8 wk old does not smile, do eye contact or look at faces

[happyeverafterhome]

Our beautiful daughter (first child) is 8 weeks old. Looking at faces seems to hold no interest for her, and she does not maintain eye contact for longer than about 20 seconds at best (more normally not at all). She has not smiled yet. Her eyesight is, I think, okay as she grabs at toys on the baby gym and follows things if you wave them from left to right. Am I being over paranoid to start thinking asbergers or similar?

I know nothing really about babies but I thought they didn't smile til around the twelve week stage?

try not to worry.

people will tell you you are.

I will tell you the story of my eldest child.

When he was born, he didn't look at me, didn't gaze into my eyes, stiffened when I held him, didn't do the whole looking deep into your eyes while you feed them thing you read so much about. In fact, he didn't seem to give a shit about me from day one. I used to sob that he didn't love me and he knew I was a bad mother. He wasn't interested in faces, actively avoided eye contact.

He was diagnosed with autism at 2 and a half.

I will also tell you the story of my second child.

He gazed into my eyes, he loved cuddles, he laughed and smiled at me. He was the reason I KNEW something was wrong with my eldest (he was born when eldest was 15 months old) when he looked into my eyes, when he rested in my arms, I KNEW that there was a problem with my eldest.

He (second child) was diagnosed with autism at 3 (he regressed)

So I would say, trust your instincts. Read up on it, be aware, hell, start working on eye contact and touching if you want. It can't hurt! but don't worry yourself about it. Don't let it take over. you have a beautiful baby who is perfect (whether he turns out to have autism or not!) enjoy him.

That's a lovely post hecate

apart from referring to OPs beautiful daughter as him. sorry about that.

Was she premature? If so, she'll smile at her adjusted age, rather than actual. Babes tend to start smiles at around 5-6 weeks old, so if your babe was 6 weeks early, then they'll smile at around the 11-12 week stage instead.

Ds didn't smile until 10 weeks. I wouldn't be worried yet

Thanks everyone, I am worried about an autistic spectrum diagnosis, and yes do feel to be a crap mum who can not engage with her own daughter. Health visitor tells me autism can not be diagnosed until age 3 to 4, and was asking me questions indicating that she thinks I may be depressed. I feel to be worried > depressed, although v tired too. Our daughter was born 3 weeks prem, making her gestational age now 5 weeks, so we may just have to wait for this to come good, but even at 5 weeks there would normally be an interest in faces / people. What does the future hold for an autistic kid?

If you have a mother like Hecate, probably rather a lot I would think

It is perfectly normal to worry about these things as a mother and your hv should have told you that.

I would try to put it to the back of your mind, chances are you will find her smiling when you least expect it!

It's a mothers job to worry about there children, and I think most have "shouldn't they be ..." moments at times but as l

(stupid phone!)

As long as you are aware of things, like you obviously are, try not to over worry things at this point.

My DS is 4 now and was diagnosed at 2. Asking what the furture holds for children with an ASD diagnosis is like asking how long is a piece of sting im afraid, its just one of those quiestions that doesnt have a definate answer.

As mothers we can only try our best :)