3.5 year old rocking

[Neeentay]

My 3.5 year old DS puts his legs in a froggy position, his arms out in front of him on the floor and rocks/bounces.

He started doing it at 8 months old in his cot. Sometimes he would wake in the night and do it for an hour! He doesn’t do it in bed anymore, mainly on the sofa when watching tv but sometimes when he is playing too.

He can do it for hours at a time, he gets drenched in sweat and ignores me if I ask him to sit nicely. It’s almost as if he is in a trance.

He‘ll be going for his 4 year check up in a few months so I‘ll definitely be bringing it up with the doctor then.

Do anyone else’s children do this?! I really thought he would have grown out of it by now.

Personally, I wouldn't wait another 6 months. I'd film him when he's doing it and call your HV on Monday. Ask for her advice and offer to send her the film.

She might tell you to leave it until his 4 year check but I would ask for a referral.

It sounds like sensory seeking behaviour - are there any other concerns with his development?

We don’t have a HV unfortunately, we‘re not in the UK. That’s a good idea to film him, thanks!

No major concerns with his development. He was a bit of a late speaker, but is trilingual and has really started chatting in English (mother tongue) now.

We did mention it to a doctor when he was about 18 months old and she told us it was normal, but now he is older it seems quite odd and other children (and adults!) comment on it.

He is flat out refusing to toilet train, would that count as a developmental delay?

Late speaking and late toilet training could both be signs of ASD. If you haven't got a HV I would speak to a Dr and ask for him to be assessed