am I just being paranoid about autism?

[REYNA33]

My son is 16 months old and he can say many words but mostly by repeating me or my husband.  He also likes to repeat them over and over again, like tickle-tickle and kiss-kiss or mama.  He can sometimes  identify pictures in his first words book but other times shakes his head no when I ask him what it is.  He doesn't really point to show me something, mainly he points at words or letters in his book as I do with him.  He loves his books, he just started bringing me his books when I ask him if he wants mama to read the book.  He will pick up certain books by name when I ask for them.  He has good eye contact but sometimes ignores me.  One thing he cant do is clap.  Its like he physically cant get his 2 hands together properly.  I sing him this song where you put your pointer finger pointing down on your palm and he does this sideways.  I dont really do the pattycake thing but when I have and ask him to do it, he will do the pointing to his palm sideways.  He doesnt  have anyone else to play with but me and dad,  but once when we were over grandparents house he pretty much ignored them and chose to step on the new tiles on they had laid out on their kitchen, he would get up on the new tiles then back down on the old ones.  I had to really work to distract him from this, so I started singing row, row , row, your boat.  He started to sing roh roh roh as he continued doing  the same thing.  Like I said he can say many words by repeating them but doesn't really use them.  For a while I would ask where daddy was and he would say "outside", because I always say to tell daddy to take you outside when my husband gets home from work.  He also likes to spin around in circles, not for a long time maybe like a minute, then goes on to playing.  How do I know whats normal or not?

[Rachel Thompson, Ph.D., BCBA]

I would not be concerned about your son watching TV why you cook or clean, as long as he gets plenty of play and interaction time also. Your son has learned to fall asleep through rocking/nursing, so when he wakes in the night he requires this same stimulation to get back to sleep. To change this pattern, he would need to learn to fall asleep on his own. From your description, it does not necessarily sound like you see his sleep as a problem. If it becomes a problem, talk with your pediatrician about how to change this pattern.

[REYNA33]

I did mention to my son's pediatrician about how he can repeat words but not really use them and how he identified objects in his book but since then occasionally does.  She said mimicking was normal.  I guess I am most worried about the pointing, he doesn't follow the direction of my pointing when I try to point out something, he will look at my hand, or sometimes will, but only when very close to the object.  I also mentioned to her that he has never really slept through the night, he wakes up 1hr-3hrs after he first falls to sleep by me rocking him to sleep.  I then either rock him back to sleep or put him in the bed with us, as I am still nursing, he then goes back to sleep but with about 4 more wakings with nursing.  To this she said it sounded like it was a learned behavior and that I need to let him cry it out- which I am opposed to right now.  I also must confess he probably watches more TV than he should, which are all children's programming, while I cook or clean. Could this have an effect on the some of these behaviors?

[Rachel Thompson, Ph.D., BCBA]

I am not immediately concerned about your son's development given your description. Please remember that typical children also show repetitive behavior and are not interested in social interaction all of the time. Nevertheless, I do recommend that parents share all concerns about their child's development with their pediatrician who will have a fuller picture of the child's development and the ability to assess the child in person.