Hello,
Please be kind. I have a lovely 11 month old DS, and he is amazing. He's very smiley, very happy and socially great. He babbled from 9 months, says Mama and Dada, not in context but will repeat if I say it. He will make noises to get our attention if not looking at him, and will do it back and fourth like a game. He blows raspberries if I do it first. He claps and imitates me if I clap. Has just started to do it when I start to sing 'Happy and you know it'. We are working on waving but not there yet. I think he follows a point sometimes, if he's bothered by what I'm saying! He also looks for Daddy and dog if I ask where they are. He crawled at 9 months and is pulling up and has cruised a couple of times. He smiles at strangers and is very social. He has just started a childminder and she said he loves what the other children are doing and tried to get involved. He dances when music is on and if we dance he will do a little bounce type dance. He crawls up to us when we enter a room and loves to be entertained by his brothers (two 6 year olds). Overall development wise I have no concerns at all.
The only concerns I do have are some movements he does, he will rock back and fourth and flap in his high chair, it a plastic one and if you rock the whole back of the chair will rock too, he tends to do this towards then end of his meal and is accompanied by smiling and squeals, especially if his brothers are there. He doesn't do this in any other high chair. His ankles also twirl but only when he is flapping, this isn't constant. He has started to open and close his hands and stare at them, could this be because we are learning to wave?! He will also imitate if I do it first. Miss Rachel does an 'open shut them' song too so could be that. When in his cot or play pen he will sometimes foot rub really fast although his feet don't actually touch, could this just be because the sheet and pen create a noise when he does it. All of these things can be interrupted and he will stop once I call his name. He has rocked back and fourth a couple of times but again can be interrupted and only seen him do it twice.
I seem to have fallen into a rabbit hole with stimming and autism and I'm very aware he is still so little. I just need some reassurance, that I'm being a bit OTT. My DH thinks I'm being ridiculous (probably am) but I needed to get it out as it's not good to keep it all bottled up.
If anyone has any experience please do share, and again be kind, it has taken a lot for me to do this.
Thank you, a google obsessed over anxious mother x