Development milsetone post natal anxiety - autism

[Meg2158]

Not posted on here before just kind of wanted to see if anyone else has struggled with something similar. I suffered with anxiety before having my little boy (first time mum) and think lockdown etc intensified everything as it was just me and my boy home alone most of the time for months.
Anyway, he's now 9 months old and I can't stop worrying about milestones etc and worrying he has autism or something. I think deep down I know it's just anxiety but I can't stop worrying about his development etc.
He is a very active baby and started trying to crawl at 6 months and properly crawling at 7 months. He immediately started pulling up and cruising and loves just cruising around the furniture pulling things off shelves and playing with the toys on his jumperoo when stood next to it! He's very advanced with his motor skills generally and I have no concerns there at all. I just worry because he's not a very babbly or "laughy" baby. He does laugh but you have to work for it and he does smile and did so at 4 weeks old for the first time. He does say mama baba gaga and dada a but he seems to babble a new word like mad for a few days then he moves into something else. People comment what a quiet baby he is which adds to my anxiety (he's rarely super quiet at home).
He just wants to be off exploring all the time and isn't hugely cuddly apart form when breastfeeding. He often doesn't repaond to his name, seems to be on his terms (not sure if it's because he's so engrossed in what he's doing as he's very inquisitive). He has just started waving but again very much on his own terms. He's never really mimicked things like sticking tongue out although he will mimic banging objects together and waving. He does have good eye contact, again when he's not busy (he's been described as a "busy baby" by every health professional we've encountered 🙈)
I guess I'm wanting some reassurance really. Or someone else's experiences of post natal anxiety and what helped? I feel a bit stuck at the moment and everyone except me thinks he's doing absolutely fine. My husband is not starting to lose patience with my worrying and I just want to move past it and enjoy my little boy.

I think for 9 months he sounds fantastic .
If you google NHS milestone guidance you will see words especially words said in the right context come much much later.

I'd be very proud if my baby was doing all that - she's 8 months and not even crawling !!

Understand it's normal to be anxious but try just enjoy him it goes so fast!!

He sounds absolutely normal, in some ways advanced, and completely lovely.

Anxiety is hard. Lockdown has made it so much worse. But it sounds like you’re doing brilliantly

Mary Sheridan birth to five has comprehensive lists of milestone but as you say the issue is really your anxiety - are you getting any help for it?

Thanks for your responses. Yes I have been getting help, I'm not keen on medication as been down that route before and felt worse for it... Numb and spaced out. I was having cbt too but feel like I've lapsed back into anxious thinking, I will get in touch with my therapist and try and book in again.

Hi @Meg2158

Just wondered how you and your LO are doing? Your post is 100% me with my 8 month (6 month corrected) son and wondered how you are and whether better post some more help and how your son is doing too.

@Sophi123

Hi *@Meg2158*

Just wondered how you and your LO are doing? Your post is 100% me with my 8 month (6 month corrected) son and wondered how you are and whether better post some more help and how your son is doing too.

Hi, thanks for your comment. We are doing OK apart from nursery illnesses constantly. I now feel quite silly re reading my original post for worrying so much 🙈 I'm doing much better still have my moments but had counselling and asking for help more (although my support network still isn't brilliant) My little boy is doing amazing, he's now 13 and a half months and has been walking for a few months. He's such a sweet little boy and he's just so lovely most of the time. I've come to realise he's quite like me personality wise, more reserved, quiet and studious. He's super clever, like a little sponge and is already saying around 30 words, singing words to songs and pointing and naming animals etc🤯 and his understanding is amazing! when he wasn't babbling as much he was clearly just listening to every single thing anyone said and soaking it all in! I'm super proud of how he's doing ❤️ I know it's hard when you have a preemie, a friend of mine was the same but try to focus on the corrected age... Technically you have a 6 months old so they probably won't be doing that much just yet anyway. Feel free to message me. If you need to chat x