Spotting Autism Signs Early (6 months – 3 years) — A Guide for Parents

Early, confident observation makes the biggest difference: research shows that screening and intervention started before age two can markedly improve speech, social skills, and adaptive behaviour. Below is a stage-by-stage checklist you can read in a single sitting—no tables, just clear examples you’ll recognise in everyday Indian parenting.

6 – 9 Months – “First Social Spark”

• Social eye-contact & shared joy

  • Typical – Your baby catches your eye and giggles when you play peek-a-boo after the Annaprasana rice-feeding ceremony.

  • Concerning – Few or no warm smiles by six months, or looks past you even when you lean in close.

• Responds to name / joint attention

  • Typical – Turns toward “Chinnu!” shouted from the kitchen.

  • Concerning – No head-turn to name by nine months.

• Early speech & gestures

  • Typical – Babbling strings like “ba-ba.”

  • Concerning – Very quiet or only grunts.

• Play & imitation

  • Typical – Copies your expression during peek-a-boo.

  • Concerning – Stares blankly when you hide and reveal your face.

• Repetitive or sensory behaviours

  • Typical – Brief hand-flap of excitement.

  • Concerning – Long, trance-like finger flicking at a ceiling fan.

9 – 12 Months – “Gestures and Shared Interests”

• Smiles in response when you clap at Bathukamma drums; lack of reciprocal smile is a red flag.

• Follows your finger to a Diwali diya; following only your whole hand (not the pointed finger) suggests a joint-attention delay.

• Waves “bye-bye” or says “amma/dada” meaningfully; absence of gestures or meaningful sounds by twelve months warrants screening.

• Bangs a spoon after seeing you cook; spinning the spoon or staring at it is atypical.

• Enjoys rangoli powder textures; becoming rigid or distressed over mild textures is a sensory concern.

12 – 18 Months – “First Words & Pretend Play”

• Brings a ladoo to show you; preferring solitary play and never seeking you out is concerning.

• Looks from you to a stray puppy and back—shared attention.

• Should have 5–10 single words by 15 months; only echoing TV jingles or still babbling needs evaluation.

• Copies sweeping motions when you clean; needing hand-over-hand guidance each time shows imitation difficulty.

• Lines up bangles obsessively or insists on strict order.

18 – 24 Months – “Two-Word Stage”

• Uses eye contact to request help opening a snack; pulling your hand without ever looking up is a red flag.

• Brings a picture book and points for you to name; using your hand as a pointer instead of their own is atypical.

• By 24 months, expect simple two-word phrases (“anna come”). Less than 50 understandable words or only jargon suggests language delay.

• Pretends to feed a doll dosa; repetitive wheel-spinning instead of pretend play may indicate autism.

• Persistent toe-walking or hand-flapping when excited is worth mentioning to your paediatrician.

24 – 36 Months – “Conversation & Flexible Play”

• Shares joy (“See my new truck!”) with direct gaze; fleeting or absent eye contact signals difficulty.

• Answers to name even outdoors; only responding when music stops or after touch is atypical.

• Vocabulary should exceed 50 words and include simple sentences by 30 months; sudden loss of speech deserves urgent assessment.

• Plays “family” or “shop” with cousins; meltdown if toy order changes points to rigidity.

• Fascination with spinning objects and daily toe-walking are common sensory-motor signs.

When to act: One isolated sign can simply be a quirk, but a pattern across several domains—especially social gaze, gestures, and language—merits a formal developmental screening. Tools like the M-CHAT-R/Fare quick and available locally.

FAQ — Answers to the Questions Parents Google Most

Q: What are the very first autism signs in a one-year-old?
A: No response to name, lack of pointing or waving, absence of joyful back-and-forth eye contact, and little interest in interactive games like pat-a-cake are key red flags.

Q: Does late talking always mean autism?
A: Not always—hearing loss, bilingual environments, or broader developmental delays can cause late speech. Yet around one-quarter of persistent “late talkers” meet autism criteria later, so professional screening is the safest path.

Q: Can autism be diagnosed before age two in India?
A: Yes. Experienced developmental paediatricians using tools like M-CHAT-R/F (screen) and ADOS-2 (diagnostic) can confirm autism as early as 18 months. Many Vizag clinics—including Rainbow and Little Miracles—offer these assessments.

Q: If my toddler makes good eye contact, could it still be autism?
A: Yes. Some children glance briefly but struggle with sharing interests, imitation, or sensory regulation. Look at the overall pattern, not one behaviour in isolation.

Q: Who should I consult first?
A: Start with a developmental paediatrician for a comprehensive evaluation; then engage a centre with integrated therapies so you aren’t shuttling between providers.

Take the Next Step Today — Call Little Miracles

If you recognise several concerning signs, don’t “wait and watch.” Call Little Miracles (+91 90300 79929) or visit littlemiracles.in to book a Same-Week Early-Signs Screening. Their therapists will guide you from assessment to a personalised intervention plan and parent training workshops—all under one roof in Seethammadhara. Your child’s journey can move forward today—take the first step! littlemiracles.in