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Behaviour/development

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First signs of Autism

5 replies

babydays12 · 21/06/2022 06:33

Hi there

Feeling a little neurotic about this given my child is only 11 weeks old but my MIL from 3 weeks has been going on and on about how DS makes no eye contact and " might need glasses"

For weeks I'd been telling her it takes up to 10 weeks before children can focus and make substantial eye contact, it for so annoying with my MIL that I told my husband to tell her to stop bringing it up.

Anyway, fast forward and now mr child is 11 weeks and he's still not making eye contact, at least not when being held/fed.

I think he makes it sometimes when we stand at a distance but it's hard to know if he's looking at our eyes, other facial features or right through us.

He did plateau quite severely with his weight (dropped from 75th to 2nd percentile between birth and week 9 so I have been wondering if that's delay development.

More more in my mind is autism possibilities. I know it's ridiculous to try and label a 2 month old with ASD but it kind of feel eye contact is a big marker.

He babbles abs has some limited tracking, chews on his hands, smile (mainly when I tickle his cheeks) and he's just started to try and lift his head at tummy time (he LOVES tummy time so the issue with head lifting was that he was totally content and would just lie there and not try)

I've contacted HV who's referred us to ophthalmologist but it's a 10 week wait 😔

Anyone else had anything similar?

OP posts:
babydays12 · 23/06/2022 19:00

Anyone had experience similar?

OP posts:
greenjewel · 23/06/2022 19:56

Autism is a lot lot more than poor eye contact! Enjoy your baby (he sounds perfect) and ignore mil.

babydays12 · 23/06/2022 21:13

Thanks for your reply.

I know that I sound ridiculous and I really do try to ignore my MIL but it's in there now and I almost feel like I need resist the temptation to buy him more time to mature by make a point of his sporadic eye contact.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not catastrophising Autism, in a ideal world a neurotypical child would be what would be 'easier' in a traditional way (I hope that doesn't sound ablest - it's not my intent) it's just I'm constantly reading abs rereading google now my MIL has let the genie out of the bottle so to speak.

He's 11 weeks now and it's almost like he's giving less eye contact and zero interest in lifting his head. I am living in the moment and enjoying my gorgeous, perfect little bundle but I'm just struggling with the uncertainty and the waiting.

OP posts:
babydays12 · 27/06/2022 05:07

I just thought I'd update this thread for anyone else who finds themselves in my position.

Almost like a switch, my little boy started to make eye contact, babble and smile at me over the weekend.

I knew babies all progress at their own pace, and reading all the articles I had online that it was common for eye contact to come closer to 12 weeks rather than 6/8weeks but I couldn't help worry when thr missed milestones were piling up.

He still has no interest in lifting his head in tummy time but I think that's mainly because he LOVES it having spent most of his life lying on someone's tummy 😆

Anyway, I'm just 24 hours my LO decided to have a massive leap abs all that worry was seemingly misplaced.

Let time run its course before worrying, it really is true that they run in their own clock x

OP posts:
Sandcastles24 · 27/06/2022 19:56

Does he not make eye contact but stare at other things or do his eyes flicker? It can take 4 months for eyes to settle. but if they flicker still after 5 months you could ask the GP to refer to check him for a squint.
Not every eye difference is connected to autism. If it worries you or you mother inlaw it doesn't hurt to get it checked out

It is most likely nothing but something to keep in mind

Causes of poor eye contact

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