just a more serious baby, I think she was 2.6yo before I got a photo with her smiling in, whereas dd1 used to see a camera and smile from very young.
However from about 3yo she started smiling more, and from school age until now (she's 10yo) people always comment on how much she smiles, and she's very sociable too, more than dd1.
I think all babies love watching lights. With dd1 we left the Christmas decorations up for about 3 months as she liked watching them 
I would say that do get your GP on board. Explain you're worried. There probably is nothing wrong, but there is no harm getting in early, as it's easier to pull out than get started.
At 10 weeks they don't really engage in the way you're looking for. They like being hugged, they like milk, they hate being undressed (or things like that). They don't want to share their delight in finding their toy does something different. In fact they're really not that worried about toys, anything that moves, is bright, makes an noise etc. is interesting
They find different ways of worrying you! Dd1 discovered how to (briefly) hold her breath at 4 months. Cue me panicking down at the doctors and she demonstrated brilliantly. More experienced Dr gave me his look he reserves for such time and told me he was totally sure she was doing it deliberately and hence was not in danger of stopping breathing overnight.
Well, my DS1 is two and my DS2 is 15 weeks. I can't comment on the smiling as both my boys have been quite smiley but I understand it's a very variable thing as to when they start to smile regularly so don't think you need to worry too much. Actually, although DS2 has smiled to himself from only a few weeks old, it's only the last few weeks that they've been really 'social' smiles in response to either myself or DH smiling (or blowing raspberries, or making popping noises or any one of the other million daft things you find yourself doing to try and elicit a response 
).
What I would say is that both my boys loved light and shadow so would stare at lights, blinds, windows etc. If your DS tends to look away when you look directly at him, perhaps he's looking at the light & shadow that your outline creates? DS2 will happily gaze into the distance while pondering life and both will look away and seem a bit 'glazed' when tired. Don't remember either particularly turning towards you if you spoke to them when young.
To be honest, from what you've written, he sounds much like my DS2, but you're totally right to chat to your GP if you're worried and I hope they can put your minds at ease so you can enjoy your son. At DS2's 8 week check, apart from the quick physical and jabs, they just asked if he responded to noises and if he smiled and took my word for it, didn't really ask if it was a social smile specifically.
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