Posted: June 04 2007 at 4:38pm | IP Logged

I ran across this board trying to look up information on this online. I hope this is an appropriate place to post this question.

I have an almost 8-month old DD who seems developmentally normal, if not advanced for her age as far as I can tell. She has been sitting unassisted since 5 months, crawling since 6, and pulling-up and cruising since 7 months. She is very smiley and interacts socially, including laughing out loud at things she sees (not just when tickled). She loves to be held and cuddled. She babbles up a storm and uses sounds "ba, da, ma, tha" etc.

When she is tired, I have noticed that she does what looks to me like hand-flapping with her right hand. It's kind of like she's slowly trying to grab something in mid-air - she brings her finger tips down to her palm over and over. She usually is doing something else and doesn't seem to stop what she's doing, I just notice her hand going. It doesn't seem to happen during the day, and usually occurs just before bedtime. It does not occur every day. Is this something to be concerned about? Should I bring it up with her pediatrician?

Other possibly relevant info: no family history of Autism/PDD, DD is un-vaccinated, was exclusively BF'd for 6 months and self-feeds some solids now but still mainly BFs. She was born at 37 weeks after 10 weeks on Terbutaline for pre-term labor (have now read about some possible links between Terbutaline and Autism).

Any input you can give would be a great help. TIA!

Posted: June 04 2007 at 4:51pm | IP Logged

My son hand flapped since 7-8 months on. But he would do it alot.At first I thought he was waving but later on he started starring at his hand. Now I know that it was his first sign but I have also heard that it can be common in kids that don't have autism. I think when it becomes not normal is when they do it ALL the time.

Hayley

Posted: June 04 2007 at 4:56pm | IP Logged

Quote our neurologist:

"You don't want to know how many strange things babies do".

Of course you should ask a doctor and read about milestones. If there is something that made you think about autism (God forbid) then ..... go to pediatrician and ask him to give you some peace of mind. It's all you can get at this early age .... in my opinion, but you deserve some support after a complicated pregnancy.

Posted: June 04 2007 at 5:10pm | IP Logged

snetting13 wrote: My son hand flapped since 7-8 months on. But he would do it alot.At first I thought he was waving but later on he started starring at his hand. Now I know that it was his first sign but I have also heard that it can be common in kids that don't have autism. I think when it becomes not normal is when they do it ALL the time.

Thank you, Hayley.

lilid wrote: Quote our neurologist: "You don't want to know how many strange things babies do". Of course you should ask a doctor and read about milestones. If there is something that made you think about autism (God forbid) then ..... go to pediatrician and ask him to give you some peace of mind. It's all you can get at this early age .... in my opinion, but you deserve some support after a complicated pregnancy.

Thank you for your input. Whenever I read about milestones DD seems to be meeting all of them, and can do many of the 9-month to 1-year ones, also. I thought of autism simply because of familiarity - I was a psychology major and did an internship where I observed some intake evaluations with autistic children. DH also had a colleage with an autistic son that we spent some time around. About a month ago, I noticed DD making a movement with her hand repeatedly and thought it was odd, when she did it again, I started to worry that it was a stereotypic movement. All that said, does this deserve a special visit to the pediatrician or do I wait until DD's 9-month appointment? I have a good relationship with my pediatrician and respect her opinion greatly.

Posted: June 04 2007 at 5:16pm | IP Logged

I would wait till the 9 month appt. There is nothing that can be done anyway. I think you are being a great mom watching her closely! I am sure your ped will look at you like you are crazy just like mine did. Just keep an eye on here. She is probobly just exploring her body.

Hayley

Posted: June 04 2007 at 6:14pm | IP Logged

This too was BB.  He was BF'd until 10 months-solids introduced at 5 or six months (I cannot remember now...whenever we read it is best in order to avoid childhood diabetes).  BB was born 2 weeks late and some inducing was necessary.  He beat the crap out of every milestone physical and cognitive...ABCs and 1-20 by age 1.5, first steps at 10 months.

I would not be overly concerned, but you are obviously well-informed enough to know that this might mean something.  I noticed the hand-flapping at an early age and I used to call them his "crazy hands."  I thought enough of it though to bring it to the attention of his pediatrician which is exactly what you are doing.

Also, please note, our pediatrician at the time told it was nothing...along with his internal hip rotation and toeing-in/toe-walking.  We are on our third pediatrician...this time a dev. ped.

Don't upset yourself, but don't discount what brought you to ask the question.  I am in no way trying to sound alarmist, but like I said, follow your instincts.  From reading your posts I would say that you will we will all hope NT all the way.

All the best.

Posted: June 04 2007 at 6:22pm | IP Logged

flip wrote: Just so you know many babies hand flap. My older son with autism hand flaps and so does my NT 1 year old. I honestly didn't notice that at that young of an age with my first son. Babies get excited and hand flap and explore their bodies. I'm not trying to make you feel you shouldn't be concerned, but I would check for other autism red flags. This is not usually one listed. Things like lack of eye contact, lack of babbeling, lack of response to name are usally big ones. I know there are some lists online, I just can't think of them off the top of my head.

Thank you for the response, that's actually what brought me to ask the question here. Everything I could find online said NOTHING about hand-flapping. DD seems fine on all the normally listed autism red-flags. She has good eye contact, babbles up a storm, and turns her head to respond to her name (about 90% of the time - although if there is something VERY interesting going on, she may not).

camusa wrote: This too was BB.  He was BF'd until 10 months-solids introduced at 5 or six months (I cannot remember now...whenever we read it is best in order to avoid childhood diabetes).  BB was born 2 weeks late and some inducing was necessary.  He beat the crap out of every milestone physical and cognitive...ABCs and 1-20 by age 1.5, first steps at 10 months. I would not be overly concerned, but you are obviously well-informed enough to know that this might mean something.  I noticed the hand-flapping at an early age and I used to call them his "crazy hands."  I thought enough of it though to bring it to the attention of his pediatrician which is exactly what you are doing. Also, please note, our pediatrician at the time told it was nothing...along with his internal hip rotation and toeing-in/toe-walking.  We are on our third pediatrician...this time a dev. ped. Don't upset yourself, but don't discount what brought you to ask the question.  I am in no way trying to sound alarmist, but like I said, follow your instincts.  From reading your posts I would say that you will we will all hope NT all the way. All the best.

Thank you. I will not discount my concern and will definitely talk to her pediatrician about it.

Posted: June 04 2007 at 7:17pm | IP Logged

My ds who has PDD-NOS did not hand-flap as a baby and still does not. My probably NT dd did when she was a baby and still occasionally does it. She does it when she gets excited - but it generally only lasts for 8-10 seconds and then she is done. It doesn't happen every day and it is pretty rare now.

I think you are wise to be concerned. I would wait until the 9 month visit because at this age they are not going to do anything if that is the only sign you are seeing. Keep an eye on her, but also make sure you enjoy her babyhood as well - it lasts for such a short time!