I’m having a breakdown 😢😢

[ShannonLouiseX]

Hi guys my DD is almost 11 months old she does not really respond to her name, she does not gesture she did clap a few weeks ago but now nothing, she does say mama & dada but not as if she means it, she is crawling so she just loves to do that I’m so worried she has autism my biggest fear is that she is still not responding to her name has any other mamas gone through this and their baby not have autism?

I know this must be stressful. What has your GP or health visitor said?

I’m going to see them on the 6th of December I’m just so worried for her

Try to focus on that all babies develop at different rates. It's brilliant that your DD is crawling well already. Many babies don't master this until later.

Also in today's world the support and understanding for children with autism is getting better all the time so I wouldn't be as fearful of an autism diagnosis as I would have been twenty years ago.

And it may well not be autism. Have her hearing and eyesight been checked?

Not since she was born no so hoping they will check that

My last baby didn't crawl until 16 months. I was so worried at the time then one day she just stood up and walked!
Mum knows best so I'm in no way trying to belittle your situation. You are right to seek help from your Health Visitor. I'm sharing my story to show that not all kids develop in the same way.

Please don't stress about Autism, it's not a big bad scary thing. My DS is 4 and about to be diagnosed, he is thriving. You are right to get the ball rolling if you have concerns but worrying won't change the outcome. Take a step at a time and in the meantime lots of playing and interaction with her. Get on the floor and play, lots of modelling use of gestures etc. unfortunately so much is wait and see and until my DS was 2 no one took my concerns seriously. However a hearing test is definitely a good place to start. I have been where you are and if I could go back I would not worry as much because my DS is just amazing as he is.

My baby didn't have any of those issues but DOES have autism so you just don't know at this stage.

It may be nothing or It may be autism, but either way you'll be ok, please don't worry. My whole family is autistic and we are all ok :)

Hey, how did your little one get on? My baby is 10 months old and I feel like I’m struggling to enjoy her because im constantly looking and analysing her movements etc. I have massive anxiety issues which I had before I had her. Now they are crippling me.