Body Rocking Question

Does he communicate and socialize well? If so, then you are probably OK...but if not, then you may have some developmental issues to contend with...

Sounds like a self-soothing technique. My 3yo son loves to play with wheels on anything still. He gets down on the floor to do it wherever we are. All the engineers in my family did it too.

I'd talk to a pediatrician....but not be too alarmed. I am 29 years old and I still do this....foot shaking thing when I am having a hard time falling asleep. I shake my foot and this makes a sort of rocking motion and it truly helps me fall asleep. I think it is a self-comforting mechanism I must have learned at an early age...anyway....it helps. But as a good concerned parent...I'd just ask a pediatrician.

Hi Erica,
I'm a mother of 6, one of whom has an autistic spectrum disorder. It seems like the rocking you described is limited to times when he's tired or sleepy, so it's basically a comfort behavior. I wouldn't worry about it unless this behavior evolves into one that causes harm, like rubbing his head on the surface he's rocking on until he gets a raw spot, as an example. Why do you want him to stop rocking if that's how he comforts himself?
People with autistic behaviors engage in repetative movements like rocking as a form of self stimulation because it's more comfortable than the environmental stimulus they are recieving from the world around them. Before reading too much into this harmless behavior, be comforted by the stories of we older moms with grown children and all the funny stories we have about the odd things our kids did when they were babies! Sometimes we have to take a step back from the up-close view of the here and now, and ask ourselves if we want to define our children in the long run by a phase they are going through...ignore it and it will fade away on it's own. I used to pick up my kids and do that standing-dance-rocking when they started getting sleepy, so at least they wouldn't have to rock alone!

If, on the other hand, you see in the next couple of years that your son is exhibiting signs of this particular developmental disability, be prepared for the fact that being diagnosed with a Pervasive Developmental Disorder(NOS), or Asperger's Syndrome will not do very much for your child beyond offering an explanation to schools and the world at large as to why your child is "different" from others. Our attitudes towards differently abled family members will determine whether or not they will blossom into "can do" people, or use their diagnosis as an excuse for not succeeding.
No, Erica, I wouldn't worry about your son, he sounds like a normal little guy to me.

Don't ever let someone that doesn't know your son make you worry that he has anything "wrong" with him. One symptom doesn't mean he has the condition...it is just a possible symptom. If it does concern you, you can always call your pediatrician and ask their advice. People often look at the worst case scenario when the simplest answer is probably correct. I know I used to rock myself to sleep and I don't have autism...it could just be something he does. As far as playing with wheels...I think many boys do that. My son likes to play with wheels to figure out how they work and he has been tested for learning disabilities and is fine. So please try not to worry. If those are the only 2 symptoms your son exhibits, he is probably fine. But like I said, if you are still worried, make an appointment with your ped...don't let a stranger "diagnose" him.

Hello Erica, I have one son who did rocking, but it was in his crib and playpen. He even bumped his head against the rails, I never did find out why, but he outgrew it. We usually took him out of the crib. Maybe needed more attention. He is now 41 years old and normal. Maybe hold your little one and rock him for a while. Hope it doesn't become a habit. Good luck

You may want to talk to your pediatrician about this, not to scare you but the playing with wheels is somewhat worriesome also. Does he spin them? My sister is a special education teacher with a specialty in autism and she told my cousin, who's son does the same things, to have him tested to be sure.

Hello Erica. I work with children with Autism and I suggest that you bring this up to your childs doctor. Your doctor may suggest a behavioral specialist who can evaluate the behaviors of your son.Don't worry too much though. He just may enjoy rocking himself because it is soothing.

erica, does he look in your eyes when you talk to him? does he respond to his name and/or smile appropiately?
to be honest, but without freaking you out, those are some early signs, but they're not the only signs. is he crawling/walking appropiately> does he listen to/understands commands? does he try to interact with others?
if you're really nervous i suggest a visit to a developmental pediatrician rather than your regular one. they'll be looking at specific factors.
i wish you the best~

to be honest, those are signs of autism but like one of the other posters have said, it doesn't mean he is. It does not hurt to get him tested just to be sure. My friends said the same thing about my daughter and to be safer than sorry I got her tested. They said she is showing signs but wants to do more testing before they said she was autistic. She is developementally delayed so she is getting assistance with that. I would just get him tested for piece of mind- it helped me.

