Can you believe they said that?

I have a friend who's daughter is was born at start of June (so about 9 weeks old). She was born a couple of weeks early and is still very small but they're working on that. they are having regular checks with health nurse who mentioned because the baby is not smiling very much, that it could be a possible sign of austism!

WTF - at 9 weeks they can make this diagnosis? To even mention that to me is ridiculous and mean. As far as I knew autism can't be diagnosed until at least one year of age and usually there are many signs showing this.

What do you think??

Considering she was acouple of weeks early, she just may be a bit later on reaching the milestone. What a terrible thing to say. Now that mother will panic about it for a long time to come.

Totally ridiculous and ill informed. I would maybe notify the local council (that she is a stupidhead) and send her some info on autism.

I hope your friend knew it was a stupid thing to say...even think. What a load of old bollocks...

I don't have any kids but i have 5 nieces and 2 nephews and i have watched them grow up. And from what iv noticed they didnt start smiling until 12 weeks. Some of them smiled sooner but it all depends on the child, its like saying they should all speak full sentences at 1 years old.. it takes time for some children. And i think that what they said is WAAY out of line! that is such an awful thing to say about a baby who was born a few weeks early. My youngest niece is 15 months old and she cant walk yet shes just started to crawl and the paeditrician (sp?) just said its because she was born early.. They need to take that into consideration.

Holy moly!!! I would be telling your friend to find a new MCHN cause this one has no idea what she is on about. I was going to say the same thing as megie and that it would be due to her slight prematurity as opposed to anything else. I know in some babies the *signs* of autism can be there from the start, but not smiling yet at her age isn't reason enough on it's own for her to make such an ill-informed judgement about her.

silly cow. as if a new mother needs a thought like that planted in her head. i too would tell her to change health nurses. All you have to do is go to the new one and they request all your paperwork for you.

Oh that's just outrageous! Your poor friend... :hug:

It's absolute codswollop! A diagnosis of autisim cannot be made at 9 weeks nor should it even be suggested. Imogen didn't smile until she was about 11 weeks adjusted fwiw... :hug:

I can't believe a nurse would say something like that - completely ridiculous! Not to mention upsetting to the mother. Grrrrrr.

that is ridiculous.. what a terrible seed to plant in anyone's mind.. and so unfounded. i hope your friend isnt worrying about it at all.

What a shocker.
My DS didtn open his eyes for 4 WEEKS!!! So his smiling was delayed!! But not opening eyes, I'd hate to think what she'd say about that. So much for letting bubs develop at their own rate. Nothing worse than a health professional scaring you either.

What a moron of a woman! Well thats one way to stress a parent out. :wall: Stupid woman.

AGGGG!!!! What a horrible thing to say. Not smiling??

My DH didn't smile until he was nearly 15 weeks old. I thought he was the dreariest person I'd ever spent time with. He is not autistic. How could anyone possibly make that sort of diagnosis and scare a parent? If a proper diagnosis is done, sure, but that just sounds like some sort of "throw away line." How awful.

People really don't think do they! Your poor friend. Sounds like the midwife I had when I was pregnant! I went in for a checkup and she noticed I was on anti depressents and she said to me AND I QUOTE " when you leave the hospital after giving birth, you will have a midwife turn up at your house everyday to make sure you haven't harmed your baby" :wall:

How awful she should be complaining. There is no way its a sign of Autism, it can't be diagnosed properly until about 2 years! She will smile when she is ready and being a premmie it can take a little bit longer.

I agree that she needs to move to a different MCHN.

How ridiculous! Not smiling isn't autism. It's a baby developing at baby's own pace.

FWIW, there have been times when I haven't smiled for over 9 weeks. I may be many things, but diagnosable autistic isn't one of them (everyone is SOMEWHERE on the autistic spectrum, just most of the time so mildy that it's considered "normal").