Worried about 11 week old son

I have boy and girl twins born at 37 weeks and they are currently 11 weeks old. Holly is doing everything developmentally that I would expect her to be. Ashton is making me worry a bit with his eye contact. When he is lying on his back he likes to look back and up. He is not really favouring one side or the other. After he has his bottle and we have play time I can put him in his rocker and if I am directly in his line of sight he will keep eye contact with me and laugh. He also does follow me if I walk around the room but does lose interest rather quickly. However, if I hold him on my lap he seems to look everywhere but at me unless he is having a bottle. Should I be worried that he is showing signs of autism this early or is it far too early to tell? Is there anyone else out there whose child is doing the same thing?

Other things I am worried about is that he does like to keep his fists clenched but does have them relaxed at times as well. They are just clenched more than they are unclenched though. Also, he is loving sucking on his fist which some people tell me is perfectly fine for this age but I am also mindful of other things it could mean.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

QUOTE(RoxanneMur @ May 24 2007, 12:32 AM) [snapback]266881[/snapback]
When he is lying on his back he likes to look back and up. He is not really favouring one side or the other. After he has his bottle and we have play time I can put him in his rocker and if I am directly in his line of sight he will keep eye contact with me and laugh. He also does follow me if I walk around the room but does lose interest rather quickly. However, if I hold him on my lap he seems to look everywhere but at me unless he is having a bottle. Should I be worried that he is showing signs of autism this early or is it far too early to tell? Is there anyone else out there whose child is doing the same thing?


All of this sounds pretty normal compared to what I've experienced with my girls. They would usually avoid eye contact unless it was bottle time. I think it's because they've "seen this-- done that" when it comes to our faces.

QUOTE(RoxanneMur @ May 24 2007, 12:32 AM) [snapback]266881[/snapback]
Other things I am worried about is that he does like to keep his fists clenched but does have them relaxed at times as well. They are just clenched more than they are unclenched though. Also, he is loving sucking on his fist which some people tell me is perfectly fine for this age but I am also mindful of other things it could mean.


I think this is pretty normal for babies. Again, both my girls kept their hands pretty much balled up, even when they were in their mouths.

If you're worried, definitely consult your pediatrician, but most of what you described seems pretty familiar.

 

Yup, this is all pretty normal.

Babies at that age get bored iwth the same old (and you are the "same old") so he may not make eye contact iwth you. They also meter human interaction by limiting eye contact. My kids do this to this day -- when they are tired, they no longer make eye contact -- this allows them to control the inputs.

One article in Scientific American said that there was some link of "lack of mirror neurons" to autism. Motor neurons manage the autmatic reflexes we have to mimic others. Babies do this alot. One early motor neuron activity is sticking your tongue out at your kids and watching them stick their's out too. I believe your son is at the right age to try this. If he sticks his tongue out at you in response, it means his mirror neurons are working. (oh, i should mention that you have to give him time to respond -- it takes a few tries and they can be slow to react) Not as though this is a surefire thing. But we used to do it just because we were/are concerned with autism as well.

I'd also do research on vaccinations -- We meter the number of vaccinations my kids get at any one time -- another autism precaution.

Cheers

Teri D

 

Hi! Congratulations on your twins! :sign0016: to TS!

If you are concerned, I would take him to the ped, and if nothing else, let him ease your mind. There is nothing worse than worrying about your babies...which really never ends, but at least the ped might be able to put your mind to rest about this! Everything that you are describing, though, sounds normal for that age. :hug99:

 

Sounds pretty normal for a 11 weeks to me. Mine just sat there and didn't even make eye contact most of the time.

I agree that you talk to your pedi though if you are worried.

 

I personally wouldn't worry about it just yet, but if you're truly concerned definitely talk to your pediatrician about it. The fact that he's making eye contact and laughing at certain times makes me think he's just fine. I don't think my youngest made constant eye contact until he was 4-5 months old and really ready to explore his surroundings. Remember that he's still getting used to being out in our great big world...there's lots to look at mama!

Babies develop in their own timeframes. It's tough to compare the two, even if they are twins. Ashton may do something else that Holly doesn't do...and vice versa.

 

That's sounds normal to me, too! I was worried about the same thing with my DS...I convinced myself he was autistic, (because that was my big fear!) so I kept looking for reasons to make me right. Finally, everyone was so sick of trying to convince me otherwise, I finally went to the doctor and they said he was totally normal. It really calmed my nerves so I could worry about the next thing!?!??! Now, I have a whole NEW slew of things I am worried about :laughing:

If you are concerned, do not hesitate to call your ped! But, he is only 11 weeks and he sounds totally normal in my experience. Take a deep breath and give yourself a break today from worrying.

jen

 

Hi there. I have 11 week old twins as well! I just wanted to comment that my boys are developing at completely different rates. One started smiling close to a month before his brother! One is able to hold his head up and the other is not. One loves to stare at me and the other is usually not interested in what I'm doing yet. I just keep thinking of them as two brothers rather than "twins". My own brothers developed at completely different rates (they're not twins) and nobody ever compared them because they have different birthdays. I think our babies will develop in their own time. I have fear of autism too (not sure why but it's always in the back of my mind) but I am trying to release that fear and just enjoy the kids as they grow (when I have time!!).