Hello mums,
I am writing here because I am loosing my sleep over the fact that my DS seems to ignore me calling him. From what I've read this could be an early indicator of autism and I'm freaking out.
He has good eye contact and is very smiley sociable baby.
He will turn towards me if I call him from across the room, but NEVER if I'm behind him.
He babbles and squeels a lot but rarely as a mean of communication with me.
He's not interested in games like peek-a-boo (except if someone else is holding him and I am hiding behind their shoulders, he will try to find me and laugh heartly)
Also he's not interested at all in solids, I have to trick him into eating by distracting him with a toy.
Sometimes when I rock him to sleep he will wiggle his fingers ( stimming?!), and likes to look at his hands when there's nothing better to do.
I really need to hear from mothers who went through this and their baby turned out to be fine. I am quite an anxious person and I really hope it's just my insecurity thinking.
Please help!
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Behaviour/development
8 month old won't respond to his name
littlebloom · 01/12/2017 08:48
Csjs · 27/12/2023 17:17
My daughter is 8 months old and I am worried. I read all of the stories here. She responds to her name but not that often. I will call her over and over but sometimes no response. She smiles a lot she has eye contact. She started mimicking clapping but that about everything I can get her to mimic. She comes to me when I call her but I have to make the gesture and stretch my hands out for her.she make growling noises and blows raspberries constantly. She is not babbling but she makes other noises.all of her motor skills are on point. I just can't get her to mimic my sounds and other gestures.can someone relate to this because I really want her to be ok
@Jikky
Hello,
My little one does respond to his name 80% of the time now, so depends if he is pre occupied with toys. I took him to the dr in the end due to pulling at his ear and the dr confirmed there was some wax lodged in his right ear (the one he was pulling) so couldn't confirm if any ear infection but he has since got better.
He is learning to crawl, teething although none have cut and has learnt to clap.
I've actually contacted my local HV hub this morning to request for a hearing test. He was very advanced in saying Da-Da at 6 months old and he's now lost all babbling and just makes the 'uuuhhh' noise in his throat and the odd squeal. It stopped after we had covid so potentially hearing is congested from that - my main concern is autism although before any one comes for me, I know it's very early but he is showing signs. He does also twist his wrists and arm flap, mainly when excited or tired - not a 'normal' arm and hand flapping, more like an autistic person stimming. Although he has great eye contact now, laughing/social smile and hitting milestones - it's just that loss of babbling which is my concern and flapping.
It's good your baby responded again, I know they really concentrate on skills in which they're learning so maybe concentrating too much on the crawling to listen to mummy! Does your baby respond to other sounds and noises? The dr checked my little one with clicks either side of his head which he did respond too, so maybe it's not my little ones hearing but I'd much rather a full hearing check.
boymamax · 25/07/2022 19:32
@Jikky
Sounds the exact same as Son! He was responding but now teething and just tends to ignore me. I have read that I'm testing his name too much so from tomorrow I'll tone it down a bit and lots say to not stress until 12 months
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@MonRosey
Oh try not to worry. I was in a total anxiety state about my son for the whole of his first year and spent hours researching this very issue (and starting numerous threads on forums about it.)
Anyway evidence shows that name response emerges between 7 and 9 months but won't be close to consistent until a year. It will slowly improve over this period. They also aren't expected to respond when you are sitting right next to them and it's suggested you don't call them more than 10 times a day or they will start tuning you out. I was told all this by some brilliant and experienced posters on the American babycenter board "Worried About Autism". They really know their stuff and it's all evidence based.
At 7.5 months my son didn't know his name. He responded sometimes when I called him but mainly ignored me. When he did turn I expect he was responding to my voice/the noise. I could have said any name on those occasions and he would have looked round. Similarly if I said his name in a funny voice etc he was more likely to respond - again because it was a new noise and nothing to do with him knowing it was his name I was calling. I don't think he remotely knew his name until 9/10 months and then it rapidly improved by 11/12. Not over testing him helped. My son was a very alert little boy who was always looking around/never still so I think that played a part. The world was far too interesting and mummy's voice was boring.
If your baby turns to noises and voices generally then I wouldn't worry. If there is no response by 9/10 months it might be worth checking in with your health visitor to check hearing. Enjoy your little one. I'm sure everything is okay
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