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Original poster

Baby twirling feet and opening / closing hands repetitively- normal?

40 replies

zeromango · 23/09/2022 09:42

Hi all. I was just wondering if anyone else's baby twirled their feet and open and closed their hands repeatedly? Did they grow out of it?

My DS is almost 9 months. It's hard to explain but it's mostly if he's excited or cross. He will open and close his hands quickly while rotating his ankles.

I've not noticed other babies in his class doing it so just wanted to ask here as I'm not sure if it's something to "worry" about? For context my DD has severe disabilities and so truthfully I feel like a FTM again. Thank you so much for any advice!

OP posts:
Bpickle1 · 23/09/2022 10:02

Autism or angelman disorder?

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 23/09/2022 10:04

My son is 9 months old and does this constantly, I think he's NT, not showing anything that he's not!

HippyChickMama · 23/09/2022 10:15

Totally normal in babies and young toddlers. I have a nephew who's now in his 20s that used to do this every time he was presented with a yoghurt at that age, he grew out of it once he developed other ways to demonstrate excitement

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toddlingtortoise · 23/09/2022 10:41

Totally normal. We used to call it magic hands as it looked like he was doing a magic trick

SummerBummers · 23/09/2022 10:43

My son has asd but my younger two are NT. They all did this. It means nothing x

Crunchingleaf · 23/09/2022 11:15

My 10 month old was doing this for awhile but it seems to have stopped. At 9 months old its not something to worry about.

TheVanguardSix · 23/09/2022 11:22

My DD did this. I wasn’t at all worried. I thought it was so silly and funny. She grew into a very funny, lively, vibrant little toddler and girl. All jazz hands and chatting and silliness. She was like a walking disco ball!
I say was because she’s now 12 going on 13, has started her period, dresses like a storm cloud, and has morphed into Ally Sheedy’s character in The Breakfast Club. But I still love her to bits and pieces! She’s still herself. She doesn’t do any funky hand movements or feet twirling anymore. More eye rolling, really.

TheVanguardSix · 23/09/2022 11:24

Just to add, my two NT children were all ‘magic hands’, especially DD. My autistic child was not. He didn’t do this action at all.

ElusiveWhale · 23/09/2022 11:27

Bpickle1 · 23/09/2022 10:02

Autism or angelman disorder?

Always good to have an immediate internet diagnosis Hmm

OP, my DC didn't do this but my grandchild did something ssimilar at that age. He grew out of it and is NT.

Pumpkinsnearlyready · 23/09/2022 11:28

New skills always seem overly repetitive ime.

SweetLittlePixie · 23/09/2022 11:56

My son did this. He did it so often that everyone noticed and pointed it out. We used to say he is exercising his chubby feet ;)
He grew out of it when he started walking. Hes 8 years old now and NT.

Original poster
zeromango · 23/09/2022 17:51

Thanks all - It just seemed so apparent last week at a baby group, he was all jazz hands and ankles and all the other babies seemed so still and serious. Grin I appreciate the advice, and will try not to worry for now and just enjoy him. We've been through a lot with DD so I simply can't help but worry. Thank you!

OP posts:
Maireas · 23/09/2022 17:57

My son did this. He's now 27, no problems whatsoever! Perfectly fine.

MargaretThursday · 23/09/2022 19:22

Yes, all of mine did that. In fact it used to be listed as a developmental stage in the red book.

Georgeskitchen · 23/09/2022 20:20

Pretty sure my kids did this . Indonr think it's anything to worry about

mwilliams33 · 17/12/2022 17:40

Hi lovely - I’m worried about my little boy. If I sent you a video, would you mind saying if this is what yours did please? It seems so frequent 😞 Xx

mwilliams33 · 17/12/2022 17:42

Hi lovely - how are things now? My 10 month old twirls is feet and wrists but wrists seems ALOT like when he is excited or frustrated x

MulledWineAndMingePies · 17/12/2022 18:05

Bpickle1 · 23/09/2022 10:02

Autism or angelman disorder?

What the fuck?!

mwilliams33 · 17/12/2022 18:06

mwilliams33 · 17/12/2022 17:40

Hi lovely - I’m worried about my little boy. If I sent you a video, would you mind saying if this is what yours did please? It seems so frequent 😞 Xx

@TheVanguardSix

mwilliams33 · 17/12/2022 18:06

mwilliams33 · 17/12/2022 17:42

Hi lovely - how are things now? My 10 month old twirls is feet and wrists but wrists seems ALOT like when he is excited or frustrated x

@zeromango

Danielle1989x · 26/01/2023 13:48

@zeromango Hi. Any updates at all. My son does the same too

Danielle1989x · 16/02/2023 19:27

Hi @zeromango sorry to jump on your thread again but I wondered if you could update at all as my son does the exact same thing and his 9 months old x

Springflower20 · 14/09/2023 00:41

My 7 month old girl do that a lot and I am very anxious and can't sleep.. any update?

BertieBotts · 14/09/2023 01:05

It's a normal expression of excitement at that age, honestly nothing to worry about at all.

Do contact your HV if worried about anything developmental.

flowerlover1990 · 22/06/2024 20:11

zeromango · 23/09/2022 17:51

Thanks all - It just seemed so apparent last week at a baby group, he was all jazz hands and ankles and all the other babies seemed so still and serious. Grin I appreciate the advice, and will try not to worry for now and just enjoy him. We've been through a lot with DD so I simply can't help but worry. Thank you!

Hey, did you son grow out of this? Currently going through this with my 6 month old and I'm a worried FTM!