so I have a 21 month daughter....she's my first, so I don't have other children to compare her to. I've always noticed a few little red flags off and on, but I have a lot of anxiety and usually chalk it up to that. my husband and family wouldn't really take my concerns seriously. so I would love opinions....I've brought up concerns to her Dr....but on paper she's developing fine. I would love to know if I should keep pressing this concern of mine or I'm reading too much into it.....
concerns I have....
-eye contact is okay but not great
-not a big smiler
-stims (sucks thumb and twirls hair ALL the time-since early on)
-repeats a lot of what we say
-randomly laughs
-few sensory issues (big blinks when there's a loud noise, doesn't like finger paint food on her hands)
-recently started looking out of the corner of her eye for a second and then will move her eyes back
-recently started having major constipation issues (but she also doesn't drink enough, so maybe it's related to that)
-smart....knows all of her letters and letter sounds, numbers 1-10, can count, color sort, match
-high vocabulary, but a lot of it's pointing and naming objects
-repeats phrases over and over (but could be doing it for attention to be funny)
-shy
-VERY ADHD....won't sit still unless we're reading her a book. we basically can't get a good picture of her right now
-not affectionate and doesn't like to be cuddled
-terrible napper from early on
-not using more than a few words together for a sentence ("mama, please")
other things about her....
-very funny and loves it when she gets attention
-seems to like other kids and attention from people she's just too shy
-hesitant to join in with other kids (could just be shy)
-loves to learn motions to songs and interacts to library/parks and rec music classes.
-mimics me (putting on makeup, clipping nails, etc)
-points just fine
I honestly don't know what to chalk up as normal toddler behavior and what is concerning....
my husband and I both struggle with some degree of social anxiety....my MIL also says my husband was very quiet, not interactive, serious as a toddler and child ....my husband's family also has a lot of members who have sucked their thumb and hair twirled and I don't see them on the spectrum. would love anyone's serious opinion....
is this a concern I should be pursuing?
