He is not focusing with his eyes. He looks all ovrr, but doesn't maintain contact with anything for too long. He turns his head from side to side (left and right). He arches his back and seems to like looking at things over head. He is NEVER still unless he is sleeping. Even when trying to feed him, he seems to want to eat, but is constantly wriggling around. He is not sleeping well. Even with cereal in his bottle, the most he will sleep is 4 hours at a time. He was 1 month premature, so I don't know if I'm just expecting too much too soon or what. When he does look at me, one eye seems to look directly at me while the other is not on me but sort of drifting. Is any of this related to autism? His doctor says the chance of anything being wrong is very remote because everything looks so normal, but I can't help but worry.
2006-11-24 11:34:52 · 14 answers · asked by Lisa RN 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Too early to tell about autism, which now affects 1 in 166 children in America. Could be early signs of ADHD but you're way early to know anything.
2006-11-24 11:43:52 · answer #1 · answered by Sir J 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Calm down, he's fine and he sounds normal. Infant eyes don't usually start focusing until around 3 months. Sleeping through the night is something some parents get at this age, mine didn't start sleeping through the night until about 3 and a half months old though, and now he only does it once and a while. Did your pediatrician tell you to do the cereal in the bottle? They've actually done clinical trials and found that it's basically an old wives tale--cereal in the bottle does not necessarily make for a baby to sleep through the night. In fact they found that in some babies it can cause more damage because it's upsetting their stomachs and who can sleep with an upset stomach? 4 hours is a Godsend, I know some babies that only sleep 2-3 hours a night at that age, so get as much sleep as you can and relax--which will help you sleep. The turning head from side to side and wanting to look at everything sounds like he's just being inquisitive. If you have any big questions, I would suggest contacting your pediatrician and tell him that you're worried about the behavior your child is exhibiting. If you don't feel he answers you, ask for an opinion from another pediatrician.
2006-11-24 23:23:09 · answer #2 · answered by lori_a_esser 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since he was 1 month early, adjust his age to where it should be if he was on time, only 6 weeks. This is normal for that age, babies can't focus and he is probably turning his head when he hears different noises and trying to figure out what it is. The eye drifting thing is normal too, my son did this up until he was 13 months, and it would get worse when he was really tired. My doc said it can be normal until they are around 2 and a half years as focusing eyes can be difficult for some babies. Write down your questions and bring them with to your next docs appt. He/she can reassure you everything is fine!
My son was very active from the start too. You may just have an early crawler/walker on your hands!
It's normal for them to wake up every few hours at such a young age. He's doing great, the first kid is always the hardest because a new mom worries so much!
2006-11-24 19:46:25 · answer #3 · answered by dolly 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If he was one month premature then his nervous system is that of a 1 1/2 month old and yes those thing would be normal! He should start to sleep more in a couple months and same thing with the eyes and movements Don't worry about it right now just look at him as still pretty much being a new born. You have enough stresses right now =]
2006-11-24 19:44:43 · answer #4 · answered by Amber Marie 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think that it is best at this time to listne to your doctor. Really your baby is only one month old when age is adjusted for prematurity. At this age the muscles in the eyes are unable to focus properly and may wander. His vision is also limited at this point. As for sleeping 4 hours at a time, I do think that this is normal for his age. His stomach is still rather tiny and can only hold so much food irregardless of what kind of food is put in it. So being so small means that it doesn't stay full as long and then he would wake up for hunger. I think that some babies are just more acitve than others. This is true in th womb as much as after birth. I have four children and none of them were the same. It is possible that he might have autism, but only as likely as any other child. My suggestion is to put aside your worries for now (you will know more about his behavior in teh enxt couple of months) and just enjoy your baby, they grow so fast. You'll wake up one morning and he will be a toddler!
2006-11-24 19:48:06 · answer #5 · answered by Heather G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a friend who has a 2 year old son who has autism, that is the first thing I thought of when reading this, There are some good websites on autism check them out. I think your son is too young to know for sure but don't back down, if you think something is wrong try another doctor until you feel comfortable with the answer.
2006-11-24 19:47:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your baby is too young for cereal in his bottle! The turning his head and looking over his head is normal. He is seeing new things! His eyes are not fully developed yet, he doesn't see full color, things are developing every day. Remember that he was premature, and his development didn't speed up just because he was born a month early. His eyes and tummy are basically 1 1/2 months old. Give your babe formula only for now, and don't expect too much too soon for goodness sake!
2006-11-24 19:46:35 · answer #7 · answered by Deb 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Babies normally have trouble focusing and an eye sometimes drifts or they go crossed. My son has grown out of this more or less at three moths and maintains eye contact steadily now. He still loves to look at a picture of himself that is behind him on the changing table.
The cereal may actually be upsetting his stomach and making it difficult for him to sleep well. Usually cereal is not introduced until four months old.
Take a look at this site to know other month by month developmental milestones and see if he reaching those.
http://www.envisagedesign.com/ohbaby/develop.html
2006-11-24 23:35:31 · answer #8 · answered by C.D.N. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep close watch on the drifting eye problem; other than that, avoiding eye contact is a sign of autism. Autistic children usually look at the mouth rather than the eyes because faces hold too much information for them at a young age. You can't be sure of anything for a while, though. Best of luck. (-=
2006-11-26 18:09:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think Mothers have more of an intuition about things like this than doctors and I think you should get a second and perhaps third opinion from different doctors because what you describe sounds abnormal
There may be something that can be done now that might not be done later. I think the sooner you act to get help the better
Also, you can do some reading on line and get on some chat boards with other Mom to exchange information
2006-11-24 19:38:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If one eye concentrates on you and the other wonders it could be "lasy eye". Don't panic. It can be fixed pretty easily but you should do it know while he's young rather than later. The idea is that you cover the eye that concentrates with, Idon't know, a rag for a week or two. The lazy eye will get stronger. But you should see an eye doctor before you do this. I haven't seen him and I'm no doctor so don't immediately follow the advice of people on the internet.
2006-11-24 19:49:00 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