Is my baby advanced? Worried about ASD

[adviceeplease]

My DC is just 8 months, in the last week he has learnt to crawl, clap, wave, he can 'stand' on all 4's, he points at the TV when his favourite nursery rhymes come on! Today realised if he hits the ball on the floor it will flash so does it on repeat... and I am sure he can say "Iya" when he holds his remote to his ear.

Now he may just be forward but I would not know as my DD was behind and still has problems now, Also ASD is on his DF side of the family! And learning difficulties on my side.

Any advice or input would be great! Thank you.

He actually sounds quite normal for eight months. There is certainly nothing to worry about, all babies are different.

Advanced in what sense? They all hit milestones in their own time.

I've known kids who were walking before 9 months, kids who could do a shape sorter by 9 months, kids who could talk in sentences by 1... each 'achievement' usually comes at the expense of something else - so they may walk early, but not talk for a while.

My eldest crawled at 6 months, but didn't walk unaided until 15 months. My youngest could pull himself up by 7 months, but had no interest in anything that involved staying still for a VERY long time....

Enjoy your baby

None of that is early, don't worry.

Ok thanks all! 🥰

That all sounds normal, don’t worry.

Sounds normal, after 3 dc that sounds boringly normal, which is great.

They tend to have some areas they're concentrating on and are a bit above the curve, and some they haven't found they're interested in yet so haven't tried so are behind. They often have developmental spurts so they seem to learn a lot suddenly and then slower. It's lovely to watch.

Just enjoy watching him develop and don't worry about whether he's behind or not. I love that age as they are developing so quickly and learning from us so fast.

That's not advanced in any way, shape or form.

Also, DS was excessively slow in all of his milestones, he has ASD so being advanced is absolutely not linked to having ASD...

As others have said, they all do things at different times. My niece was talking in sentences before she was 14 months old. But she didn’t walk till she was 20months. My DD walked before she was1, but didn’t say her first real word until she was 20 months. You’re baby seems quite normal and will advance at her own pace

I understand your questioning and the fact that you are very aware due to family circumstances, but don't see any concerns in what you have described. The pointing, especially if he is doing it to share with you is a positive sign.

There is a small percentage of individuals who will show physical or mental abilities way above their developmental age group. They will be advanced in a skill that really stands out for their age group or ability but there are other behaviours/traits that are present when someone has asd, rather than just someone who is gifted/advanced and is neuro-typical.

Extreme examples are those who exhibit savant skills, like those you often see portrayed on t.v and film. Other examples I have had experience of knowing , would be with those children who had an Aspergers diagnosis, when the term was used. A friend's son was able to read fluently well before school age, able to recite all the different types of trains, but no interest in social interaction with other children (just adults), conversation always back to his interests and described regularly as very quirky.

Enjoy him, even though I know it is hard not to worry.