Signs of Autism?

[operarocker]

Hey mommas. I have an amazing happy almost 13 month baby boy - he’s my world! But I’m worried about his development. So I figured I would come here for guidance, help, reassurance, etc.
I think my son is super smart, starting at a couple months he understood so much. But recently he’s been worrying me. Here’s my worries:
He doesn’t say any words yet. He babbles like CRAZY though. I mean almost none stop sometimes lol. He says mama and dada but I’m not sure if he’s made the connection yet or not. Sometimes it seems like he really knows who dada is (even though he’s with me ALL DAY.

He barely looks when I call his name. I could be yelling James (his name) right in front of him and he just won’t look most of the time. I feel like though if anyone else calls his name he looks 75% of the time. He goes back and fourth between responding well or not at all. And I don’t get it!!
He started walking a week before his birthday, but still chooses to crawl and cries when we make him walk.
He gets upset over a lot. I mean I get it, typical baby behavior. But it seems like he gets too upset.
He randomly stops and just starts pushing everything away and closing his eyes. It’s strange.
He won’t try to say any words I say. I say “say mama” at least 100 times a day and he just ignores me.
He used to point out things in his favorite book now doesn’t anymore and never wants to read it before bedtime like we always do.
He doesn’t understand no. Or just doesn’t listen. One or the other.
Doesn’t listen to most simple commands, does some.
He barely makes eye contact. He will sometimes if I have him laying and I’m changing his diaper. But it isn’t for long. If you’re a little further away from him though he’ll make eye contact for longer than he usually does.

He has meant most of his milestones on time. He just recently started clapping and waving - which he loves to do now! Once I say yay he starts trying to clap and it’s just so hilarious and adorable.
So he clap, wave, point at things (and people, always pointing at people when we’re at the store lol). He likes being held sometimes and cuddled. Other times he’s like nope lol. He’s been babbling like crazy since 5 1/2 months. He loves engaging with other people and laughing and smiling. He crawls crazy fast but crawls different, like a little spider monkey lol. He plays by himself awesome and always gets into things. He will share his food with me. Listen and look at SOME books when I read them. He plays with some of his toys the right way when he’s not trying to ge into something he shouldn’t. He likes to stack his blocks and his cups. He really likes figuring it out. He’ll play peekaboo with the blanket sometimes. If you say come here sometimes he will listen and come. He gives you kisses when you say give me kiss! He’s been doing that for awhile now. He knows where nose is and almost mouth and eyes!

He’s such a sweet and happy baby boy. And me and my husband are so blessed to have him because he’s our rainbow baby. I just can’t help but to worry. You’d think I would know what to look for because I’ve been a toddler teacher, preschool teacher, and kindergarten teacher before! But it’s just so different when it comes to your own child.

If you read this far - thank you so much for taking your time to read this! Any advice, insight, support, and suggestions are welcomed!


*Also I did contact Easter Seals today to see how I can get him evaluated. I’m just waiting for a call back. His doctor was not considered at all at his 1 year check up though.*

 

[IchigoMewMew]

That does all sound pretty normal to me, my daughter is nearly 2 and still crawls at times. She still babbles a lot as well and a lot of the actual words she says only primary caregivers can understand. they develop very quickly between the ages of 1 and 2 only 4-6 weeks can make quite a big difference. I think he's too young to be formally assessed for any disorders, I think here in the UK formal assessment is 3yrs+ but they can screen from about 18 months to identify who may need assessment in the future

 

[noon_child]

Babbling is a great sign, it's part of trying to communicate, even if it makes no sense to you. My daughter didn't say any recognisable words till 13months then it took her another 6 months to add another 10 words, but it was all normal.

Crawling helps babies develop control over their limbs and connections between both sides of their brain - it isn't a more backward skill than walking, it's a different skill. Walking is tiring because it requires more strength to stay upright and balance - so he's going to revert to crawling when waking gets to tiring or he can't do it quick enough.

They never learn Mamma first - it's like we are such a permanent part of their world why bother naming us? I mean when will he ever need to get your attention or call you - you're always right there, right? It's probably also why he wont listen or respond to you - you're not that fascinating cos you're part of the furniture...

One year old really don't understand "No". It's quite an abstract concept really. If you want him to stop doing something you'd be better off removing him from it, or distracting him with something else. Babies that age hearing "No!" either ignore it because it means nothing or think it's part of a give-and-take back-and-forth game, so overtime you say it they do the thing you don't want them to do in order to get you to say "No" again.

If approaching the 18 month 2 yr mark you are still concerned with speech and responding to you, I would probably start with hearing tests as this is common than autism.

The getting upset and pushing things away is his way of communicating with you that he's bored, overstimulated, unhappy, tired etc. - no way of saying whether this is normal, we are all individual and the amount of stimulation I can take is different from the next person (e.g I love a party but I get to a stage where I just have to find a bathroom and lock myself in there for 5mins in peace - some people don't need that, others need it sooner). Did you know babies have nearly twice the number of ways to tell us they don't like something as to say that they do like something?

It all sounds normal.

 

[autumnal]

I agree with the other posters, he sounds normal to me. The babbling, saying mama and dada, pointing and waving are all great signs!

 

[CRWx]

Sounds like he’s doing great!

I’ve got an (almost) 3 year old and work with 6m-2y- what you’ve said all sounds great and pretty normal!

 

[laura109]

Nothing wrong with him at all. My son is the same age and is exactly the same. In fact he won't wave. But he does peepo and clapping. He only says dada and babbles. Maybe said ta a couple of times. He has selective hearing too when I shout him. Depends if hes busy exploring etc. I really don't know what you are worried about. He's only just one. Some babies don't walk etc for another 4 months x