HI Erica. I have a cousion who used to do this. He did it for several years. He turned out fine. He's 256 not and is studding to be a doctor. I know some kids that are autistic that do it, but not all. I would ask the doctor on his next visit. Good Luck!

my 10 month old grandson does it too but he does it when he is happy or when he is upset. not specific reason. and he doesnt crawl yet. actully he scoots backward. his daddy my son used to do the same thing. just cause they do one thig doesnt mean they have autism. it is sometimes a comfort thing or a control thing. they can now control their body movemnt and they practice it every chance they get. if you are still worried, hav eyour doctor check him out. oh and the wheels. wheeels are neat. and he is jst probably amazed at how he can make them move

The rocking may be a self-soothing technique that your son is using to calm himself. Many people do things that help regulate their nervous systems, either to an alert state or to a calm state, such as twisting hair around a finger, tapping a foot, chewing on a pen, etc. If the rocking helps your son calm down, I wouldn't worry about stopping that behavior - it's working for him and doing what he needs it to do. Most children know what their sensory needs are and will find a way to get those needs met. It sounds as if your son knows that he needs to do this to calm down. Good for him for finding an appropriate strategy that works. :-)

The rocking in and of itself isn't an alarming behavior. You say that your son plays with wheels on things. Does he fixate on spinning the wheels and staring at them? Kids may be interested in learning how things go together and how they work, but fixation on the spinning component is not a typical behavior.

If you have a mommy-gut instinct that something may be "off" with your son, please have a frank discussion with your pediatrician about your concerns. Look closely at your son's behavior - are there any other oddities that stand out to you? Does he have to have things a certain way? Does he line up his toys? How does he interact with his toys? How does he interact with other children? Does he have difficulty transitioning between activities or places? Make a list of whatever seems different and talk with your pediatrician about them. If your instincts are still telling you something else may be going on, then ask for a referral to a developmental pediatrician, who can either give you a proper diagnosis (if one is warranted) or rule out any concerns about an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). If the developmental pediatrician rules this out and says it's not present in your son, then you can rejoice and rest easy. If there is an ASD present, then you can get your son the help he needs as soon as possible.

my son rocks all the time & he crawls he thinks it is funny. he is not autistic but a very healthy out going baby. for your piece of mind talk to your doctor one symptom doesn't mean anything. like another post said i still rock when i am nervous or tired my husband laughs at me but it is comforting

I'm not a doctor, or anything close to it, but I know that both of my nephew's as well as my niece did the same thing. They did it when they were tired, cranky or sometimes they'd do it when they were trying to get ready to walk or crawl. I would certainly bring it up to your pediatrician so that they are aware, but try not to worry about it.

I'm sorry if that isn't much help, but when I read your comment I remember the kids in my life did it all the time and they are not autistic. Talk to a professional before worrying yourself so and jumping to conclusions. :)

Take care and good luck!

Namaste.

~*S.*~

My son's are head bangers - the bang against everything - they bang in thier highchairs, in their car seats, while their sitting on the couch. I found it very concerning at first, but they are almost three and totally normal (meet or exceed all milestones). I read that some kids just have a lot of energy to burn and can have a habit of banging or rocking. Oh - they also rock them selves to sleep going back and forth side to side. I think its fine as long as he is keeping up with the other milestones, and you shouldn't worry about the autism. Just my thoughts- hope that helps.

