Are these symptoms of potential ASD in my 3 month old child?

[Anonymous1899]

I’ve noticed that recently she has become way more cranky than usual and cries a lot. It’s difficult to keep her entertained for long periods of time.
When she self soothes, I’ve noticed two things which are new:

1. she opens and closes her fist repeatedly
2. when she cries she holds the back of her head with her hand she didn’t used to do this before. also, she DOES make eye contact and does smile and did this at the 2 month mark but I’ve realized that she doesn’t hold her gaze for long. Her eyes move away quickly unless she is more relaxed. (A friends baby the same age as her is way more smiley and holds her gaze for a long time the baby also looks at /observes others more) My LO usually tends to have her head / eyes down when we are holding her in our arms

I’m getting worried are these signs of potential ASD in my baby?

It's more likely she's got an ear ache than it being a sign of anything else. Or it could be nothing - lots of babies tug their ears when they're tired.

None of the things you've mentioned are signs of autism.

At 3 months old your baby is barely in control of herself, she's only just developing hand eye co-ordination.

Give it three/four years. ASD is not possible to diagnose at three months old.

I posted a link to a post from a mum who was once in the same position. Every parent who’s sought a diagnosis for their child started with worries.

My reading hasn’t yet taken me into the specifics of each tool used and their pros/cons, but it has confirmed that ADOS is one of the tools used as quoted on different NHS websites and the National Autistic Society.

Personally I would never post a link to a very anxious mother about neuro diversities having done no research as to the background of the video.

and it transpires that the mum in question diagnosed her own child using an online testing tool

You need to take her to the doctor as this can be characteristic of having an ear infection.

If she's more cranky lately, she could be teething.

Way too early to be concerned about autism. Is there a reason you're extra concerned with it now?

This, And for heaven sake don't ask randomers on the internet. When you child is about 4 and if the education professionals around you suggest it you go to a qualified educational psychologist.

In any case an ASD diagnosis is not the end of the world.

None of that sounds like a concern in a 3 month old baby. Post natal anxiety can be horrible so please chat to your health visitor or GP if you are finding yourself having a lot of worries

Your poor baby sounds like she has an very painful ear infection

My sons always held their head behind the ear/ their ear when tired. I think that is more of a sign they are tired (possibly over tired).

That TikTok is just a load of confirmation bias. They've been diagnosed with autism so every single personality trait previously shown must have been the autism 🙄 no, the majority of it is normal baby behaviour & if they hadn't been diagnosed (if they even have & it's not self-diagnosis) you wouldn't think twice about them. I mean come on, refusing the breast as a sign of autism, really.

OP, every baby has a different personality. Of course your child is different from a family members, it doesn't mean there's anything "wrong" with your child. And when they're so young, these personality traits change so much. My child has repeatedly gone through more fussy stages, clingy/not wanting to be cuddled as much, etc. No professional worth their salt would even entertain autism at this age, or any at all before 2 years, so stop looking for signs & just enjoy this time.

My first thought when I read the OP was that she's teething, and several other posters seem to agree.

A friend of mine has a son with severe ASD. She says she knew "something wasn't quite right" (she has an older child) at six months, but three months seems very early to suspect anything even by those standards.

This.

Another one saying this. Just imagine " My baby had an ear ache so I immediately diagnosed her as autistic" FFS

She’s 3 months. You need to get yourself some support for your anxiety as that will not help her

Why would you think your baby has ASD because of these things??

Why jump straight to ND instead of physical pain??

Your baby is way too young to be diagnosed with ASD.

If you are concerned then take her to the gp to get checked for physical pain, as PPs have suggested it could be teething or an ear infection.

My DD used to pull her own hair or scratch herself with her tiny nails and make herself cry, so it could be as simple as now she’s able to move more she’s accidentally hurting herself.

"She had SEVERE sensory issues....." 🙄

She's 3 months new into a brand new world! Just consider that. There is no way or any signs that would tell you your child is autistic at 3 months old.

In the kindest way, this is far too young. Its also really normal to obsess about things like this. My most absurd was posting on here that DD was ferociously eating during weaning and I thought that was wrong......