10 week old baby development concerns

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My 10 week baby was referred to paediatrics by HV at 9 weeks old as she “scored zero” on some areas of assessment.
She isn’t really smiling, doesn’t follow objects with her eyes.
In the last week we have had a few smiles and the start of cooing but nothing consistent and I feel like it takes a lot of work to get her to smile. But then she will randomly smile at objects or into space. She often looks away from me but then I do wonder if she can see me very well.
We saw a paediatrician this week who has referred us to opthalmology so I am currently awaiting the appointment for this.
I think I’m half hoping it is something to do with sight as then we can hopefully help to sort it for her but am desperately worried it could be something cognitive.
She is my 3rd baby (3 under 3) and am acutely aware of how much less she is doing than her big sister and brother were at the same age. I’ve done some reading into delayed vision maturation and feel she ticks a lot of boxes for this but again it could just be my wishful thinking.
I’m just worried sick about my tiny baby.
Has anyone been in a similar position and is able to reassure?
Thank you x

That must be so worrying but at least the HV has taken this seriously, so many times people are told to wait and see.

Hopefully it will be her sight

Hey how is your lo?

I'm going through the same thing

Hi @Alicet31 my LO is now 14 weeks and smiling and cooing away properly 😊. We went to see ophthalmology last week and after doing an incredibly thorough test of her eyesight (which I wasn’t sure would be possible at this age) they said her vision is absolutely fine so they think she must have had delayed vision maturation but will see her again in 3 months to be certain. We are going to see paediatrics again next week but am fairly confident they won’t have any concerns as she is doing everything else you would expect for her age.
I really feel it all could have been handled quite differently by the HV i saw initially to be honest. She gave me no reassurance at all and left me thinking there was something hugely wrong with my baby. I hope you are ok- I was absolutely beside myself for weeks. Is your baby similar? Sending love. X

Thank you! That's so lovely to hear! I'm glad your LO is improving. My daughter is 10 weeks old and she avoids looking at me. She's smiled a few times but mainly at the shelves. When she does look at me she will avoid eye contact. If I try and get her to make eye contact she either look away or turn her head. It's so heartbreaking. Everything I've read online has freaked me out so I'm desperately trying to find people that have gone through something similar. Did your LO avoid your face and eye contact? I'm so worried I can barely function. I really appreciate you taking the time to get back to me.

This was my baby too. It was like she looked past your face and would smile into the distance or at random inanimate things. I was exactly the same as you - frantically googling and everything I found had me ill with worry. Have you been referred to see a paediatrician or anything? X

I saw my GP but she said she seemed fine. She said she probably is just a slow developer and she will not send her to get her hearing or eyes checked until 4 months. I'm just so overwhelmed and feel like everyday is a waiting game. She has made some improvement and have got a few smiles but still feel like something is wrong. She really avoids eye contact although she has made it a few times which again is a improvement. Hopefully in a couple more weeks I'll be able to update with some good news!

She sounds very similar to my little one. I did absolutely loads of black and white with her- flash cards/ sensory strip in pram/ muslin I would take everywhere- when she was in car seat in car I would drape it over the seat she was facing/ drape over toy arch etc. I do think it helped a lot. How old is your LO now?
I know it’s the most awful time but I promise you my little one seems fine now. We were discharged from the hospital this week as outpatient as paediatrician said she had zero concerns about her.