Could this be sign of autism? Or normal child? Worrying FTM!

[MumOfHals]

Advise Girlies 🤍🤍

My little girl is 14 months old & she’s not really a ‘cuddly’ child.. she’s more interested in being off and exploring!!

I am just worried about the possibility it could be a marker for autism?

She’s very good at responding to her name, she’s very sociable, makes good eye contact, she’s not really saying too much yet but has very good understanding.

She interacts in different ways, like will hide and giggle until we find her, plays peek-a-boo, she will love us blowing raspberries & she loves us putting her finger in our mouth and going ‘pop’..

She eats all foods, she’s not really fussy or upset with routine change...

I’m just wondering, if it’s something I need to keep my eye on? Or it’s quite normal for a exploring bubba!

She’s much too young to make that kind of determination but didn’t what you’ve posted it seems unlikely. My DD was 2 and a half when she was diagnosed which was considered to be a very early diagnosis but her deficits were much more pronounced than just not being a cuddler and slightly delayed speech but within normal ranges.

Not being cuddly isn't a marker for autism.

I would keep an eye on her and read up on autism

My son was diagnosed at 2 but he had a myriad of behaviours and actually he is exceptionally cuddly. An ASD assessment is made across three or so areas like social interaction, communication and play and repetitive behaviours not just based on one thing like that, it doesn't sound like she has other markers. At that age my son, wouldn't respond to name, wouldn't copy, no pointing, no attempt at communication, his only play was collecting items and arranging them - things like that really. Even as a small baby he wouldn't indicate he was hungry so there were signs there from a very small age

My son didn't really start wanting cuddles until he was 18/19 months old he was always off exploring. Now he loves cuddles at 21 months x

Not everyone is a cuddler! My first child was like this, I actually think she was just very secure and didn't need lots of cuddles. Of course she did if she'd fallen over or having a story at bed time but other than that she was quite independent. She's now a very loving, empathetic adult.

@Snakeprint

I would keep an eye on her and read up on autism

I would do the opposite. Not being cuddly has nothing to do with autism. OP should enjoy her baby, who sounds like an absolutely normal baby.

Your thread title is really offensive. I'm autistic. I am also normal. There's nothing wrong with being autistic.

My children are both autistic. They make eye contact, have great vocab, and are both really cuddly.

If your child is autistic then you'll see more obvious traits later on, my children's were obvious from age 5.

But either way, there's nothing to worry about, your child is who they are, neurodiverse or not, just enjoy them.

I also agree it's horrible to say a "normal child" by the way. My son is not abnormal.

Agree with others this is really offensive. Please think about the language you use

Ds is autistic and was diagnosed rather young but he was always a cuddly toddler and still is as a teenager.

Normal? Because autistic children are abnormal?

DS has autism and is very cuddly. He is also quite normal. He sees the world in a slightly different way to others, but that doesn’t make him ‘abnormal’. The only thing that makes me fearful for him is the unkindness of much of the world towards anyone perceived as different. Or not ‘normal’.

Please think more carefully about your words. They hurt.

For a child to get a diagnosis of autism they need to tick a number of boxes so have a number of autistic traits. As you are only worried about one trait (not being cuddly) I would say it’s very unlikely she has autism. Both my dc have autism, one wasn’t cuddly, she didn’t even like being picked up as a baby and would cry if anyone looked at her but she also had many other traits including poor eye contact and she rarely slept, she had sensory issues with food and clothes.

I'm more offended by "girlies" -shudders-

Yabu. Step back.

I have 4 dc and the cuddliest one is the one who has a diagnosis of Autism so for that, yabu.

Hth

Need Bit of a advice, my son 22 month old he is social with adults but doesn’t like to be round other kids he has eye contact he has recently started waving one hand I’m thinking it’s repetitive behaviour he lines all his toys up anything really he does copy me like I say who’s on phone he would hold it to his ear he does not point the only thing he will point too is his teeth if I say we’re your teeth he points at his head too I just think he’s really behind from other kids I’ve seen for his age

He does not speak either just dada an baba

@Rachelme12 you need to start your own thread.
Not being cuddly is not a marker for autism. I wish people would read up on things sometimes before posting, it's really crap the way it's worded.

We are adult women not girlies
Children with autism are also normal
Stop looking for signs of autism in your baby

The lack of self-awareness and concern for others in the mother is by far the greater worry here...

I have another fabulously cuddly autistic here - he’s 11 now and has always been cuddly. Nothing bad about being autistic but it doesn’t sound like your daughter is anything more than too busy to stay still which a lot of kids are at that age.