Would you say my 18 month old DS is autistic? Needs opinions please.

[honeybee95]

My DS has just turned 18 months old and I’ve never been concerned about his development, however my sister keeps making comments so I just wanted some outsider opinion.

He is very interactive and expressive, gives me constant eye contact, he will follow where I point, he will point for things he wants. He answers to his name. He will join in with make believe play, he will feed the baby, answer his little phone. Loves the company of other children, he babbles constantly, he currently has around 10 words. I’m not sure if that’s a good amount for his age? He’s always been quite advanced in his physical development. He was practically running at 11 months. He loves physical contact, loves to cuddle and sit with me, gives kisses etc. He loves to play with me and daddy, he will bring toys for us to play all together, such as his track to build for him and then he’ll get his cars to play.

The last few days, he’s been moving objects from one place to the other. Like his bricks, he’ll move them all out of the basket and onto the sofa and then move them all back. I thought it was just a stage of play all kids discover. If his favourite tv show comes on he will completely zone out to watch, you pause it and he’s back in the room. My sister said these are signs of autism. She keeps making comments constantly about him being autistic and it’s starting to get at me. Are those two things enough? She seems pretty confident. My two younger brothers are autistic and I do know some of the signs to look out for, and I’m obviously more aware he’s at a higher risk because of the family link. Just need some opinions as a worried first time mum.

Should I be worried?

18 months is so young. Imo that sounds like an average 18 month old

She needs to stop. My ds who is now 6 (and displays no signs of autism) at that age lined his toy cars up in size order and moved things around. He’s completely fine!

What do you think her motivation is? Do you have a good relationship or is she trying to get to you?

Nothing you have said would alert me to signs of autism, you are not concerned (and if you are it is only because she has raised the subject) so I would do my best to switch off from what she is saying. Do you have a health visitor you could speak to about it?

@LeroyJenkinssss

I honestly don't know. It really upsets me that she doesn't say these things to me I hear them from other family members, which makes me feel like she's picking my baby apart behind my back. Her own son is 14 months so maybe she is comparing the two. Her son goes to nursery 5 days a week so is obviously going to be more social. He's only just started walking though. All children are different so I just don't see the need for the comparison.

They are signs of autism in an older child but in an 18 month old they are a normal developmental stage. Look up transportation schema.

Does your sister have any qualifications in looking after young children or is she a paediatrician or an educational psychologist? I think you need to stop listening to her opinions on child development.

Neither of those would suggest autism to me.

The moving things from one place to another is definitely a schema

education.gov.scot/parentzone/Documents/nih058-Parentzone-Booklet.pdf

I remember my eldest doing a lot of things like this and used to line up all his cars all the time. He’s nearly 4 now and no longer does it and shows no signs of autism.

The TV programme thing is probably just a good attention span for something he is interested in.

Sounds completely normal. Moving objects from one place to another is part of what are called Schema in play. There are different types of play that small children (toddlers especially) engage in. Moving objects from one place to another is something they find rewarding. It is a task with an outcome and they get the satisfaction of having moved everything . So bricks into a bag or onto the sofa and then back again is a typical activity for a toddler. All kids zone out in front of screens. It’s what they do. They sit their totally zombie-like and totally absorbed by what they are looking it. It is absolutely normal. Please don’t listen to your sister. Your little boy sounds to be doing everything that you would expect a toddler of that age to be doing. She needs to stop.

Crossed posts with ThatWentBadly . Some kids will move a bunch of toys from one box to another for ages. It’s a known stage and as TWB says part of the Transportation Schema.

He sounds absolutely fine and nothing there suggests he needs an armchair diagnosis from your sister!

I'd shut this down right away. She is harming your enjoyment of your son. He sounds delightful by the way, just like a little toddler should, exploring and learning and playing. Is she genuinely concerned or being vindictive?