Expert: Jene Aviram - 1/17/2012

Question
Hi Jene,

I am hoping you can help me with this. I have 4 month old daughter who shows some strange behavior (at least I have that feeling). She does have eye contact with me and the close family when she is on the laying position or on her bouncing chair, but when you hold her up on lap, she will look everywhere else, but not us. She does not get fixated on one object for long-her head just moves to the right and left as if she wants to see everything.

She smiles at us and sometimes at strangers. She laughed occasionally, but not regularly. She coos occasionally, but not regularly. She groans a lot. She responds to her name, but not all the time.

She puts objects in her mouth after she studies them for a second or two.

She tries to pull herself in a sitting position. She does not roll and hates tummy time - when I put her on her tummy, she often cries.

At her doctor's check up she did not coo or smile to her but she was looking into her eyes quitely.

She passed her hearing test at the hospital.

Do you think her behavior or development is cause for concern? I am eating up myself with all the worries about her.

Thanks so much for your help!!!

Answer
Hi there,

I can tell you with certainty that you have absolutely nothing to worry about.  At four months old, it's impossible to predict if a child has autism.  That being said, there are many mothers of children with autism, who shared stories about their infants and found commonalities, but your daughter displays absolutely no cause for concern whatsoever.

She is doing what every four month old does.... growing and learning about her environment.  Sometimes she'll smile, sometimes she won't.  Sometimes she'll look at you, sometimes she won't.  There are so many interesting things for her to see and learn about it.  Lots of babies start rolling at 4 months, but there are just as many who roll over later.

Soon your daughter will be fascinated with different toys, she'll hold them in her hand, shake them and stare at them... and that too, will not be a concern.  All totally normal.

It's clear that you are a loving mom, and will worry regardless, but I wish I could wipe all your concerns away, because I truly don't think for even an iota that you have anything to worry about.

I wish you and your family the greatest happiness and success.

Jene Aviram
http://www.nlconcepts.com