A baby who stares at his hands is simply gaining visual ability and the coordination to bring his hands together — and is getting ready for even bigger developmental tricks. At around 3 months, babies will bring their hands together intentionally and soon after will try to bat at objects or grasp things.
If your baby is chewing on their hands and fingers, they've probably "found" their hands, which is an early fine-motor and visual-motor skill. Once a baby has discovered their hands, they often become their new favorite playthings, and putting them in their mouth is a form of self-exploration.
2-6 months: Infant inspects own hands and reaches for but may not actually touch objects. Eyes can follow objects in a circular motion. Hands are more relaxed.
Discovering Hands
Furthermore, they are still unaware that these hands, which belong to them, are part of their bodies. Most of the time their hands are outside of their vision, and they are not even aware of them. Babies first have to discover that they have hands. This usually happens at about six to eight weeks.
Of all the stimming behaviors, hand flapping is perhaps one that is most noticeable in children with ASD. It is a type of repetitive behavior that can occur for short or long durations. Hand flapping can present itself as a stimming behavior in many ways, including: Moving fingers vigorously.
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.
According to Healthline (2019), a child may stim because he/she is trying to: Stimulate the senses or decrease sensory overload. Adapt to an unfamiliar environment.
Stimming might include: hand and finger mannerisms – for example, finger-flicking and hand-flapping. unusual body movements – for example, rocking back and forth while sitting or standing. posturing – for example, holding hands or fingers out at an angle or arching the back while sitting.
1-3 Months
The first three months with your baby often seem the hardest. Sleep-deprived parents can feel overwhelmed, but that is normal and you will quickly learn how to read your baby's cues and personality. Don't worry about “spoiling” your baby at this stage.
Those who may be on the autism spectrum will mostly avoid any type of eye contact and will typically not smile or exhibit many facial expressions. Autistic children will also likely not be reactive to loud sounds and noises as neurotypical children would.
You also may notice your baby stretching and kicking the legs. This movement strengthens leg muscles, preparing your baby to roll over, which usually happens by 6 months of age.
Your baby finds comfort in your arms
When an infant can be soothed by your voice or physical comfort, this is another way she shows she trusts you. Infants identify caretakers by sight, smell, and sound, and when any of these provide a level of comfort to a baby it is evidence of an established bond.
It is best to hold the baby on demand up to the age of 12 months old. Babies up to this age are still developing emotionally and may require parent's attention often. However, you may also try identifying the possible need of the baby.
General satisfaction with life increased in the first months after birth and peaked when the child reached 6 months old.
Older parents are generally less at risk for depression than younger ones. Parents still in their early 20s appear to have the hardest time because they are struggling with their own move from adolescence to adulthood while at the same time learning to be parents.
However, many babies tend to get "easier" around 3 to 4 months old. Around this age, infants may begin to sleep longer stretches and feed on a more predictable schedule. You may also start to adjust to your new set of responsibilities as a parent. This being said, every baby is different, as is every family.
Hand flapping and autism
Of all the stimming behaviors, hand flapping is perhaps one that is most noticeable in children with ASD. It is a type of repetitive behavior that can occur for short or long durations. Hand flapping can present itself as a stimming behavior in many ways, including: Moving fingers vigorously.
The milestone of responding to one's own name usually occurs between 4 and 9 months, according to the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA). Not all babies reach this milestone at the same time, of course, but most should be appearing to recognize their name with consistency between the ages of 7 and 9 months.
Mental health problems
Many autistic people have problems like: feeling very worried a lot of the time (anxiety) feeling unhappy, irritable or hopeless (depression) feeling a need to keep doing certain actions (obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD)
In autism, there is laughing/giggling and 'laughing/giggling'. There can be numerous reasons to laugh, which are difficult to understand by 'outsiders': Of course, autistic individuals laugh when they are happy, or if they find something funny. However, they often laugh to release fear, tension and anxiety.
Research suggests that reduced or absent communication, including lack of response to their name, lack of gesturing, and language delays, are strong indicators of autism. For example: At 4 months of age , a baby should begin to make sounds, babble, or coo. At 6 months , babies often begin to respond to their name.
Visual stimming
staring or gazing at objects, such as ceiling fans or lights. repetitive blinking or turning lights on and off. moving fingers in front of the eyes. hand-flapping.
Staring at hands (or feet) is a normal developmental phase which usually occurs in infancy. This interest in “self” sometimes occurs later or longer among children with CdLS. Staring at the hands is also seen in autism and some children with CdLS have autistic-like habits.
Repetitive movements such as hand or finger posturing, flapping, spinning. Seeks out or avoids certain textures, sounds or movements. Visual differences (fixating on objects or certain kinds of stimuli such as the light coming through blinds, looking at things in odd ways or tracking such things as fan blades, etc. )