Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

For being worried about my toddler

28 replies

Halfappoundoftuppenyrice · 29/02/2024 12:51

Apologies as I’m posting for traffic - concerned I won’t get replies elsewhere.

DD is 24 months old. She’s a very sweet and happy little girl. Met all her milestones on time although she was a little late to walk (15 months ish). Pointed on time, babbled, maintains excellent eye contact etc. She loves singing and dancing. Her communication is great, she can hold back and forth conversations using decent length sentences and answers appropriately when asked questions etc. She is social, interested in other children although she’s not great at sharing. She enjoys play groups, parties, soft play and other loud and busy environments without any issue. She interacts really well with us/her sister and other people within a short time of meeting them (can sometimes take a few mins to warm up to them). Doesn’t seem to have any issues with transition/routine change etc.

However my concerns are the following:

She sometimes tip toe walks. Even more so if I ask her why she’s doing it usually with a cheeky grin on her face. I think she possibly also hand postures although she doesn’t flap/wriggle fingers in front of her eyes etc. Its more like she’s playing with her fingers and sometimes crosses them. She sometimes covers her eyes with her hands, usually if she’s being told not to do something or that she can’t have something. Since she was tiny, she engages in what I think is a self soothing behaviour where she lies on her back, crosses her legs at the top and moves them up and down. She does this much more when she’s tired/before sleep and she’s definitely doing it less than she used to. She is still a bit wobbly on her feet although this too is getting a better. Can be echolalic at times but it’s usually repeating for attention etc, like if I say it’s raining outside, she might reply ‘it’s raining outside mummy, it’s raining. She might say this a couple of times. That said, she does usually answer with her own words/sentences in conversation. She can be prone to have a bit of a. meltdown if she doesn’t get what she wants although she does usually come out of it fairly quickly (within 10-15 mins or so unless she’s super tired). I don’t remember DD1 having as many tantrums so no idea if this is normal and I just got lucky first time round? 🤷‍♀️

I don’t know how many of these things are just normal child behaviours at her age or whether I need to be worried about autism or something similar? Please help with any advice/your own experience/observations of my situation

OP posts:
Halfappoundoftuppenyrice · 29/02/2024 13:00

Sorry I meant to say that she is also a good eater/sleeper on the whole and doesn’t seem to have any sensory issues. She’s also good at imaginative play, feeding her doll, making cups of tea, pretending to cook, cleaning her toy house etc

OP posts:
Picture24 · 29/02/2024 13:02

Nothing you've written suggests autism to me.

Do you have experience of autism in your family or something? Is that why you are so fixated on it? I have a 2 year old and definitely don't observe and analyse her behaviour to this level.

YouAndMeAndThem · 29/02/2024 13:02

She is 2! I think you're putting a lot of emphasis and stress on so called abnormal behaviour, even naming a symptom of a mental disorder 'echolalia' with no back up of what this actually means.

Kids so weird things, repeat themselves, self soothe, flap about, walk about like they've lost the ability to walk. I haven't met a 2 year old who isn't like this!

StephanieSuperpowers · 29/02/2024 13:03

I think she sounds great and just fine. She's only just two, still a baby really. I don't think there's any cause for concern.

DreadPirateRobots · 29/02/2024 13:04

...She sounds like a normal child.

My 6yo still tiptoe walks. I did it for years when I was a kid just because I liked the feeling. I'm not autistic, and neither is he.

Amanduh · 29/02/2024 13:09

She sounds like a typical 2 year old!

Halfappoundoftuppenyrice · 29/02/2024 13:11

Picture24 · 29/02/2024 13:02

Nothing you've written suggests autism to me.

Do you have experience of autism in your family or something? Is that why you are so fixated on it? I have a 2 year old and definitely don't observe and analyse her behaviour to this level.

Edited

No, no family experience or history of autism. I do have a friend with an autistic child and I think she’s put the fear of god into me when she saw my DD toe walking. Caused me to spiral into the depths of Google and hence why I’m here now asking questions 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
hoonicorn · 29/02/2024 13:11

It reads like you are looking for a label for your toddler. Do you want her to be autistic? Take a step back and re read your post. It's a bit much at age 2.

Since you asked, she does sound like a very typical 2 year old.

Picture24 · 29/02/2024 13:13

Halfappoundoftuppenyrice · 29/02/2024 13:11

No, no family experience or history of autism. I do have a friend with an autistic child and I think she’s put the fear of god into me when she saw my DD toe walking. Caused me to spiral into the depths of Google and hence why I’m here now asking questions 🤷‍♀️

Ah OK, don't listen to comments like that. Kids do weird stuff all the time, nothing to worry about.

Halfappoundoftuppenyrice · 29/02/2024 13:13

YouAndMeAndThem · 29/02/2024 13:02

She is 2! I think you're putting a lot of emphasis and stress on so called abnormal behaviour, even naming a symptom of a mental disorder 'echolalia' with no back up of what this actually means.

Kids so weird things, repeat themselves, self soothe, flap about, walk about like they've lost the ability to walk. I haven't met a 2 year old who isn't like this!

I called it echolalia as this is what I think it is. From what I’ve read I know it can be normal at her age but I just wanted to mention it in conjunction with the other things I was a bit concerned about

OP posts:
JustDiscoveredBueno · 29/02/2024 13:14

Mine often tip toed walked. Saw other kids doing it too.