I just have to say that for your own piece of mind, you should have your son checked for autism. my granddaughter is 3 and is not speaking anything but jibberish. we just thought that she might just be delayed in her speach or that possibly she had a hearing problem. my daughter took her to a specialist about a month ago and he told her that she has a mild form of autism. he also told her that there are ways to help them overcome autism. if we had diagnosed her sooner we could already be well into the treatment process. I don't want to scare you or make you feel bad in any way, but it couldn't hurt to just have him checked for autism. moms always have the mom intuition and if you think there might be something wrong you should check it out!

If go you to babycenter.com
it explains rocking and other baby issues:
Many babies are soothed by rhythmic back-and-forth, such as gentle motion of a rocking chair. Some babies will move back and forth on all fours or even rock while sitting up. Body rocking starts about 6 months of age and may be accompanied by head banging or head rolling.
It's best to take a low-key approach to rocking.in babies, rocking usually isn't a sign of a behavorial or emotional problem. If your baby perceives that you're trying to stop the rocking, he may take it as a challenge and persist in the behavior.
If your baby's nighttime rocking is unusually loud or vigorous, try moving his crib away from the wall. And be sure to tighten the screws and bolts on his crib regularly, as all the motion may work them loose.

Hope this puts your mind at ease
V.

I would have him tested if for no other reason than your peace of mind. Early interventions are the best treatment for autism and the younger a child is the more they are able to be helped. I am not sure your little guy has autistic tendencies but by all means, please have him tested.

I'd say don't worry about it. My daughter is nearly 5 years old now and has been rocking like that since she was 6 months old. She does it less and less now - basically for a couple of mins to help her get to sleep. Like everyone else said, if your son is interacting with you normally otherwise, don't worry about it.

I don't know much about this either, however there was an episode of Oprah that talked about autism. When you mentioned that he likes to play with wheels that stuck out in my mind. That was one thing that was noticed by other moms that they thought was just a quirk. DEFINATELY look into this with the help of a doctor. If this is what is going on, the sooner you can help him, the better your chances are of reversing any damage. I don't want to worry you but that is what I know of this syndrome. Jenny McCarthy was one of the mothers on Oprah who has dealt with autism in her son. It started just after he had his MMR shot at two years old. Before the doctor gave him the shot she asked him if that was the "autism" shot because she had a bad feeling. ( There has been some controversy over vaccinations being the cause of autism) The doctor swore at her and told her that was ridiculous and then gave her son the shot anyway before she could do anything. Shortly after that was when his episodes started.
Does your son answer when you speak to him? Does he smile or acknowlege when something makes him happy? Does he show affection? Does he play with toys or just sort of line them up or not know what to do with them? Does he play with door hinges? How old is he by the way? This is a subject that has really piqued my interest since my 2 year old is due for her shots. Please let me know what happens. Good luck!!!!

As many of these people have said, yes rocking is one sign of autism. There are many different signs of autism though, just because he has one quork does NOT mean he is autistic. Does he make eye contact, is he affectionate, is he verbal, does he interact with others, if you answer no to several of these things then yes he may be autistic. Rocking for many childern is self soothing. I am a mother of a boy who has autistic tendencys and falls into the catagory of being in spectrum... You know your child better than any one else in this world.. only you can decide if he needs to be tested. Best of luck!

Autistic kids are a wonderfull blessing.

I am the youngest of six children. My youngest brother is 42 and he still rocks himself to sleep at night. Its not every night just the nights he is too tired to go to sleep. He works in the baggage area of the airport, has 4 kids himself. He doesnt/didnt show any other signs of autism other than the body rocking. It could be a comfort thing, especially if you rocked him to sleep at night as a little baby.

Erica,

Yeah, it could be Autism. However, it's most likely that he's found a way to comfort himself that doesn't require an object. I still find myself rocking when I'm uncomfortable, and I'm a fully functioning adult. Go see your Pediatrician to make yourself feel better. However, if it's just his way, don't try to make him stop. It's not hurting anything, and it makes him feel better.
Hope this helps. Good luck