Baby seems disinterested in toys/people

[nawelch]

Hello,

My wife and I are new parents and our son is 9 weeks old (born 3 weeks early) and we're a tad concerned with some of his behavior. He's starting to smile, which is such a thrill, but never at us or anything we are doing. He LOVES to stare at walls and ceilings that are completely devoid of pictures or fans or lights and while laying on one of his changing tables, he smiles and coos, but if you try to put a toy in front of him or have him look at you, he turns away immediately and the smiles and coos disappear. He just generally shows no interest in anything but a blank wall. This seems unusual to us and from what we've read, is not in line with normal development. I'm concerned he may either be showing signs of vision problems or even autism. Anyone care to drag me back from the ledge?

Thanks!

[Sk8ermaiden]

I don't know terribly much, but I do know that my baby (and most of the babies in my online playroom of 50+ babies) was not even VAGUELY interested in toys at that age. I think it was over 2 months she actually started to look at them (only for a second!) and 3 months when she actually started to play with them - maybe 3.5 months.

I can't speak to the other stuff though - mine was always staring at a ceiling fan, TV or blinds.

[Llyra]

It's possible that baby, coming three weeks early, may be at the stage of development you'd expect for a baby three weeks younger. In which case, what you'd expect to see would be sleeping, eating, fussing, and possible lifting the head very slightly while on the belly, and non-specific, undirected smiles at nothing in particular.

When they turn their heads away like that, as if they're not interested, it's often because they're overwhelmed. The stimulation is too much for them so they shut down, to reduce the stimulation to a level they can handle. You can help with this by keeping your voice low, and avoiding being too "animated," or shaking the toy vigorously, and other stuff like that.

I don't think I'd worry. It's so early. None of my kids cared a hoot about toys until at least two months, and my first didn't smile at people until about the age your LO is. I think it's probably just fine. I think it's way too early to be worrying about something like autism. Time enough to worry about that if he's not making eye contact at three or four months.

[BlueWolf]

My baby did not show an ounce of interest in toys until she was about 5 months old, so I wouldn't be too concerned about that. At that young age... walls, ceilings, fans are all VERY interesting. So, that's normal too. Social smiles need to develop like everything else, so I wouldn't be too concerned about that either. Every baby develops at their own pace. Sometimes they're faster than the average, and sometimes they take their time. I've found that for my own sanity, it's easy to go with my DD's flow and not worry about what she is or isn't doing yet compared to other babies. She's her own person, after all.

[treegardner]

That sounds pretty normal to me. DS would often look off away from us and loved ceiling fans. He didn't show any interest in toys until he was able to manipulate them himself, about 4 or 5 months?

[Lilly Milly]

Originally Posted by nawelch

Hello,

He LOVES to stare at walls and ceilings that are completely devoid of pictures or fans or lights and while laying on one of his changing tables, he smiles and coos, but if you try to put a toy in front of him or have him look at you, he turns away immediately and the smiles and coos disappear.

This sounds EXACTLY like my DD at around that age and she is very smiley and loves people now at 5 months. Don't worry, I had that voice in the back of my head wondering why she'd look away too.

I agree with everything the PPs said. Mine didn't start liking toys and really smiling socially (to us when we walk in the room, smile at her, etc) until closer to 4 months.

[nwatt]

I remember this!

I remember feeling the exact same way not too long ago! I found my daughter's almost constant blank stare at the wall over my shoulder completely disconcerting. Weeks later, she is smiling at everyone who looks at her and loves to try to get toys in her mouth. My LO didn't didn't lift up a toy until she was 12 weeks old, and even then I think it was on accident.

[Norasmomma]

That sounds pretty normal to me. My son is 14 weeks and just within the last few started liking his toys, he has always been pretty engaged with faces though, but he's really personable.

The first thing my son really cooed at was the fan, he has long conversations withthe fan. My DD loved staring out the window for hours. Be patient, he sounds right on track, and always remember babies develop at different paces. There are big variances on ages and stages.

[jammomma]

Sounds like a normal baby to me! My DS loved staring at the fan when he was that age (and still does a little bit!) He didn't make a lot of eye contact at 9 weeks and had no interest in toys. Now he is 6 months, loves to make eye contact and plays all the time with his toys.

[phrogger]

My son was doing the exact same thing at that age. I was concerned especially since my step son is autistic and I honestly didn't remember what my two boys were like at 9 weeks. I had my mini freak out, and now, at 6 months my baby couldn't be more social and interactive if you tried to make him that way. He smiles, laughs, talks (mom and hi) grabs at toys, plays with things now and elicits different responses by making his own different faces. Nothing to worry about with him. I wouldn't worry about your little one at all. Now if he is doing the same thing at 6 to 9 months, I might talk to the Dr. about it.

[BrittneyMarie]

my dd was like that. she showed no interest in toys until about 3 months, now she loves them!

[Carhootel]

Sounds normal for 9 weeks, I would try not to worry. If he was 9 months though... I might be concerned. My ds didn't care about toys/our faces until 4-5 months

[Kailey's mom]

Originally Posted by nawelch

Hello,

My wife and I are new parents and our son is 9 weeks old (born 3 weeks early) and we're a tad concerned with some of his behavior. He's starting to smile, which is such a thrill, but never at us or anything we are doing. He LOVES to stare at walls and ceilings that are completely devoid of pictures or fans or lights and while laying on one of his changing tables, he smiles and coos, but if you try to put a toy in front of him or have him look at you, he turns away immediately and the smiles and coos disappear. He just generally shows no interest in anything but a blank wall. This seems unusual to us and from what we've read, is not in line with normal development. I'm concerned he may either be showing signs of vision problems or even autism. Anyone care to drag me back from the ledge?

Thanks!

Well, my dd was a preemi, and my first thought was that your ds is having overstimulation problems.. which would be why he'd rather look at a blank wall. Even colors can overstimulate a preemi. I would give it some time. Also, if he starts sticking out his tounge alot, or gets hickups alot, those are also signs of overstimulation. He'll catch up!

[Conifer]

Mom of a 10 week old here (3rd baby)
Sounds normal I bet in a couple weeks you'll see a change. Try not to worry!

[Critty]

My DD did not show any interest in toys until about 5 months. She also LOVED blinds and would stare at them for hours. Blinds and pieces of furniture were the first to get big smiles, we came much later. She is now 7.5 months and a laughing, playing, scootching machine