I'm worried about my baby.

He is 6 weeks old, and he does some weird things. I am worried that he could be autistic or something. I know it is too early to diagnose him with something like that, but I am just worried. :worry:

He doesn't make eye contact very much, and in the past few days, he has started to prefer sitting on his own rather than being held and cuddled. He will sit in his bouncy chair, or lay in his bed, and be totally content for a while, but if I try to hold him and cuddle him, he gets fussy. :( He will sleep in my arms, and nurses fine, but when he is awake, he seems to like sitting by himself for the most part.

Has anyone had a baby that did these things? Did they turn out okay?

Not exactly this...but my DD used to flail her arms and screech in her sleep, I mean really flail and wiggle herself out of her swaddling and just make this kind of low, squeally noise. and you couldn't calm her, even if you picked her and cuddled her. The first time at 5 weeks I thought she was just having a bad dream, but then it went on 2 or 3 times a day. I took her to the doc convinced that she had some sort of horrid nervous system disease, but at 12 weeks it just went away. Seriously, just stopped one day.

I suggest you go see your doc if it's really stressing you out, but I bet it's just one of those baby things that will pass. HUGS...

A friend's baby used to get really agitated and scream when he was picked up, and it turned out he had a broken collar bone which happened during labour. He's absolutely fine now! If you're worried, take him to the doctors.

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Originally Posted by Hobbermittens

I know it is too early to diagnose him with something like that, but I am just worried. :worry:

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Absolutely, it's way too early.
At 6 weeks it would be weird if he could make eye contact, my daughter started to make eye contact recently, and she is 2.5 months old. And she doesn't do it on her own, I have to "chase" her view and her concentration lasts about 3 seconds ;)

I would be grateful if my baby would like to sit on her own for a while, I have to carry her around like all day and half of the night. :(

My point is: don't worry Hobbi, kids are different, I'm sure he is 150% perfectly healthy. At 6 weeks the most important thing is that he nurses and sleeps well :agree:


One thing I've noticed from posts on GD is that obviously your doctors have more strict criteria when it comes to autism. I've read some posts with description of "autistic" children, and let me tell you, here they wouldn't be diagnosed with autism. I'm not saying that's good thing, just something I've noticed.

I think its far too early to think about things like autism. My son has mild autism but sever dyspraxia and from about 4 months was when we noticed things - he was late with all mile stones, never rolled, walked at 26 months etc he also refused to "play" he never pushed a car around like my other 10 month olds he used to wear a bucket on his head and sit on his own laying bricks out, if you sat with him to play even at 1-2 years old he would turn his back on you or refuse to play - he would sit happily for hours on his own though with his building blocks and buckets and any shiny household items - He is now 8 and we are still trying to get his statement and they refer to him as having autistic traits not being autistic - they really do not like to label children now a days.
Anyway i went off a tangent then but honestly i dont think u need to be worried like someon else said so long as he is nursing and sleeping thats all good but yes speak to the health visitor if your worried though

i have a son with special needs, it started in infancy but not that little, even looking back earliest signs were 6 months. Some baby's are not as cuddly as others, my ds3 was like that but he used to get hot really easily - unnaturally so and like his space as a result of that, his temp changed at about 3 months and he is the cuddliest one of the lot now whenever he is sleepy he loves to cuddle up and stroke your ear.

Can't remember what age eye contact started but i think he's a little too young, to start with they can't see very far and look through things rather than at things

If you are worried, go see his doctor. I'd be more worried about an injury than autism.

Im sure its nothing to worry about, maybe he is just more comfortable in the bed/chair maybe he is unsure about motion or heat? DD was happy to be put anywhere i never thought it was weird, and the eye contact thing im sure is normal, they dont have very good eyesight at that young age.

My oldest has autism (moderate social and cognitive deficits). Honestly, I couldn't tell a difference between him and DS2 that early. We didn't start suspecting something was wrong until he was almost 2 years old (his speech was very delayed - he ended up not talking until he was 8) Of course, this was back in the late 90's and it wasn't as common back then - not really top of mind. I often wonder if I would have noticed symptoms sooner if I had known what to look for...

