Please or to access all these features

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

17 month old spinning wheels

9 replies

Caroline818 · 05/04/2021 02:13

Does anyone else’s child STILL like to spin wheels on his cars. He will literally turn the car upside down and spin the wheels. He loves to do this and it worries me so much. He will also get on eye level with the toy car to watch the wheels spin. He also likes to watch cars as they pass and he watches the wheels I see. This has been going on for a while. He will do this for a few minutes at a time. I’m very worried. He can point, has joint attention. Responds to his name most of the time, unless he is doing something. He also has a speech delay which we are in speech therapy for but everything I read about this indicates autism? someone in another chat pointed out that this is a tell tale sign of autism. Could someone advise?

OP posts:
Felinewoman · 05/04/2021 08:33

Maybe he just likes cars? I am not an expert but I think we have to see a kid as a whole not just pick some behavioural aspects... When you go to a paediatrician for a developmental assessment they look at the child as a whole. Yes, some auristic kids like spinning wheels but I am sure there are lots of kids without autism who do, too.
17 months is also very young. Maybe keep an eye on it or ask your GP if concerned.

Woodpecker22 · 06/04/2021 17:45

On its own I don't think spinning wheels is an indicator of autism. It could be an indicator of a sensory issue but I think a lot of children that age like spinning things and just grow out of it. Joint attention is the key indicator of autism which it sounds like you son is fine with.

AladdinMum · 06/04/2021 23:42

Spinning wheels can be fun and therapeutic, even for adults - on its own it means next to nothing.

RedGoldAndGreene · 07/04/2021 14:22

Is it a sign of autism?
I assume it's therapeutic for sensory seeking people (like a fiddle cube, sand timer or Newton's Cradle)

Caroline818 · 07/04/2021 18:10

It is a sign unfortunately. It can also arise in typically developing children but my son has a speech delay. At 17 months only uses four words. So accompanied with this, I am worried and wanted to see if anyone else has seen this in their 17 month old toddlers.

OP posts:
Woodpecker22 · 07/04/2021 18:31

Have you done the mchat? It can be done from 16 months. It does not ask about interest in spinning objects as this is not seen as an indicator. If your son is at risk from ASD this is the best checklist to use.
www.autismspeaks.org/screen-your-child
www.autismspeaks.org/screen-your-child

AladdinMum · 07/04/2021 22:40

Only eight words are expected at 18M and that includes animal sounds or other constant sounds with meaning, so four words at 17M is not that far behind....

Firstimedad · 24/10/2024 08:04

Caroline818 · 07/04/2021 18:10

It is a sign unfortunately. It can also arise in typically developing children but my son has a speech delay. At 17 months only uses four words. So accompanied with this, I am worried and wanted to see if anyone else has seen this in their 17 month old toddlers.

Hi any updates ☺️

Mumof3bb1 · 14/01/2025 11:36

@Caroline818 how’s your son coming on now?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page