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5 month old - early signs of autism?

15 replies

Countrybumpkin19 · 28/09/2019 08:54

I can't stop worrying about my 5 and a half month old DD and that she may be showing early signs of autism.

Main concerns:

  • So far she is only making vowel sounds - no consonants, raspberries, etc
  • She has only giggled a couple of times though occasionally grunts if I do something silly
  • Whilst she does make eye contact and smile, she doesn't seem as responsive as a lot of babies I see of similar age (e.g. doesn't consistently return a smile if I smile at her, you often have to work for her smiles). She also doesn't make good eye contact when I feed her a bottle.
  • She keeps her thumbs in her fists a lot of the time, though can open up her thumbs when playing
-She often stiffens her arms and legs and can start shaking when over stimulated (though this resolves with my touch) -She spends a lot of time looking at her hands.
  • It can sometimes be hard to get her attention, mainly when she is distracted by toys.

She appears to be roughly on track with her physical milestones, e.g. just started to roll back to front and can sit unsupported for up to 20 seconds, though she won't yet put any weight through her legs. She loves reaching for/playing with her toys and appears alert/aware of her environment. She also sometimes lifts her arms to be picked up and recognises familiar faces (eg smiles at DH when he comes home). She is overall a fairly content and placid baby.

Please give me your thoughts!

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Witchend · 28/09/2019 10:40

She sounds totally normal.

You don't expect them to be making more than little noises. My middle dd who was fully in sentences by 15 months, didn't babble much at all.
Staring at hands is a perfectly normal developmental stage. It used to mentioned as one in the red Book when mine were little.
Some children giggle a lot, others don't. I don't think you'd expect them to giggling a lot at 5 months. Again, my dd2 didn't really smile to eye contact until about 7 or 8 months and certainly didn't laugh. By 3yo people always commented how smiley and laughy she was.
Otoh ds (my dc3) smiled and at anything resembling a face from 1 week. I said it was because he was so desperate for attention having 2 sisters to contend with he'd do anything :D

If she opens up her thumbs while playing then I wouldn't worry. I've never heard this as being a sign of autism anyway.

Holding hand sup to be picked up is a very good sign.

Relax and enjoy her there is nothing here that would make me at all worried.

GsMama19 · 28/09/2019 18:45

It all seems perfectly normal to me.
My niece didn't talk, walk, grow hair or really smile until she was 3 years! Nothing wrong with her, all perfect fine, she is now 11!
I wouldn't be so worried at 5 months old, all babies do stuff at different time 😊

Harrysmummy246 · 30/09/2019 21:19

Far far too early to worry about ASD

And I have no clue when DS made any such sounds- he was technically behind with language at 15 mo but can form 5+ word sentences now at 2.3

Notodontidae · 01/10/2019 00:40

It is only natural that you follow the progress of your DD so intently. You wouldn't be normal if you didn't have those feelings, but there is no reason at this stage to believe that your DD is anything but normal. Your DD will see many things happening around her, all of which will seem strange to her and not result in a reaction. Hence because you are deliberately smiling to get a reaction, to DD it is just another weird thing your doing. Enjoy your time, try not to worry, and I wish you all the best.

Countrybumpkin19 · 01/10/2019 07:55

Thank you all for your kind responses. I think I am probably over worrying though it can be hard not to! I will try to relax and enjoy her.

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MeadowHay · 05/10/2019 14:39

There are no 'earlt signs of autism' for a five month old as it's impossible to diagnose at such an age, so nothing you describe are early signs of autism.

Aside from that it all sounds like 'normal' development anyway. My DD didn't start saying many consonent sounds til she was about 12 or 13 months old.

simonisnotme · 05/10/2019 15:41

way too early for 'early signs of autism'
every baby/child will develop at a different rate, just keep talking to. reading with showing things,sounds etc to/with her

Tilly09 · 07/12/2019 10:41

Hi my 5 month is very similar ! Has your lo changed much since your post? I am worried sick. It’s okay people saying wait and give them fine etc but if there’s red flags I believe early intervention is key. The US intervene early it’s just the UK we are so far behind it annoys me.

mishimab · 07/12/2019 11:33

Hi, I could have written this post. My 5 month DD is exactly same. She observes her hand at extensive period and when she stares at ceiling or wallpaper, it is impossible to distract her. It is driving me crazy and I have been even looking for early interventions!!
How is your LO doing?

mishimab · 07/12/2019 11:34

Also she has not rolled over yet and can not hold object longer than 4,5 seconds. She hardly giggles and rarely smiles. I am worried sick.

Countrybumpkin19 · 07/12/2019 12:29

Hi Mishimab, just wanted to reassure you that my little one is absolutely fine now. She is 7 and a half months and is very interactive, extremely smiley, and has just started babbling. She is still not a big giggler but think that is just personality and that she has a quiet disposition! Please try not to worry. I worried so much and started overanalyzing everything. Babies are all so different!

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Countrybumpkin19 · 07/12/2019 12:30

Also I have met a lot of babies recently who rolled late (e.g at 7/8 months) and they are all fine!

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mishimab · 07/12/2019 12:41

Thank you Countrybumpkin, you are an angel!

Tilly09 · 07/12/2019 14:45

Thank you so much for replying it’s giving me hope . Is there anything different you did between 5-7month? And when did you start to see a difference in her interaction and eye contact ? My 5 month is similar to what you put it’s making me ill.

Countrybumpkin19 · 07/12/2019 17:01

Hi Tilly09, no I don't do anything differently apart from try to relax and enjoy her! She has just slowly become much more interactive and now I am not worried at all. Perhaps I was expecting too much from her at 5 months and made the mistake of comparing her to older babies.

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