Honestly, are these signs of Autism in my 1 year old?

[justonemorespoonofoatmeal]

My DD is 1 next week. I'm starting to really notice things that are 'different' about her, different to my two older children, and things I've now read may point to autism. I know it's unlikely she'll be assessed or anything at this stage especially on NHS, but just looking for other's experiences or knowledge, if ok.

1. She does not consistently respond to her name yet. Maybe around 1/4 of the time she will turn if say her name, but will also turn at other words so cannot even be sure she is responding to name, certainly not consistently.

2. She does not yet point or wave. She does try to clap her hands and reaches up to get picked up.

3. She is very often 'in her own little world', her eye contact is definitely different than my other two at this age and I think different from other babies. She does make eye contact, but it's sporadic. For example at times she will make great eye contact and interact, smile and laugh back and forwards, but often she will eat a whole meal or a whole nappy change without making eye contact at all, like she's actually avoiding it.

4. She does smile, laugh, babble sounds, and cuddle (sometimes).

5. She rocks back and forward when bored or upset or repeatedly bangs her back against things. She also hand flaps A LOT - over anything, excitement or just about everything. She sometimes puts her hands over her ears, rocks back and forward whilst pulling at her hair both sides!

6. She is very fussy, although could just be fussy!

7. She does pull up to stand, cruise furniture etc, good fine motor control, so far only feeds herself finger foods not really from spoon although she tries (think that's normal). She makes no effort to drink from bottle or cup herself, have even tried a few cups, but she will drink from both if put to her mouth.

It's at the point that even her dad who has been poo-pooing my concerns for the past couple months telling me no way and that I'm overthinking it, even he is starting to question it.

Does this sound like other's experiences please? Has anyone had a child who was like this at exactly 1 and did they turn out to be autistic? Just wanting to prepare and read up more if it is likely. Her next HV assessment isn't until December.

I forgot to put, she also has a favourite tv show - yes I know no screens until 2 it's supposed to be, but I strictly only give her 30-45 minutes per day and absolutely no tablets just tv, I'm basically a completely single parent with no help, her dad works really long hours six days a week so I use this whilst I run about doing urgent stuff that hasn't been caught up on during the day . She will only watch something else other than this show for a couple of minutes maximum, before starting crying if anything else is put on or comes on!

Have you had her 12 month review yet @justonemorespoonofoatmeal?

@ExplodingSmittens She's 12 months this next week but 12 month review not until December.

Dr google will tell you any child not meeting their milestones is autistic, I speak from experience. The spectrum of autism is also so vast. I know you know it’s too young to tell. What I will say is keep a record of everything, keep in touch with your health visitor. If she fails the communication/social aspects ask what next, when there will be a follow up etc. opposite but similar I have a very social, chatty baby but who by his 12 months check had 0 gross motor skills beyond sitting and I got a lot of ‘walking is normal up to 18 months’ when he couldn’t crawl, bum shuffle, walk, pull up, stand, climb etc. anyway 6 months later we had his neurological disorder diagnosis. Unfortunately at this she everything is a guessing game and although it’s exhausting you just need to stay on it

Try to reduce her screen time because no screen time for this age of child means totally avoiding screen which includes television, phones and all other gadgets. Try to get her sensory toys as they would help her reach developmental milestones easily and would also enable her skills. Getting this once checked will help to create a management plan for her.

@Meand2Ls Thank you for advice. I will try keeping a log of everything and definitely be asking questions if she is not meeting these milestones by her 12 month check up. I'm really sorry to hear of your son diagnosis. My daughter also has a question mark over a genetic diagnosis (not associated with milestones or anything but can be dangerous) and it's been woeful so far the lack of proactivity to do anything or refer to anyone who would actually know, it's honestly negligent. Private geneticist wrote a letter recommending scans every 6 months but NHS completely ignored that and discharged her!

She’s 1 so stimming is normal behaviour, it only becomes abnormal if it’s it a much older age. A lot of these things could be personality related. Some children are very socially motivated and some live in their own world. I have the latter and he’s amazing, not autistic though.

If you’re not seeing the HV until December I think it might be worth doing the 12 month assessments now yourself and marking them.

There’s the 12 month Ages & Stages.

With that one they are expected to get grey in one or two areas but if it’s more than two, or if she scores grey in any area you’ll need the HV to refer her to a Paediatrician.

Then there is the 12 month Social & Emotional Ages & Stages. If she scores over 40 on that one I’d ask the HV to bring forward her assessment. If she scores over 50 again the HV should refer her to a Paediatrician straightaway.