Re: Fw: Am I just paranoid--Developmental milestones

[Guest guest]

Trina,

Here is a list of developmental milestones that may put you at ease.

But if you are still concerned have him evaluated. As parents we

need to trust our instincts and go with our gut feeling. I kick

myself for not following my instincts with my daughter. I knew

something wasn't quite right but I let the Doctors convince me she

was fine. She wasn't diagnosed until she was 7 and we lost alot of

valuable time.

Lori

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

The following are suggestions for developmental milestones that most

children achieve by the corresponding ages.

3 months

Begins making sounds such as cooing

Turns head toward lights or sounds

Smiles when talked to

Grasps rattles

Kicks arms and legs

6 months

Turns to voices and sounds

Sits up with help

Recognizes familiar people

Reaches for toys

Moves around by scooting or pulling

9 months

Sits alone

Pulls self up to a standing position

Waves Bye-Bye

Plays Peek-A-Boo or similiar games

Says a few words like Daddy and Mama

12 months

Begins to walk by holding on to somone

Responds to name

Shakes head ðANoð@

Imitates sounds and words

Attempts to help with dressing

18 months

Pulls off socks

Sits in small chair without assistance

Turns pages in a book 2-3 at a time

Uses at least 10-20 words

Plays with other children

24 months

Kicks largeball

Stacks four blocks to make a tower

Uses 50 words but understands more

Points to some body parts

Uses 2 word combinations like Go Bye-Bye

30 months

Sucks from a straw

Recognizes self in a mirror

Jumps with both feet

Uses three words to make a sentence

Draws lines when shown

36 months

Walks up and down steps by self

Opens a door

Listens to a short story

Rides tricycle

Asks/Answers simple questions

4 years

Uses complete sentences

Knows common colors

Hops in place

Sings common songs and nursery rhymes

5 years

Knows at least 6 colors

Tells short stories

Stands on one leg

Dresses self but may need help with shoes

>

> Am I just paranoid, or is my 12 month old showing signs of

autism?

>

>

> Hey everyone,

>

> My oldest son is the one that " has autism " . He is 8, and he is the

oldest of my four boys. I have been blessed so far with " normal "

typical children, other than him. Or so I thought. My 6 yr old and

my 3 yr old sons are just fine. They developed normally all along.

I don't ever remember feeling uneasy about their developemental

progress or about things they used to do.

>

> My baby just turned one on the 11th. He, for the most part, seems

OK. He does, however, have some unusual behaviors that are causing

me to get that all too familiar panic stricken nauseated feeling in

the pit of my stomach and in my heart. Remember those??? I had

hoped that I would never have those again.

>

> My husband and I are trying not to over react, but also not to

ignore the obvious. He is NOT like our other son with autism. His

weird behaviors are different. My first son acted as though he was

deaf. He totally ignored everyone but Barney. He flapped his arms.

My baby, who just turned one, does not act deaf. He acknowledges

when his name is called. He smiles at daddy when he comes home from

work everyday. He greets me every morning and after every nap from

his crib with a huge smile and gets all excited.

>

> BUT, he is just as content to play alone as with others. He does

not seek me out during the day and bring me toys or etc. He is

walking, and has for a month or so. He also has started doing some

toe walking. Now, I know a lot of normal kids do some toe walking,

but it makes me physically ill to see him doing it. Another thing he

does it play with a shoe. He does play with his toys appropriately,

but he is just as content to play with a shoe. He is not pretending

it is a car or anything like that. He just simply picks it up, walks

over to the coffee table or a chair and sets it down. He looks at

it. Then, he picks it back up and puts it in a different position or

on a different table. He seems facinated by it. He is not flapping,

posturing, or stimming outwardly, as far as I can tell. And, I am

watching him like a hawk. He does this for about 5 minutes or so.

If I call his name, he will look up and smile.

>

> He is not pointing yet. At what age do they start pointing?? He

is 12 months. My older son never pointed until the age of 5. He

also does not use Mama or DaDa discriminately. He does jabber

dadadadada and mamamamama, but is not calling our names.

>

> Am I just over reacting and being paranoid?? Should I have his

blood or hair tested for mercury?? At his young age, it would

probably still show up? What type of developmental testing is out

there for 12 month olds??? Oh my God, please someone tell me he is

OK???!!!

>

> I vascilate between " he is obviously a genius " to " He definitely is

on the autistic spectrum " . I need someone to validate my concerns or

tell me to take a chill pill. OK, guys, don't hold back. At age 12

months, displaying the symptoms I described, am I off base??

>

> Trina

>

>

>