8 month old not hitting milestones

[ATJ]

Hello mums,

I'm a very anxious person and I've been in tears with worry over my 8 month old these last couple of days.

My son never learnt to roll over and still doesn't, he doesn't copy or mimic us, he can't clap or wave, he doesn't respond to his name and he's started to do this hand motion where he flaps and twists his wrists (stimming). He also doesn't seem to want to crawl. Everything I have read points to Autism and I'm so so worried.

He does however sit up unaided and play/pick up toys nicely, he makes lots of eye contact and smiles a lot. He babbles a bit but it’s more ahhh’s. He's really easy to make laugh and giggle, he has no problems with foods and he's a good sleeper.

I really need to hear from mothers who have gone through something similar and their baby turned out to be fine.

Every time I see a baby near his age hitting these milestones i start to panic and freak out.

Please help!

Hi there, I know what it's like to be a worried mother, it's never ending at times! I'm not sure about rolling (although my niece didn't roll until she was a year and she's fine!) but 8 months is still pretty early for crawling. Lots of babies don't crawl until a year or longer. I'm pretty sure 8 months is very early for clapping or waving; my son is 10 months and only started waving a few weeks ago and isn't clapping yet. I think 9 to 15 months is the average time to start that.

It's great that your son is sitting up and smiling/laughing. I've read on here that sometimes babies don't respond to their name at that age but it might be no harm to get his hearing checked just in case if you're worried.

You could always discuss it with your HV or GP if you're worried but I don't think you need to be panicking! All babies develop at different rates, that's what I keep telling myself!

Thank you so much for your reply. Yes I’ve spoken to the HV and they have sent me a questionnaire to fill out. Im praying it’s all in my head and he will get there when he’s ready.

Hi my DD is just over 8 months and doesn't crawl. She is a very sturdy sitter, can roll both ways and hold her head and torso up during tummy time but she doesn't particularly like it. She babbles a lot at times but is still on dada oooo eeee aaahhh sounds. She can kind of clap, she does the motion but not hard enough for sound and last week she started banging two blocks together. Sometimes if waved at she'll half raise an arm and kind of flap her hand a bit but rarely. She looks towards her name when she can be bothered.

I think milestones can be a bit poisonous to us mums. My HV told me that there is no nhs standard age for crawling, they would only be concerned if not walking by 18 months.

Yes I'm trying not to stress so much about the milestones. It's more the fact he doesn't seem to respond to his name which is my main concern.

I can sit right next to her and repeatedly say her name whilst prodding her too and I get nothing. Then sometimes I'll say it and she looks. I'd say she looks 1% of the time. She is great with eye contact, laughing and interaction so I'm not too concerned. I think she's just got a lot going on and getting stimulated by so many things that she doesn't listen to me calling her

Any update on this?

i am having the same worries about my 8.5 month old baby - I know they say not to compare but it is difficult not to!

he’s not clapping or waving and showing no signs of crawling. He does roll and can sit unaided.

@Imliterallywingingit I don't think that crawling is an 8 month milestone but getting into the crawling position is.

You might get the OP to come back if you try an @ but I think in your position I'd ask the HV if she can do the Ages & Stages questionnairee* to see if there are any concerns

My son has now just turned 1. He does answer to his name now which is reassuring, he started to crawl and 9.5 months and has started to mimic us sometimes.
However I do still have my concerns, he doesn't clap and only waves sometimes when we show him. And hasn't said his first word yet but does babble a lot.
Still not walking either although he pulls himself up on everything and cruises along furniture.

I've spoken to the HV a few times and they have even seen us for an appointment but to be honest I feel like all they say is he seems fine and it's too early to tell if there's a problem 😩

Thank you!

Thank you for the update! - it sounds like he’s doing well!

@ATJ hi, I have similar concerns about my 8,5 months old son although more red flags than yours. Does your baby still twirl/ stim? How does it / did it look when he was doing it? I am also besides myself with worry :( he is my first baby at 36 and I am unlikely to have another one due to health issues.

I know this is an old post and it’s naughty to bump them, but any update pls?
similar concerns with my 8m old but also other things too incl fleeting eye contact and other bits…

My son is doing great. He is 3yo and I am sure it is not autism. I think j it could be adhd though, I myself is awaiting diagnosis. But dor a baby who hasn't said a first word until 15mo his speech is amazing now and he is social and emotional and just lovely.