I think it's definitely too early, but if you are worried, keep an eye on it and ask your pediatrician. Early intervention is best, so it's always good to be aware of what to look for. Here's a good website that will help: Learn the Signs of Autism | What is Autism? | Autism Speaks

Good luck, and don't worry too much! I'm sure that your little one is just fine. :hugs:

Sent you a private message but the ladies are right! I am sure there is nothing wrong. Just keep tabs and if you are still super worried a trip to the doctor won't hurt. Maybe you got lucky and he is just a really really good baby! Content and happy as a clam.

Thanks for your replies, everyone. I am trying not to worry. I have an appointment for tomorrow with the doctor because I am pretty sure he has reflux, so I will ask about the other things he does. But I am sure the doctor wouldn't even hazard a guess at this age.

Went to the doctor today, but he said it is way too early to worry about anything. Today the baby smiled at the doctor and the nurse, and smiled and looked at me. I am taking these as good signs? BUT, be doesn't like to be held unless I am moving, and/or bouncing him. It is really bothering me, because every time I google it, I find info on sensory disorders. I always had babies who liked to be held, so a baby that would rather be put down is very worrysome to me! :worry:

my neice is like this shes 1 and still kinda hates being fussed over but she 100% normal (my sil was worried and checked her out ) just some babies are like this. 6 weeks is still tiny....

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Originally Posted by rachel

my neice is like this shes 1 and still kinda hates being fussed over but she 100% normal (my sil was worried and checked her out ) just some babies are like this. 6 weeks is still tiny....

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Was she happier when she was put down? That is what worries me the most. None of my other kids were like this!

yes she loved being by herself in her crib or chair she just got out of it now shes 1......

Oh hobber, with my last baby I thought he was blind because he wasn't focusing, I worried so much, had him with my doc and he was fine!!! Do you know what was wrong I had PND!!!! Not saying you have but it can manifest itself as you worrying excessively about your baby!!

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Originally Posted by pebmcp6

Oh hobber, with my last baby I thought he was blind because he wasn't focusing, I worried so much, had him with my doc and he was fine!!! Do you know what was wrong I had PND!!!! Not saying you have but it can manifest itself as you worrying excessively about your baby!!

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I probably do have some PND. I am really worried about everything. :worry: It does help to hear other people's stories about their babies, though.

My sister was exactly as you described! She and I are a year apart (14 months to be more specific)...I was a cuddler and my mom said my sister preferred her own space. She was much happier in her crib than in my mother's arms.

Today, she couldn't be more normal....well...you know, depends on your idea of normal, LOL!! We are a LOT alike!!! ;)

Thinking of you Hobber...and please, if you're feeling PND, please don't be afraid to call your doctor. ♥

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Originally Posted by Hobbermittens

I probably do have some PND. I am really worried about everything. :worry: It does help to hear other people's stories about their babies, though.

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Awh hugs to you hobber, really you are overwhelmed with your wee man and just want everything perfect, he is fine I'm sure!! GL XXX

One of my sisters was like this! She grew up to be a child who just liked her own "space" :)

Noo he is fine, just concentrate on getting him better.

I think every child is different. My grandma actually had twin girls, obviously they were raised exactly the same yet my mum is just not a hugger, or a kisser. She wouldn't think to tell you she loved you, or anything emotional like that. Her twin is what I would call more 'normal' and higs and kisses etc just fine.

My LO is a very serious child. Will stand alone on the edge of the playground and just watch the other kids, will always say NO if you ask 'do you want a hug/kiss/do you love me? LOL.

Also i found sometimes because I smelt of booby milk close proximity to me would agitate LO when very little.

Yes my DS2 was like that. Until he was ...hmmm...2-2.5? And then he started liking cuddles and now at 5 he asks for cuddles everyday and night:)

My 2.5yo has never been the cuddly type. Even now, he runs away from too much fussing over him. He always wakes up and plays by himself and sometimes tells me to go away and leave him alone with his teddies for 30-40 minutes at a time! Our mind creates monsters that don't exist! I was convinced my little boy had a hearing impediment as he didn't always moved his head towards sounds, but then I sneezed and he was in his bouncy chair he would get a fright. During those moments I thought `it's all well, stop stressing!`, but soon enough my mind was playing tricks again. It turns out his hearing is 100% fine. In this internet era we read too much. I don't think you can possibly tell a 6 week old is autistic.

I guess I should update this. He's 9 months old now, and he doesn't want to be put down! I think in the early days, his reflux was bothering him, and maybe he was uncomfortable in the position I held him in? After about 2 1/2 months he got cuddly and became a total mama's boy!