2 Seperate Questions

Hi N.,

I can relate to being easily freaked out by things with your child. My suggestion is to contact CPI or an early learning institute and have your baby evaluated on motor skills. This will ease your worries and also you will learn new things that you can do with your baby. As far as crawling goes, some babies don't crawl at all and just start walking when they are ready. Just keep encouraging tummy time and show him the correct way-the range is so varied, I wouldn't worry about it. For autism, I think the parenting institute could help you with that or do a search for autism and contact the specialists. Take care and I hope this helps!

Molly

My daughter never crawled. She rolled everywhere, and didn't walk until 16 months old. There was absolutely nothing wrong with her. Some babies just have different time tables.

My daughter didn't show any signs of wanting to crawl until about 2 weeks before she started crawling...at 11 months. She turned one on June 29th and is now pulling herself up on anything and everything and walking with the push toy (she started that yesterday). I use to say, "I think she figures, why move if people will bring me the stuff I want...if they don't, oh well."
I don't know much about arm flapping, but I know my daughter doesn't like people to touch her arms or run their fingers on her arm (I'm not sure why complete strangers at Starbucks find it necessary to touch my baby). She pulls away when people try to run their fingers on her arms.
Enjoy that little guy, he will be 1 and wanting to walk before you know it.

Some babies skip crawling all together so don't panic. But you can have him evaluated just like the other mom said.

Can't really help with the other question. I have my own beliefs about the etimology of autism.

YOur first question- yes this is normal- I am a mom of two boys, ages 8/6 and soon to be 9/7 as of next week so ... my 1st child Anjel never crawled.. he walked at 8 months old all for a marker he desperately wanted.. that is a different story on its own...
As far as autism, I dont' know about that signs of this, but from an ADHD parent- dont' always go with your first sign of something, arm flapping may be one of 10 signs that your child is autistic- but let me tell you- if everything else is normal, and your instincts tell you he is normal- go with them. See, as moms that is the 1st thing you have to trust. Girl, I won't even trust doctors til I get a 2nd sometimes 3rd opinion.. Good luck, I am sure your son is going to be just fine :) And if it makes you feel better, they are only babies once- when they start walking - it is over, no more baby so try not to push him.. enjoy the "not big boy" stage yet...

Hi N.,
I wouldn't worry about the crawling thing...he may skip it altogether and just start walking in a couple of months.

As far as autism goes, moving his arms a lot isn't necessarily the same thing as "arm-flapping". If he only does it when he's excited or mad, it definitely doesn't sound like the type of arm-flapping that some kids with autism engage in. How is his eye-contact? Can he imitate you for simple things such as clapping his hands or waving? If you point to something really cool and say in a dramatic voice "wow, look at that!", will he look where you are looking and pointing? If he sees something interesting will he point to it or look at you to see if you notice it also? Also keep in mind that children are rarely able to be diagnosed as autistic or not at just 8 months old...the soonest I've heard of is 12 months, and even that is pretty early. I don't think you need to worry about it at this point, but if at his 12 month well-baby appt. you still have concerns, definitely ask his doctor to screen him (I think that all babies are getting screened at 15 or 18 months now anyway).
Best wishes,
A.

First question all babies have different time tables. My older brother never crawled and walked when he was 7 months old. My own children all had different ways of crawling and times they started doing it. And to the second question it is very normal for babies to flap their arms, weather in response to anger or happiness. Don't freak out each time you see something on T. V. or you will find that you are checking your child for everything under the sun. When I went to Medical School, and we were studying pediatric Medicine I regularly checked my 3 children for all kinds of different things. Take heart in the fact that you have a healthy child and ask the Dr. at your next appt. if you still have concerns. Take care and good luck.