Question about our 8mo old

Post Reply New Topic

So I have posted on here about our oldest daughter who is 2.5 years old. She is in the process of evaluations and such. My husband is very concerned about our 8mo old now.

Here is what he is concerned about: She rocks back and forth alot while playing she will also rock back against the couch or who ever is holding her very hard and she seems to like it. We have noticed that she also starts rocking when our oldest gets upset or starts to get overly excited. Another thing is that she overly startles at noises and will cry. Someone will laugh a little too loud and she will jerk and then cry. She really does not like the vacuum noise either. She does not roll over, I know she can she just doesnt. She also does not sleep through the night she wakes up usually 3-4 times a night and does not self sooth. Edit to add: She is always rubbing her ears or head near her ears. This was checked a week ago during a well child check up and there is nothing wrong with her ears.

On the good side: she has great eye contact, laughs and babbles, eats well, responds to her name most the time, points to facial features and when reading books, actively reaches for items and uses a pincer grasp, she is happy to see people she knows, she is an over all very happy little girl.

I wanted to ask your opinions on this and see if maybe we need to have her evaluated as a precaution of if my hubby is just overly worrying with everything going on with our oldest. Thank you in advance.

I had no idea children should do this! I guess that I have never seen the point! I do not think my children do that?

Sorry to derail your thread, I was just very startled. I have no idea if the 8 month old is acting normal? Several of my kids hated the vaccum cleaner, and I guess that they rock when small. But then again, better somebody NT answer this

My son rocked back and forth sometimes and did some head banging but he is pretty normal. I am not sure if that is normal infant behavior or if he was copying me. He also tossed things on the floor at a year old because he got it from me. He doesn't do it anymore because time outs got it out of him. I could think of other behaviors about him I would think autism but I know he is normal. Even professionals who saw him said he was good and healthy and the home nurse was never concerned.

IMO I wouldn't worry right now about your youngest. It just sounds all normal to me and my husband thought one time our son had ADHD and I was like "Are you crazy? He is only eight months." (however old he was then)

I think it is way to early to be worrying about this with a child who is only 8 months old. Not every child is the same, and I don't think it is even possible to get an accurate evaluation on a child that is that young! I would document every thing that concerns you though. Keep notes until she reaches one year, then if these things are still going on, then I would mention it to your pediatrician. Children reach different milestones at varying times, and it is too soon to be seeing these things as problems yet. Keep us posted!

Here's one thing to consider: Let's say your older child is actually on the spectrum. Oftentimes, siblings of kids on the spectrum are quirky, even if they don't have autism. I would say that out of all of the families that I really "know" with one kid with autism, very rarely are the siblings free of any quirks at all. I guess what I am saying is I wouldn't be overly concerned right now. She might just have some sensory sensitivities, but that doesn't necessarily mean she'll have autism. Just keep an eye on her and see how she does over the next 6-12 months. At least that's what I'd do.

As you noted her laughing and babbling, interest in facial expressions, responding to her name and reacting positively to people she knows are all signs that her non-verbal communication skills are developing normally. It is possible that she may be more sensitive to sensory stimuli than other kiddos but I don't think that is necessarily a cause to be overly concerned. The other behaviors you describe are not out of the ordinary for kids her age. However, as hartzofspace says, keep your eyes open and write things down, as that may come in handy if your suspicions turn out to be correct.

I agree that it is awfully early, and that it just may be issues with sensory stimuli. This could resolve itself as her neuro system matures. You will know more once language starts to develop. In the meantime I would try not to worry.

Thank you so much everyone. I shared all this with hubby and he is more relaxed about it. I think I may take her back to the doctors though have another look at her ears just to make sure we did not miss something at the last appointment.

Everything you mentioned seems totally normal. Most 8 month olds are not sleeping through the night. In fact, many toddlers don't. It's biologically normal for them not to sleep through the night and actually healthier not to at that age. Babies and toddlers are biologically designed to have shorter and shallower sleep cycles that cycle much faster than ours. Adult sleep cycles last from 90 to 100 minutes. Adults pass through several stages of sleep until they wake up or start again at an earlier stage of sleep. Baby sleep cycles are only 50 to 60 minutes long and they only have two stages of sleep until they wake up or start again at the earlier stage of sleep.
This protects the baby from SIDS, keeps mom's milk supply up, fosters baby&parent bonding, etc.
You might be interested in this article:
http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detsleepthrough.html

"Here is what he is concerned about: She rocks back and forth alot while playing she will also rock back against the couch or who ever is holding her very hard and she seems to like it. We have noticed that she also starts rocking when our oldest gets upset or starts to get overly excited. Another thing is that she overly startles at noises and will cry. Someone will laugh a little too loud and she will jerk and then cry. She really does not like the vacuum noise either. She does not roll over, I know she can she just doesnt. She also does not sleep through the night she wakes up usually 3-4 times a night and does not self sooth. Edit to add: She is always rubbing her ears or head near her ears. This was checked a week ago during a well child check up and there is nothing wrong with her ears."

Someone can be hypersensitive to sound without being autistic. The other things may be related to sensory seeking behaviors or proprioception. It is treatable through OT and the treatment can begin now without waiting.

Here are some references for Sensory Integration Disorder

Answers to Questions Teachers Ask About Sensory Integration: Forms, Checklists, and Practical Tools by Jane Koomar, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Carol Stock Kranowitz, MA, and Stacey Szklut, MS, OTR/L

Building Bridges through Sensory Integration: Therapy for Children with Autism and Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders by Ellen Yack, BSc, MEd, OT, Paula Aquilla, BSc, OT, and Shirley Sutton, BSc, OT

Just Take a Bite: Easy, Effective Answers to Food Aversions and Eating Challenges! by Lori Ernsperger, PhD, and Tania Stegan-Hanson, OTR/L

Sensory Challenges and Answers (DVD) by Temple Grandin, PhD

Sensory Integration Strategies for Parents: SI at Home and School by Jeanne Sangirardi Ganz, OTR/L, BCP

Starting Sensory Integration Therapy: Fun Activities that Won’t Destroy Your Home or Classroom! by Bonnie Arnwine

The Everything Parent’s Guide to Sensory Integration Disorder: Get the Right Diagnosis, Understand Treatments, and Advocate for Your Child by Terri Mauro

The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder by Carol Stock Kranowitz, MA

The Sensory Connection: An OT and SLP Approach – Sensory and Communication Strategies that Work! by Nancy Kashman and Janet Mora

The Ultimate Guide to Sensory Processing in Children: Easy, Everyday Solutions to Sensory Challenges by Roya Ostovar, PhD

www.sensory-processing-disorder.com The Sensory Processing Disorder Resource Center

www.sinetwork.org Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation

All that sounds normal to me but only time will tell. Check for allergies.

Thank you everyone. We think she is just an overly sensitive kid, but the therapist is going to bring some evals with her next time she comes just to test her and see where she is on the charts for her age.