Our son is 3 years old and has been stimming since he was 6 months. He flaps his hands when he's excited/happy and sticks his legs out and wiggles them. When the HV did a check up she said this is just where he was processing the emotion and would grow out of it. He's now 3 and still does it everyday. As a new mum I didn't know it was called stimming until very recently when I looked into it. He also does the following:
- gets upset when a programme comes on that he doesn't like
- repeats phrases/sentences and will shout them back at me and his dad until we repeat them back to him
- knows how to use his cutlery but tries to eat with his hands
- gets overwhelmed and upset with loud noises
- will get upset if we make a noise he doesn't like (such as clapping) and will shout 'no mummy no!'
- used to enjoy sleepovers at grandmas but has recently started getting very upset and wanting to come home
- is not shy around other children but doesn't seem to like them in his space
I thought this was just him being a toddler but since researching online some of these traits could potentially be autism? Wondered if anybody else has seen these behaviours in their child or has any information? Thank you