by Mary Ann Harrington

Created on: November 12, 2008   Last Updated: December 15, 2008

The more the infant adapts to his caretakers and his surroundings, the more grounded or in touch with physical reality he will become. Typical babies do this naturally. But what about that atypical infant?

Some parents of infants diagnosed with autism or other pervasive developmental disorders, indicate their child was progressing normally, then suddenly stopped and began to regress. Environmental factors are thought to be the cause. Everything from rain to vaccines has been cited. Many other parents state that in retrospect, they saw indicators from birth.

What are these early indicators that might be overlooked? Parents should let intuition be their guide and intervene early if they suspect something is not quite right. If an infant lacks eye contact, avoids cuddling, fixates on lights or spinning objects, acts as if deaf, or is excessively passive, these could be possible "red flags."

These signs may not be easily recognized by first-time parents. In the past, pediatricians have often advocated a wait and see approach. All babies develop at their own rate. On the other hand, the plasticity of their brains lends itself to corrections that may become more difficult if disengaging behaviors become more ingrained.

Suggestions for modulating and correcting possible problems:

Cut down on environmental stimuli. (e.g. Turn of the TV. Shut off ceiling fans. Turn off spinning mobiles. Avoid excessive use of flash cameras.)

Promote eye contact. Gaze into the infant's eyes as he/she is being nursed. Animate expressions to see if that increases engagement. Become more subdued if the infant appears overwhelmed by facial interactions. Play peek-a-boo games. Sing to your child. If the infant is being bottle fed, position him as if he were nursing and look in his eyes. During feeding, do not engage in other activities such as watching TV or checking email. This is a time to bond.

A disengaged infant should face the caregiver as much as possible. Invest in a stroller where the child faces the caregiver. Use a sling carrier to assist in eye contact. Encourage the child to follow eye gaze. Eye contact and following eye gaze are necessary precursors to joint attention, a process where the child begins to point and then looks into the eyes of the caregiver to see if he/she is seeing what he is.

Decrease resistance to touch. If the infant resists cuddling and touch, lean over him as he lies on his back so he can still look in your eyes. Massage him to increase tolerance. Play particular

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