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Behaviour/development

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Showing signs of autism at 9 months?

9 replies

El91 · 12/11/2024 20:34

Hi everyone, my LB has just turned 9 months (7 months corrected). For months now I’ve noticed that he constantly twirls his wrists/hands and ankles. It kind of looks like he’s revving a motorbike lol. As the weeks go on I feel like he’s doing it more and more. It’s mostly when he’s laying on his back or in his swing, but within the past couple of weeks he’s started doing it ALL the time. I didn’t mention my concerns to anyone but a few people have commented on it recently, even my husband (who never notices anything lol) mentioned it and now I’m worried sick. I made the mistake of googling it and the first thing that comes up is autism.
He is also a bit behind on his milestones, isn’t sitting up or even rolling. He was 8 weeks premature so has appointments with a paediatrician every few months. We had an appointment yesterday and the paediatrician said she wasn’t too worried yet about him not sitting etc. as he is only 7 months corrected, but she referred him to physio. I showed her videos of the hand twirling but she just didn’t want to know as he’s still so young. She said to put things like that out of my head but to keep an eye on it. Honestly I thought she would tell me that’s it’s completely normal at this stage and not to worry but she didn’t put my mind at ease at all 😩 I just can’t shake the feeling that there’s something wrong.
I also have a 2.5 year old and I know I shouldn’t compare them but I’ve been looking back at videos of her when she was around the same age and she seems so much more advanced. My LB just seems very ‘babyish’ still and it’s really getting me down that he can’t really do much other that lay on his back.
I work with autistic adults and I know it’s far too early to be worrying about it at this stage but I’m wondering if anyone has noticed any autistic traits in their LO’s at this age and they ended up having autism? Or did anyone’s else’s babies constantly twirl their hands and just grow out of it?

OP posts:
Worriedaboutawobble · 12/11/2024 21:29

I'm not an expert at all but do you think it could just be the Rotation Schema?

El91 · 12/11/2024 22:10

Worriedaboutawobble · 12/11/2024 21:29

I'm not an expert at all but do you think it could just be the Rotation Schema?

I have never heard of this before, I will have a look 😊

OP posts:
Devilsmommy · 14/11/2024 13:24

@El91 if your little one is 7 months then it could just be that she's stretching because she's growing. My little one did this alot at that age but grew out of it fairly quickly

NJJT · 22/05/2025 14:23

Any update on your little one?

El91 · 22/05/2025 17:28

NJJT · 22/05/2025 14:23

Any update on your little one?

Hi! He is now almost 16 months and he still twirls his hands the odd time but nowhere near as much. He has caught up on a lot of his milestones and seems to be developing normally! I can’t say for sure yet that he doesnt have autism but my worries have definitely eased a bit ☺️

OP posts:
NJJT · 23/05/2025 16:34

That’s great to hear! Was he babbling much when he was younger? My little guy is twirling his wrists and is very quiet with any babbling.

El91 · 23/05/2025 19:39

NJJT · 23/05/2025 16:34

That’s great to hear! Was he babbling much when he was younger? My little guy is twirling his wrists and is very quiet with any babbling.

No he was a very quiet baby and didn’t babble much at all. I also have a 3 year old that was the same and didn’t babble at all as a baby, now she never shuts up 🤣 so I think it definitely can be normal for them not to babble much 🙂

OP posts:
BunnyRuddington · 24/05/2025 07:34

NJJT · 23/05/2025 16:34

That’s great to hear! Was he babbling much when he was younger? My little guy is twirling his wrists and is very quiet with any babbling.

How old is your baby? Wrist twirling is normal baby behaviour and only a problem if it continues for a long time.

If they are quiet, you can check that they are on track with their communication here Flowers

NJJT · 27/05/2025 22:12

@El91 does he have more words now?

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