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Original poster

7 weeks 3 days not smiling - autism

29 replies

Mococo1 · 05/05/2021 04:31

Hi all

Wanted to know when you first got a smile out of your baby?

My son is 7w3days and has not cracked a smile other than the usual wind smile- I'm also finding he doesn't maintain eye contact for long but will happily track objects and move his head when you walk away from him! He's quite a sleepy baby too 😕

Reason I'm worried is could this be an early sign of autism? Or am I just not giving the bubba a chance to smile yet- at what stage should I worry about lack of eye contact/smiling? And are there other tell tale signs to indicate autism at this stage?

I have two sisters who have three sons between them (all diagnosed with some form of ASD) and my husbands sister has just been diagnosed with adult autism so ASD runs on both sides of the family...

I don't want to seem like that crazy mum who is watching her sons development but if he is on the spectrum I want to know as soon as possible in order to help make his life easier when navigating this big scary world- would the HV/GP even take me seriously at this stage if I called them? I just wish he would do something to reassure me he is ok, I know they say not to compare with other babies but he is my first so how do I know what he is doing isnt normal!? X

OP posts:
theadoory · 16/03/2025 20:37

Mococo1 · 16/03/2025 19:15

Hiya just an update for you all! Im not sure what it was but i shouldnt have been concerned at this age regarding his smile as i look back and think why did i worry? But i had a gut feeling and thats why i made the thread

Turns out i was right..My little one has just turned 4 and was diagnosed autistic at 2y5months. I was gaslit every step of the way by doctors, health visitors and was told everything was in my head but when all of a sudden he never grew out of his behaviours they paid attention

I also suspect he has adhd but despite this - he is thriving, verbal (delayed and a gestalt language processor but can hold a convo) social, has friends and is happy- weve changed our lifestyles upside down for him - diet, toxin free etc and he does have quite repetitive play, loves the ipad, gets tired easily and i can see he is different from his peers but he is such a laugh, extremely intelligent and just an all round lovely child with zero issues at nursery. I would just say trust your gut mommas!

@dogmuminsurreyplease do not blame yourself all children develop at different rates, just love your child for them and try to help them along the way, i was very anxious about the future but my little boy is beyond anything i could have dreamed of, i stuck to my guns, didnt wait it out to see, did at home therapy and its really really paying off so far! X

Really appreciate this update, thanks OP :-)
Did he start smiling and making eye contact as a baby, just a few weeks late? or did all that not develop until much later/if at all? Did he coo/laugh?
Thanks

Original poster
Mococo1 · 17/03/2025 13:21

@dogmuminsurreyNo worries! I logged back on after a long time so it was meant to be ( am im looking ttc number 2 as DS keeps asking for a sibling) thank you for saying he is lucky to have me but i feel so lucky to have him, seeing the world through him has been amazing, its made me a lot more of a laid back parent and changed me for the better completely ❤️

@theadooryhe did start smiling eventually and he did make eye contact but not in the traditional manner- i would say even now its fleeting at best (he tends to look at my mouth/entire face). He smiled at 10 weeks properly and then became quite a smiley baby and giggled/laughed at 14weeks, he met most physical milestone early but followed his own pattern with speech/gestures (pointed at 14months) and was delayed but within the later range. Even now with speech hes delayed but not eligible for slt on the nhs

OP posts:
theadoory · 01/12/2025 23:58

Mococo1 · 17/03/2025 13:21

@dogmuminsurreyNo worries! I logged back on after a long time so it was meant to be ( am im looking ttc number 2 as DS keeps asking for a sibling) thank you for saying he is lucky to have me but i feel so lucky to have him, seeing the world through him has been amazing, its made me a lot more of a laid back parent and changed me for the better completely ❤️

@theadooryhe did start smiling eventually and he did make eye contact but not in the traditional manner- i would say even now its fleeting at best (he tends to look at my mouth/entire face). He smiled at 10 weeks properly and then became quite a smiley baby and giggled/laughed at 14weeks, he met most physical milestone early but followed his own pattern with speech/gestures (pointed at 14months) and was delayed but within the later range. Even now with speech hes delayed but not eligible for slt on the nhs

Thanks so much for your update.
My DS is now ten months old. He smiles and giggles and is very engaged, but he isn’t looking at us in the eyes. He’s always focussed on our mouths. He’s also very loud, making loud yelps and shouts a lot. Should I still be worried do you think?
He’s very smiley and laughs and plays - but there isn’t really eye contact at all. Has anyone had a baby meeting all the behaviours but missing the eye contact?

Momlife2025 · 02/12/2025 19:19

@Mococo1 would you mind sharing what at home therapy’s you started? Thank you in advance xx

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