A child may be ignoring you when you call his name for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, it is just because the child isn't tuned in to what's going on around them. Sometimes, it is because they aren't developing social skills as we would expect.
It's usually one of the first signs that they are beginning to understand language. It can be frustrating for parents when their babies don't seem to respond. Fortunately, there are ways you can help your baby develop receptive language skills so they can eventually be able to recognize their own name.
A child who repeatedly does not respond to their name might be autistic, but they could also have other developmental conditions. They could also have a health condition that prevents them from responding to their name—for example, they might not be able to hear.
Ignoring is almost always a normal part of a child's development, rather than a sign that something's wrong. But in rare cases it could be a sign of a learning or hearing problem.
Institute and ASHA, have found a child's failure to consistently respond to one's name by their 1st birthday is often one of the most consistent early indicators of autism spectrum disorder and other developmental delays. This does NOT mean your child has autism – or any other condition.
Speak to your healthcare provider or a paediatrician if you're worried about your baby's eye contact. Some babies have vision impairment from birth or develop it due to a medical condition, injury or disease. This can impact their ability to make eye contact and be a sign there's something that needs looking into.
Kids purposely ignore you because it gives them a sense of power and control. It makes them feel big, and pretending not to hear you makes them feel like they're flexing their muscles. What I recommend is that you figure out what's important to you as a parent and what's important to your child.
If your baby doesn't seem to miss you or want you to hold them, you might feel they don't like you. In some cases, it could be an issue called Reactive Attachment Disorder. This condition occurs when a baby misses the critical early bonding time with their mother or caregivers.
This could be because they need you less, because they're testing you to see if you'll be steadfast in your love if they try pushing you away, or simply because they're going through a busy stage in which their focus is elsewhere (and you're just interrupting their learning time with your requests for kisses).
Not responding to name being called is also an early sign of autism. If you notice your child is not responding to their name (or very rarely) by their first birthday, it's extremely important that you bring this up to your child's pediatrician and call your local early intervention program.
In some cases, a child may appear to have clumsiness and awkwardness in doing normal activities like walking and running. Some children also have repetitive behaviors such as hand clapping, twisting, or twirling.
Early signs of autism can be detected in babies by playing peek-a-boo, research has shown. If their brains respond less than they should to the stimulating game they are more likely to be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as toddlers.
Wait for your child to look at you before handing it to them. Give your child plenty of time to respond. After calling your child's name, pause and wait several seconds before calling their name again. It may take some time to process your request and respond.
Some kids are easily distracted or can only focus on one thing at a time—they really can't communicate while concentrating on something else. But many kids ignore their parents to manipulate them. Instead of “acting out” they're “acting in.” They might be angry or want you to leave them alone.
Infants may appear to respond to their own name, but this is simply a natural reaction to stimuli. Even though infants don't have the ability to recognize their own name, saying their name often and with warm and affectionate tones can help them learn it.
Understanding newborn bonding behaviour
For example, your baby might: smile at you or make eye contact. make little noises, like coos or laughs. look relaxed and interested.
By 3 months, they will smile back at you. By 4 to 6 months, they will turn to you and expect you to respond when upset. By 7 or 8 months, they will have a special response just for you (they may also be upset by strangers). Your baby may also start to respond to your stress, anger or sadness.
By two months, most babies will look happy to see you, and they'll smile when you talk to them. For many parents, those smiles are a heartwarming first glimpse of true affection. By four months, your baby will be smiling unprompted, hoping to catch your attention with a little “I love you” from across the room.
Show interest in your baby's babbling and talking by looking into your baby's eyes and giving plenty of smiles. Respond to and talk about your baby's interests. For example, if your baby starts playing with a toy train, you could say 'Toot, toot'. Read and tell stories with your baby.
Talk to your child a lot
Children learn to talk when parents and caregivers talk to them a lot. You don't need to make a special time for talking. Any and all talking is good for your child. This includes talking while you dress or bath your baby, talking while you play, singing songs and nursery rhymes, and reading.
A child at risk for autism might move their hands, fingers, or other body parts in an odd and repetitive manner. Some examples are: arm flapping, stiffening arms and/or legs, and twisting of wrists. At around 9 to 12 months, infants usually begin “baby talk”, or cooing.
Babies readily share enjoyment with you by smiling or laughing and looking at you. Some children with autism smile to show they're happy but don't share their enjoyment. Others show little facial expression or have flat affect and rarely smile so you may not know when they're happy.
The human face is a strong visual stimulus – babies sometimes just need a break from the wealth of information it offers. When babies turn their heads away or avert their gaze it is not a sign of disinterest or rejection but rather a babyish way of saying “I've had enough for now, I need some time to process it all”.