Hand flapping normal in babies?

[jilted]

We have been concerned with other issues with ds3 (I won't repeat them here) but I was wondering about hand flapping.
Ds is . Months and hand flaps a lot, usually when excited. He does it several times a day.
Is this normal for babies though?
I'm guessing it wouldn't be a problem until they Re older or indicate anything until later on?

Sorry ds is 9 months

On its own I wouldn't worry but it depends on what other concerns you might have. Sometimes it's a bit like a jigsaw.

Thanks gamer.
Initially we took him to the Dr about 5 months because he kept back arching quite forcefully, dropping head, throwing himself back etc. They did an eeg for IS but it came back normal.
I also told them that he had these staring like episodes and did 'mechanical' things with his fingers.
He seems quite stiff, doesn't really like being held, seems uncomfortable.
His development seems a bit slow to me.
He just started sitting properly alone at nearly 9 months.
Now he is 9 months he plays with toys, eats fine, smiles and coos etc but is not attempting to crawl or get up.
He just seems quite happy lying down on his back!
When in his walker he cN't seem to sit still when eating. He keeps wobbling around. The same if in his highchair.

He still also clenches his fists quite a lot although he DOES pick up toys and eat (mostly sticking fist in mouth!) and he can unclench them.

Anyway, since the eeg came back normal, he won't have any more follow up until 12 months.
I was told not to worry as often mixed race boys develop more slowly!!!
??

It's all very well to be told not to worry when our instincts say different.. royally winds me up when they do that.

I wonder if it's worth keeping a diary of his development for the next few months so there's something in black and white to show them?

I think it's normal to some degree. My daughter used to twirl her hands round and round when she was excited or saw something she wanted. If you're worried about it keep an eye on it.

When you have a whole range of concerns, AND it's not your first DC, they should be taking this more seriously (even if it may well still turn out not to be an issue, and just another place on that spectrum of typical development vs your other DCs). And the mixed race thing is way out of line and plain wrong. Can you see another GP, even at the same practice? Or if your HV is good, she(/he!) might be a decent second opinion.

Gamer, I know. I've found them really patronising so far!
Custard, the same. I've never had any concerns regarding my other two dc (5,2)
I think I will make another soon and see someone else.
And I'll make a diary. I've already got some film and pictures, but not yet of the hand flapping.
It's just something keeps niggling at me that he is not quite right, but nobody is listening so I've just given up telling anyone my concerns.
He is really ill at 4 weeks also die to bronchiolitis and complications and was on a ventilator for 10 days in intensive care.

Due to **

I seem to remember at least one of mine doing hand/arm flapping quite a bit. By itself its not cause for concern I don't think but clearly you have other concerns too. I hope you get some more answers soon.

I was concerned about ds handflapping and was told it was regarded as perfectly normal development until about 4yo. He stopped just before that.

Not attempting to crawl at 9 months is fine, some children don't ever crawl, and none of mine looked like they were about to crawl until they did it (at 10, 5 and 6 months) 9 months for sitting is the high end of normal, the only thing I'd really pick up on is the feeling stiff and uncomfortable. Even the back arching, I have known perfectly normal dc go through stages of doing that, particualrly when frustrated. I know if they can unclench their fists without help, it's generally considered fine. Does he sleep with them clenched tight? And is the thumb inside or outside the fist?
Have you videoed the staring/mechanical finger movements?

OP, I don't know anything about hand flapping but I would say trust your instincts. I felt something was amiss with ds1 from babyhood, and it took until he was 10 to get Aspergers diagnosis. Looking back, there were loads of signs but I couldn't get people to listen. Ds3 is 5 and showing certain behaviours that concern me, this time I will be making people listen! Reading up as much as possible so you can know what else to look for and the language to use will help.

What you describe is exactly how my sister has been all her life , she is now 13 & has just been diagnosed with Autism .
I'd go back to your GP & refuse to move until you are taken seriously

Thank you all. I don't think I would have even taken any notice if I hadn't been aware of the other things. From what you say Autism can take a long time to diagnose. I don't know anything about ASD tbh. At first with the episodes and muscle tone, I had thought mild cp perhaps. I have a nephew with severe cp so obviously not in the way he has it.

Having said that Dee, my eldest was up and walking at 9 months, my second was 14 months so I know the 'normal' range is huge. They are girls though, this is my first boy!

Accessorize, I feel it just is an instinct. I don't think I would have picked up on it otherwise. I have 3 under 5 so not much time to sit and wonder if, but like you say. I have suspected since he was about 5 months when he kept shaking his head side to side, which is still does now.

I didn't bother with the head shaking/dropping for some weeks but I eventually took him to Dr who sent us for eeg. (suspected IS)
It's not just one thing, its a ombination of things I find odd. Staring, picking at his clothes, the twitching and arching. I might have put it down to reflux at first but he has never had probs with eating, never sick or ill after.

This sounds just like my ds. He always had his hands flapping around when happy, excited or frightened. IHe never crawled but started bum shuffling around 10 or 11 months and walked at 18 months. He's now 3, seems normal to me but he's my first so I have no one to compare him to. The hand flapping went away about 18 months I think.

Hand flapping is totally normal in babies and toddlers. Everyone jumps on it because it is a feature of ASD.

I have never ever heard of mixed raced children developing more slowly and I've worked with hundreds of children with developmental delay.

You are describing some physical difficulties which suggest muscle tone problems. I'd suggest asking your GP for a referral to a paediatric physiotherapist. Or pay for a private assessment if you can afford.

It's not just the flapping though is it, and this OP has 2 dc already so she's not being PFB about it. I'm amazed you can see straight with 3 under 5, but you can and keep pushing for your baby. I don't know if KIDS will support parents with babies but they were very helpful with us about knowing who to talk to, what to push for with ds1 - it wasn't about a diagnosis, it was figuring out what the problems were for him and getting the right support.

Jilted, how about posting in special needs just to see if anyone has had similar experiences?