Hand flapping?

Question

ok maybe i'm overly worried. this is my first baby she is 10 months.

She makes this motion with her had it looks like she is trying to snap, also she sometimes takes her hand and brings it up and down to her mouth to make noises. not all the time, not all day.

I've just heard a lot about autism lately and i'm not sure what is "normal" for her. she is 10 months.

Everything else seems to be on schedule (as far as i know) Responds to name, looks at things if i point to them, if i asks her where a certain toy is she will get it. if i ask her where her socks go she places them on top her/my feet. tries to kick or roll a ball, babbles "mama" "dada" etc... if i blow raspberries at her she does it back etc....stands, cruses....

anyway is some sort of hand/arm flapping normal or is it an autism flag?

thanks in advance

Answer 1

Sounds like a normal little 10 month old baby to me.  Autism signs are so slight at that age that there is no way to know. All the babies in my family do the arm flapping and flapping the hands in the air and get all excited and make nosies doing it and all that.  Really it is just way to soon to be really noticing any signs unless they were to be very obvious.  If she has a hard time looking you in the eyes and doesn't seem to really laugh or is overly sensitive then you can start to get a better idea.  There is just so much to autism you can't even begin to list all the signs but most are pretty obvious.

Answer 2

Well, I don't know if it's an autism flag, but my guess would be no cause my daughter is 10 months and does the exact same thing. And she has also been on schedule for hitting all her milestones. So I sure hope not! But I'm not too worried about it at this point.

Answer 3

OK, I have TWO autistic spectrum sons, and 1 more that is not.  My middle was dx younger than your daughter is now, he is mild and was dx by our neurologist at 9 months.  He did not flap then, he started doing the flapping around 2.  He flaps when excited or anxious, but I have seen kids flap when upset too.  Flapping is really fast the hands are the most movement and they are at about shoulder height.  I move in a big autistic circle and all kids flap the same way!  The flapping is a sensory issue that is usually a red flag for autism.

Having said this, I have a third son, who is not autistic.  I brought him to the same neurologist at the same age with what I thought was flapping.  I showed her, she said nope, not flapping.  The CNS central nervous system is not matured until after the age of 1.  These are totally normal quirks.  I asked about the term, what is it called?  She told me the unofficial term is motor-yippy, and that her son did this.  I forget the official term hyper___ia.  She said it will cease around age 1, I was skeptical, but actually it did.

The vocalizations are totally normal, she is learning to put cv  (consonant vowel) sounds and cvcv sounds together.

My middle son dx autistic at 9 months did not respond to his name does so now with a delay intermittantly, and the classic sign lack of eyecontact, he did not make sounds at all until close to 2, did not point (still doesn't 34 months), could not follow a 1 step command until 32 months, can not blow raspeberries still, can not retrieve an item except for his blankie but not till 34 months, did not play ball until right now.  He also did not play with toys, and did/does repetitive things like open and close the blinds, turns the tv on and off, lights on and off etc for hours if you'd let him and when you interrupt him he throws a 20 minute long tantrum (meltdown).

All autistic children are different, but many features overlap.   I can say on very good authority as I am so thoroughly educated about autistic spectrum disorders that your child does not in any way look to have any social-communication (autistic) disorder.

Answer 4

Its normal for babies to do, expeacily ones 10 months old Pix and Samantha both did that when they where littler

Answer 5

Sounds very cute, seen babies do it many times, always cute ... and totally NORMAL.

Answer 6

I do not think so. Repetitive behavior is common in a child well in my youngest daughters case until 7.5 so far LOL

She thrives on repetition/schedules and is not Autistic. She is in the top of her class and way above grade level in math. Socially she is a little shy but very normal.

Your daughter is fine, she sounds very well on schedule in my opinion. Kids will do this with words even when they are older as well. I remember when my daughter learned scientific she could squeeze that word into one sentence more than i could ever have LOL

Kids can be weird at times but that is what makes them so wonderful, they don't care they just are who they are.

Answer 7

Hand/arm flapping is definitely normal, especially for a 10 month old.  Its only abnormal when its combined with other red flags for autism.  Don't worry - your daughter sounds perfectly normal!

Answer 8

Sounds like your little one is a happy, active child.

If you are really concerned, I would seek the advice of a pediatrician, or at least do some research online on autism for your own peace of mind.  Best to you!

Answer 9

Don't be worried yet.  Yes, some kids do flap their arms for fun!  Your child doesn't sound like she has autism to me.  I've worked with children along the autism spectrum for 7 years, and nothing you are telling me would make me think she has it.  You said she can make eye contact with you, and can even say a few words, and her gross motor seems to be right on track if she is trying to kick and roll a ball.  Sounds like she's a healthy 10 month old!  Alot of times, kids flap hands when they get excited too.  My daughter does that sometimes.  She is 18 months.  I know how you feel though about autism.  It is something that parents should watch for, and I think you are a great parent for being so proactive.  But, you can set your fears aside because she seems completely normal and maybe even advanced for her age to me!  :)