Does this sound like autism?

mattw wrote: My son is 7 weeks old. He doesn't make eye contact very much and when he does, it's usually for about 10-15 seconds. He usually looks up and to the side, like he's looking at something on the ceiling. He has started smiling on occasion, but from what I've read, he should smile when he's smiled at, but that rarely happens when we smile at him. He seems a little indifferent to my wife and I, and we've read that he should be responding to us with a lot of focus and attention. I've also read that by 7 weeks, he should be very interested in bright colored objects, track moving objects with his eyes, have an intense interest in human faces, and smile at people.

My wife is completely panicking, and I'm starting to get scared myself. Should we be worried about his development at 7 weeks, or is he normal?

my2monkeyboys replied: I honestly can't answer this question, but I would certainly voice your concerns to his pediatrician. If you are very worried, make sure your doctor pays attention to you and doesn't just blow you off.
I imagine that all children develop differently, and what you read in books is just the 'average', with a wide range being 'normal.' It may be that he is just developing a little slower, not that he necessarily has autism.
Like I said, I'd certainly get his doctor to check him over very well, and make sure you tell him/her everything you've told us.
I hope this helps!

Edited to add: Welcome to the boards!!!

Twelve Volt Man replied: He sounds very similar to our 7 week-old son. That leads me to think that maybe they're both normal. I had never considered autism. Honestly, I just think some children progress at different rates. The "my child at x weeks" newsletters I get tend to be very generic, and even say that child develop at different paces. I wouldn't fret too much, this soon.

tammyhopkins replied: when my son was a baby he would do the same thing and he never really started to sile at me till about 8 weeks or maybe a little older. He is 3 now and a little active but otherwise good,

I would let your pediatrician know your concerns but i think that he must be normal.

A&A'smommy replied: first of all you both need to calm down... I wouldn't necessarily start diagnosing your son. If you REALLY worried take him to the pediatrician and tell him what your worried about BUT I think he is just fine.

Mommy2BAK replied: I'm no expert by any means but I don't think you neccesarily have anything to worry about. I'm sure you know that all kids develop at a different pace, and surely you're pediatrician would have picked up on something if there was a major delay.

Anyways, I hope you find out that everything is fine!

Sam & Abby's Mom replied: I agree with the others who recommended discussing your concerns with your pediatrician.

On a side note - When Sammy was a baby, he'd always look over my shoulder and up while I had him laying on his back on the changing table. Used to freak me out when he'd do it late at night -- I'd actually turn around to see what he was looking at. When Abby was a baby, she'd always look at the top of my husband's head. It drove him crazy. LOL They are both fine.

DansMom replied: He's way too young to start looking for autism. I don't think that can be diagnosed (or perhaps doesn't even appear) until toddler years. Your little one sounds within the range of normal to me, truly, but if you're worried, the pediatrician might be able to reassure you. Keep babbling and talking and bouncing and making silly sounds.

I did have a friend who just knew something wasn't right early on. It was her second child though, so she had experienced a typically developing infant. Her second daughter didn't "track" very well and didn't latch on when breastfeeding. This little girl had cerebral palsy---even that was not diagnosed in early infancy but months later when it was clearer to see she couldn't control her movements and had no strength. I'm not saying this to scare you with a new possible diagnosis!---just to emphasize that at 7 weeks, it's really hard even for doctors to distinguish a typically developing infant from one who has a neurological issue.

I was always worrying about such things with Daniel too---it's normal to worry like that. I had some post-partum depression that contributed to my fears.

grapfruit replied: Actually in MOST cases autism doesn't appear until the toddler years. Strangely enough, usually right after the MMR shot...

lisar replied:
Thats what I thought.

edited cause i cant spell

grapfruit replied:
Hee hee hee. Me neither!

Boo&BugsMom replied: Ditto to what Tracy said. Just enjoy him and don't worry. Also, each baby has his/her own temperment and will respond to things differently. DO NOT compare your child with what a book says to a tee! It only makes a parent worried for nothing, IMO.

Rita1114 replied: My daughter Kay behaved the same kind of way at that age. I panicked and called the ped. immediately, and he told me there's nothing to worry about, she wasn't far enough along in development to know anything at all. He said she probably is just slower at development. Kay's now 6 months, and when I recently brought her in for a check up they told me her development is much farther beyond the average 6 month old. Babies really do just all develop at different paces, it's hard to say there's really a "normal" they should be at.

jcc64 replied: I agree with what the others have said about his age and possibility of autism. That diagnosis doesn't occur until after the advent of speech- sometime during the toddler years. It's good to be reading and abreast of "normal" developmental milestones, but as you've heard, the range of normal is quite vast. If you're concerned, ask the ped to do a more thorough screening at your next visit- maybe focus on his vision . Maybe his eye muscles/distance vision are slow to develop.
Try to stay calm. We've all had our freak out moments- there's so little information coming from baby at that age- every little thing they do or don't do seems so monumental.
KUP.