5.5 month old autism concerns

[Momlife2025]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with early signs of autism.

My baby is 5.5 months - some more context below

Does anyone know where to start/steps to take or what I can do to help?

1. Eye Contact - never looked when bottle feeding, no eye contact when held, or out on knee etc
2. When people try to get his attention for example when out in pram (they say hi, touch him to get his attention - he does not look or respond - like no one is there?)
3. Sometimes will zone out (looks at surroundings but will not respond if I try to talk/get attention even when up close)
4. Always been a quiet baby but stopped cooing/making ahh/eehh/squeling around 4 months, was quiet for a few weeks but has just started squealing and some ba/ra sounds have started
5. No back and forth sounds
6. Just started to tense whole body up
7. Twirling wrists and feet
8. Does not recognise himself in mirror, sometimes avoids it totally, sometimes will look at you & smile
9. Does not consistently look when spoken too or when there is a loud noise - passed newborn screening
10. Does not like people’s faces/eyes seems more object focused (follows/tracks toys)
11. Does not bare weight on legs
12. Has stomach issues and eczema
13. Seems to recognise name when called
14. Most of the time will notice when someone comes into room (except when playing)
15. Always smiles back at you

Thank you in advance!

Hi OP,

5.5 months is astonishingly too little to make judgements on autism. I would instead focus on expected milestones (there is a range, rather than one target age) and discuss with your health visitor or GP.

Following as similar concerns for my LO who is a similar age x

I know. There are so many posts like this recently and I’ve seen a few MNers say that it’s posts on their SM making them concerned.

It’s possibly good to be aware when they’re young that ASD is a possibility but I fear for a lot of new parents that the joy of just being with their baby is being robbed from them.

@Momlife2025if you’re really concerned you could maybe do the 6 month Social & Emotional Ages & Stages?

How old is your baby and what are your concerns?

Thank you - will take the ages & stages and see how we get on!

Let is know how they score

@Momlife2025 similar to yours… LO will not look at ANYONE. Family members try to interact and LO does not look at them at all and just stares off jnto the abyss (seems in own world). So hard to bond when doesn’t look at me or father. If you call or talk LO doesn’t turn to you (passed hearing test and also can hear and when dog barks LO jumps). Doesn’t coo much. Does smile at you though when you manage to catch attention (which is very rarely). Doesn’t cry when wakes up at night for a bottle, lays there and waits for you to get up and give it. Very delayed with tummy time and holding head up. Doesn’t bare weight on legs. Just to name a few. LO also 5.5m

DS is autistic and I had absolutely no idea at this age. Knowing he is/isn't autistic won't make a difference to him at this age, but speak to your HV and tell her your concerns. Then just enjoy him and see how he goes, he's still very little.

@Sam390 what level is he? What age did you become aware he may have ASD?
I am trying to ignore my worries and enjoy this (which I think I have come to accept now). It’s just nice to hear of others that had similar experiences and to hear how their LO’s turned out if they needed additional help or not.
mummas gut instinct is never wrong IMO (and this isn’t my first rodeo, I have another child)

So hard to bond it’s heartbreaking especially as a second time mum!

Hi op, do you have any updates on your lo? my son is 5 months and doing to same

Have you had a look at the Ages & Stages that I linked to @tommy123456?

where do I find that

It’s here

Thank you . After reading Momlife2025 signs , her post gave me more anxiety and worrisome . I never heard such thing that she noted about her baby could be related to autism .

All sound normal apart from 10 and maybe 11.

the no eye contact when up close is normal, if they give eye contact from a greater distance

@tommy123456did you manage to do the progress checker yet?

My first, now three and a half is on the ASD Pathway and I knew at 6 months. I just knew.

I was SO gaslit by everyone around me about it. like I was so desperate for him to have a neurodivergence. I wasn't, but I was acutely aware that the earlier I logged my concerns, the earlier he would be assessed and if support was then needed for school, the more likely I was to have this in place ready for reception.

In my experience, the earliest health visitors like to look into it is at the 9-12 month ASQ review. If your child falls behind, you'll then likely also fill in an ASQ SE. This was vital in our referral for a full community pediatrics assessment in preparation for diagnosis.

5.5 months might be too soon to say if they're autistic, but it's not too soon to log your concerns.