Lack of babbling at 8.5 months and other asd signs

[SophieRules]

Hi, I’m very worried that my baby doesn’t babble, he’s 8.5 months. He might say baba or ba, quietly once a day but aside from that no babbling. Mostly just moaning or potentially stimming with a kind of humming/groaning at various points during the day which seems to be increasing. I don’t think he knows his name, mostly ignores it, even if repeated or loud. He also is smacking lips, recently shaking his head from side to side, grinding teeth and doing a strange body tense, as well as an asymmetrical crawl. So there is lots going on. Really worried, I know what will be, will be, and you can’t really know anything at this age but each day passing with almost no babbling is so worrying. :( I know baby do funny things and have various phases so it’s really the babbling that I’m worrying about the most because he’s so quiet in that area. Makes me so anxious when I hear younger babies or babies of his age babbling away.

My second child never babbled and was very articulate by the age of 2 and still is now (and is neurotypical). He didn’t say ba or baba, while your child does. Some babies just don’t. He didn’t recognise his name for 18 months whereas his sister did at 7 months. The stuff you are calling stimming is just normal baby behaviour. The body tensing may be weeing. It seems like you are looking for reasons that he has neurodiversity. Why do you think you are doing that?

Your child may or may not be autistic, but it is far too early to tell. Just enjoy your baby.

You could get a hearing test for your baby. But late babbling really isn’t a sign of anything. Some kids walk at 10 months and some at 20 months. Some babble early, some babble later. In the long term, it doesn’t mean anything.

No one can detect autism before 18-24 months so don’t make yourself miserable trying to see signs of it.

Agree, it’s just hard to with the uncertainty.

His hearing is fine, but thank you.

I would agree with a hearing test.

Everyone stims to some extent. It’s more obvious in babies and toddlers because they haven’t learn about socially acceptable behaviour.

I have one autistic child and another who I suspect is autistic and although just based on descriptions is hard to say there is nothing from your post which sounds like your child isn’t the same as every other child expect for hearing and speach. 80% of children will have experienced glue ear by the age of 10 years old. Make a note some where of your concerns about autism, the date and what your concerns are incase you need them later but honestly I think your child needs a hearing test.

Here's a v simple thing you can try if concerned *that isn't 100% confirmation or otherwise at all
But it has be show that autistic babies won't stiffen and out arms out when you put arms out to pick them up, the way a neurological chikd would. So after a nappy change, you put out your ams to pick them up and just observe and see. It might reassure you.

This isn’t my experience.

I don't think 8.5 months is late to not be babbling. He's still very young!

Afaik asymmetric crawl and teeth grinding are totally normal - my baby does/did this too and I never thought anything about it (although the noise of the grinding is horrendous. She has lots of teeth compared to her peers so I think it was just her way of exploring her mouth. It subsided after a couple of months).

I am not sure my one year old recognises her name tbh.

My son didn’t babble at all until about 9 months and then one day in M&S cafe he just started babbling away like he had been doing it for years! He is nearly 2 now and he has been later than some with his words but again all of a sudden has started saying a lot. I think 8.5 months is far too young to be labelling him as a lot of what you describe is normal baby behaviour. I also have heard that in general boys are later to talk than girls. He was an early crawler and walked and my health visitor says some babies focus more on these skills than speech.

He is eight months not 18 months

Why are you worried?
Do you have family history of people with asd?
Did he have any issues at birth nicu or feeding?

Have you had him checked over by the GP? The head shaking, lack of babble and not responding to his name do suggest possible ear issues to me.

By all means ask hv or gp to review his movements
Not neccessarily asd if he really does have a motor issue. Get it checked
a strange body tense, as well as an asymmetrical crawl