Halfappoundoftuppenyrice · 29/02/2024 13:14

hoonicorn · 29/02/2024 13:11

It reads like you are looking for a label for your toddler. Do you want her to be autistic? Take a step back and re read your post. It's a bit much at age 2.

Since you asked, she does sound like a very typical 2 year old.

Of course not. What a bloody stupid thing to say. Would anyone want their child to be autistic? I’m just concerned and want to make sure I’m not overlooking anything

OP posts:
TurquoiseDress · 29/02/2024 13:15

She sounds like a typical 2 year old to me!

fishonabicycle · 29/02/2024 13:20

I tip toe walked a lot as a child - not Nd at all, as far as I'm aware. She sounds totally normal - all kids copy what you say (I've just googled and it's only a possibly a problem if they keep doing it as they get older), and lots of them have many tantrums.

givemushypeasachance · 29/02/2024 13:21

Another person saying that all sounds like a regular toddler.

And that "self soothing behaviour" of crossing her legs at the top and moving them up and down? The equivalent for a 2yo boy may be easier to spot! Again, normal! 😂

TheSnowyOwl · 29/02/2024 13:24

As a parent of two autistic girls, nothing that you have written is something I’d find concerning but I would suggest noting down things you are concerned about with dates and examples, and then you will have it to refer back to if necessary in the future.

Halfappoundoftuppenyrice · 29/02/2024 13:29

Thanks everyone who has replied so far. Your messages have helped to put my mind at rest somewhat. I think I will have to try and put a bit of distance between me and my friend for a while, I know she means well but her comment has really affected and worried me. I’m really not trying to label my daughter but it did concern me when my friend said ‘oh that’s a sign of autism, did you know? So and so did that too at her age’

OP posts:
howmuch5 · 29/02/2024 13:30

One of mine tip toed because she liked it. I'm pretty sure she isn't autistic - her big sister is and never did it.

She sounds typical op and I'm not sure why your friend would want to put doubt in your mind.

pastypirate · 29/02/2024 13:30

Has she has her ASQ? Whet dies HV say?

One of my dds toe walked but I can't remember now which one it was.

My second child was a huge shock with tantrums and general struggling to manage big feelings compared to very self regulated dd1. It was like having to relearn parenting.

If her core milestones are ok try not to worry too much x

Halfappoundoftuppenyrice · 29/02/2024 13:33

pastypirate · 29/02/2024 13:30

Has she has her ASQ? Whet dies HV say?

One of my dds toe walked but I can't remember now which one it was.

My second child was a huge shock with tantrums and general struggling to manage big feelings compared to very self regulated dd1. It was like having to relearn parenting.

If her core milestones are ok try not to worry too much x

Yes and all fine. HV not concerned at 2 year check although to be honest, I don’t think I mentioned any of this to her (except the toe walking as I think it was a question on the questionnaire) as none of it was even on my radar as possibly autism

OP posts:
Halfappoundoftuppenyrice · 29/02/2024 13:40

givemushypeasachance · 29/02/2024 13:21

Another person saying that all sounds like a regular toddler.

And that "self soothing behaviour" of crossing her legs at the top and moving them up and down? The equivalent for a 2yo boy may be easier to spot! Again, normal! 😂

Haha yes your not wrong. DN won’t leave it alone! 😆

OP posts:
MyLordWizardKing · 29/02/2024 14:08

FWIW, OP, my son (5) is autistic and had none of those signs as far as I remember. Also worth mentioning that a lot of flags for autism at age 3 (when my son was diagnosed) are considered developmentally normal at age 2 (e.g. parallel play).

I also understand your concern - I was the same when my children were toddlers - but now, while I hope my son goes through life affected as little as possible by the challenges of his condition, I don't wish he wasn't autistic. He wouldn't be the same boy, otherwise.

Halfappoundoftuppenyrice · 29/02/2024 14:16

MyLordWizardKing · 29/02/2024 14:08

FWIW, OP, my son (5) is autistic and had none of those signs as far as I remember. Also worth mentioning that a lot of flags for autism at age 3 (when my son was diagnosed) are considered developmentally normal at age 2 (e.g. parallel play).

I also understand your concern - I was the same when my children were toddlers - but now, while I hope my son goes through life affected as little as possible by the challenges of his condition, I don't wish he wasn't autistic. He wouldn't be the same boy, otherwise.

Thanks for writing this. My daughter is in some ways I think probably ahead for her age, certainly in terms of her communication. I feel sad that the things I previously regarded as her cute little quirks have given me such cause for concern, and probably needlessly. X

OP posts:
SparklyRainbowDinosaur · 29/02/2024 14:18

Mine is 2.5 and still sometimes tippy toe walks and will also keep asking the same questions over and over if I don't answer immediately! I've Googled ecolalia before too as she will often quote from her favourite books and Peppa episodes and it's apparently normal while they are still developing their language. I wouldn't be worrying based on your post x

namechangedasashamd · 29/02/2024 14:21

My dd was diagnosed with autism at 2, it was very very obvious and severe. I would say though @OP to definitely keep an eye on things, do you have HV checks or development checks at nursery? It might just be worth keeping a record of anything you are unsure about

Swipe left for the next trending thread