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Behaviour/development

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Worried about 9 month old development

14 replies

Fruitynug · 11/01/2023 18:56

I'm worried about my 9 month old's development. He can sit okay but needs pillows around him for when he topples and won't put his arms out when he falls, he can't lift himself up on her arms or knees in to a crawling position but he can roll for England. On top of this he is displaying traits which point to autism when you research it so i'm wondering if anyone else has had these problems but their child did not have autism? His eye contact is okay sometimes, it used to be great. He won't respond to his name, he rarely likes to be cuddled and arches away from me quite often when I hold him unless your carrying him about whilst doing things so he can see. Sometimes it's hard to make him look at me and his attention is alway somewhere else. He does smile quite a lot and giggles occasionally but it can be hard work to make it happen. He's only just started to babble so is on Manama and bababa and he's recently started making this low pitch screeching noise that sounds like a gorilla! He does it whenever he is excited. Am I worrying for no reason? I would really appreciate any advice and especially from parents with children who have autism. Thank you

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MattieandmummyandIs · 12/01/2023 20:12

I think the not putting arms out to stop themselves falling is quite normal at 9 months, mine certainly didn't at this age. The not crawling I think is also within normal age range for his age. I don't have any experience with autism but the rest of the things you mention seem fairly normal. Mine definitely went through a phase of not wanting to be held because they wanted to be down and investigating things.

Perhaps go and have a chat with your health visitor to be sure.

PritiPatelsMaker · 12/01/2023 20:21

Agree with Mattie, if you are concerned then talk to your HV. It might be worth doing this SLT progress checker first it will tell you if there are any concerns.

Hallolorik27 · 31/08/2023 16:23

HI Fruitynug

how is your son now? everything went fine?

Fruitynug · 31/08/2023 19:27

@Hallolorik27 hey! Yes, absolutely fine! He's a walking, talking and crazy 16 month old now. Looking back at this, I was suffering from post partum anxiety pretty bad. I spoke to my HV and got some help with that which really changed my perspective for the better.

I hope you and your little one are okay xx

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SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 01/09/2023 15:54

Fruitynug · 31/08/2023 19:27

@Hallolorik27 hey! Yes, absolutely fine! He's a walking, talking and crazy 16 month old now. Looking back at this, I was suffering from post partum anxiety pretty bad. I spoke to my HV and got some help with that which really changed my perspective for the better.

I hope you and your little one are okay xx

So glad you e got some help @Fruitynug Flowers

Hallolorik27 · 11/09/2023 11:34

I'm so happy that your son is okay, it's so bad to feel like this. My son is 9 and a half months old. He has been babbling since before he was 7 months old. But what worries me so much is that he doesn't smile when I smile at him and he understands a lot. he was smiling since before he was 4 months old then it changed. he has become serious. Before he turned 9 months 8 and a half he was smiling a little more and responded to his name 60%. Now he seems to have changed again. He stutters but not with me. He doesn't copy or imitate. What was your son like at the age of mine? My husband thinks his mood changes when I start to get stressed.

Fruitynug · 11/09/2023 19:23

@Hallolorik27 to be honest, he sounds exactly like my little boy! It was like a switch flicked around 6 months old, but honestly I really think it was just him adjusting to the world and his own little personality coming through. My little lad is pretty serious and its not always easy to get him laughing, but that's just who he is! His father is the same haha. He also didn't imitate, he does now though. It just takes time xx

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Hallolorik27 · 12/09/2023 15:58

thanks so much for the reply. My son changes mood many times, some days you will see him smiling other times he seems to be angry with you. His response to the name has dropped again to 10%. This worries me a lot. I called him too many times, perhaps I exaggerated. Since he was 4 months old I haven't enjoyed it anymore.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 12/09/2023 17:12

My husband thinks his mood changes when I start to get stressed.

Your DH is probably right, they do react very much to how you behave and are feeling.

If you are worried I'd do this 9 months SLT progress checker if it says "you've answered no to some important questions", they've got a helpline you could call Flowers

Fruitynug · 12/09/2023 19:12

@Hallolorik27 oh I'm so sorry you feel that way, but I totally get it, it's so bloody hard and sometimes us new mums don't have the support we need.
Are you based in the UK? If so I would highly recommend reaching out to your health visitor or if not your doctor. I took my little one in for a check up because I was so concerned. He was given a good look over and he was absolutely fine, that's when I decided it was time for me to seek support for my anxiety and depression (which at the time I didn't think that I had, I was convinced nobody was seeing what I was seeing with my son)

The best thing I ever did was seeking support for my own mental health, I think poor mental health is really normalised for new mums and it really shouldn't. I wasn't enjoying motherhood so much since my son was around 4-5 months when his mood suddenly changed, and now my biggest regret is not seeming help for myself then and missing out on that precious time because I was stuck in my own head.

It's very very normal for babies at that age to not respond to their name and no not mimic! Please if you have any concerns get them checked over, but also please be kind to yourself. You're doing a great job, if you wasn't you wouldn't be worried about your little one ❤️

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Hallolorik27 · 12/09/2023 21:07

I'm in Germany and I don't know English well,
.I have my 9 month check up tomorrow and I'm so confused I don't know what to answer the questions. I'm the same since he got serious around 4 months I panicked and I text him all the time. I can't get through my days without thinking. I will talk to the pediatrician and ask her for help. Thank you for sharing your experience with me.It made me feel good to talk to a mom who understands my concerns❤️

Fruitynug · 13/09/2023 06:59

@Hallolorik27 All you need to do is answer the questions honestly, and highlight any concerns ❤️ I hope it all goes well for you, you are not alone!!

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Donmeistersleepmachine · 03/02/2024 10:19

Thank you for updating your thread! Put my mind at ease. Anxious mum of 8 month old in same boat as you were. Glad your boy is developing lovely x

Fruitynug · 04/02/2024 07:11

@Donmeistersleepmachine oh I totally feel you, that age is such a strange / worrying time! All babies are so different with their development at this stage, it all varies so much.
It feels like a lifetime ago when I posted this, if it helps my son is now 21 months, he walks, talks, sings, dances and is bright as a button. Until about 18 months I would say he was a little more delayed than other babies socially that we saw, but that’s just him! He is still shy with new people, that’s just his personality! I really hope this helps, honestly I spent so much time on google and Reddit when my little one was that age, feeding my worries. If you are ever concerned please reach out to your health visitor or doctor even if it is just to put your mind at ease 💕

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