Laying down to play with cars

[flowerlover1990]

I’m a bit worried about my 16 month old son. He spends quite alot of his days laying down on the floor pushing his cars along. I’ve not seen another toddler do this before. I can distract him out of it to play with something else for a bit.. but his default is always back to laying down with his cars. He’s always enjoyed wheels and spinning things since he was little. He makes good eye contact, responds to his name, points, claps etc but isn’t really talking yet or saying any words, just babbling. He is a very cautious child and observed alot before getting involved, he doesn’t really enjoy playing on swings yet. At a playgroup he will only play with cars. I’ve googled the laying down thing and it suggests ASD. Has anyone had anything similar?

How on earth is this a problem??

My DH and I were reminiscing the other day about how when our DS was around two, he went through a phase of a having to have a toy car in each hand when he had a nap. He also used to sit up to a little square table and spend ages 'parking' all the cars. Looked a bit boring and quirky to me, but what do I know? I've never been a 1-3 year old boy 😁

My child did this why on earth is this an issue? If you google anything you will always find things to worry about it is not normal to diagnose by Google

thanks @BlondiePortz it’s not an issue as such. I’ve just been worried as it’s all he does, all day. A lot of his little toddler friends get involved in lots of different games and fun and mine just rests his cheeks on the floor watching wheels all day. I just wondered if this was anything to be worried about as there’s some stuff online that links eye level play to ASD.

What a weird thing to worry about. My 5 year old is obsessed with drawing, colouring, cutting, sticking and has been for a couple of years. She spends literally hours at a time doing it. We have lots of toys and days will go by where she hasn't played with an actual toy. But she's doing what she loves, she's being creative and generally is a well rounded child so who cares?! (Well I care a bit about the glue stick which always ends up upside down on my carpet 🤣🤣)

My son does this with cars. It's just because he likes how they look from that angle. Now he is older, he asks to 'look at it closer' and lays on the floor rolling cars or watching his train set. I think he can see the wheels moving better.

I had had some people comment on it but I honestly think it's just watching from a more fun angle!

Thanks @Missrainbows Have you ever had any other concerns about your son’s development? It’s good to know that all children can do this too. We’ve had a few comments before when my son has his cheek on the kitchen floor watching the cars, like ‘are you ok there?!’ But in the nicest way possible haha

If it’s literally all that he does then yes I would say it’s unusual but not necessarily a sign of anything. He might outgrow the phase.

Ignore everyone tripping over each other to call you weird and be so mock horrified that you are worrying about it. Such laid back parents they all are, we get the message 🙄

Anything done to obsessive extremes could be a sign of autism. As long as you’re simply noticing these things and not letting the worry consume you, then don’t beat yourself up. Join him in the fun, try some ideas mentioned before to expand his play, and just see how he develops.

'You sound like you work with children? I did that in my professional life.'

Yes, well spotted 😁 Early Years speech and language therapist

I wouldn't say I have had any other concerns - he has always been slightly late with traditional milestones (waved at 18 months for example and didn't talk until 2) but he always gets there in the end. He is nearly 3 now and has caught up with the children at nursery his age. I do understand it can be difficult when it's your first time - I have found it awkward when people giggle or comment on him with his cheek on the floor! But I think it's normal that they want to understand how things work and just like watching from a closer angle.

I would say the last few weeks he has actually started doing it a bit less, I only really thought about it when I read your post! He likes to talk about his cars now, like the colours and names, so perhaps as he is older now he is more interested in other things than how the wheels move.

@Missrainbows this is so encouraging to read, thank you for that. It sounds like our sons might be similar as we’ve been a little late with milestones too, particularly gestures. And we’re not talking yet but his understanding is excellent and he’s a very happy boy.

@Yourethebeerthief thanks so much for your kind and sensible advice. I really appreciate that.