Baby Laughing At Nothing: Autism?

Many young mothers have worries that their child might be born with an autism spectrum disorder. During the early stages of development, you need to know the signs of autism and when to seek professional advice.

So, does your baby laughing at nothing mean they have autism?

Keep reading as we discuss the signs of autism, what to look for, and whether your baby laughing at nothing could be a sign of a congenital disability.

What Is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder is a condition that babies are born with that makes their brains work differently from neurotypical babies.

Since autism is a congenital disability, you cannot ‘give’ your child autism through the way you raise them in their developmental years. However, while your baby is in-utero, some things can increase the likelihood of your child being born with autism:

• Hot showers – mothers should avoid drastically changing their body temperature during pregnancy. This activity can lead to uterine dehydration, congenital disabilities, and autism.
• Solvents – solvents and harmful chemicals link to miscarriage, congenital disabilities, and autism. Pregnant women should not be around large quantities of solvents.
• Smoking and alcohol – along with recreational drugs, tobacco and alcohol can have negative consequences for a fetus’ development, leading to congenital disabilities and autism. Try to quit smoking during pregnancy and when you’re trying to conceive.
• Prescription medications – some prescription medications can harm babies during pregnancy, and pregnant women should seek their doctor’s advice on which drugs are safe for their baby.
• Diabetes and obesity – when you are overweight or suffering from diabetes, your health suffers. This condition can affect your baby’s development in-utero and link to congenital disabilities. So, try to manage your weight when trying for a baby, and take the proper steps to manage your weight throughout the pregnancy.

These are just a few examples of what pregnant women should avoid for a healthy pregnancy and child.

Autism affects different children to varying degrees. For some children, autism is very manageable, and for others, autism can be a lifelong debilitating struggle. As a parent, it’s essential to know the signs early on to teach your child the best ways to support their development and communication skills.

What Are The Signs Of Autism?

To effectively develop learning and coping strategies for your child and to support healthy development, you need to know the signs of autism and spot them early on.

Understanding that their brain works differently can help you tailor your learning support to ensure you support your child. Here are some of the signs your child might have autism.

• Your child struggles with communication and social interaction – this can manifest as a lack of facial expression during the first 12 months and an inability to respond to their name. Or, in later years, this could display as not playing, pretending, or dancing between the ages of 30 and 60 months.
• Repetitive behaviors and interests – if your child is exhibiting repetitive behaviors and obsessive singular interests, this could be a sign of autism. If your baby is lining up toys the same way each time and becomes distressed when their patterns change, this could be a sign of autism.
• Delayed language skills – if your child isn’t speaking at 18 months old, this could indicate delayed language skills, indicating autism spectrum disorder.
• Unusual mood and emotional reactions.
• Anxiety, stress, and excessive worry.
• Epilepsy and seizures.
• Hyperactive, hyper focused, or inattentive behavior – you should pay attention to how your child responds to stimuli and how their concentration works. If they seem to struggle with focus and have hyperfocus in certain areas, this could indicate autism.
• Little to no eye contact – since the way autistic children communicate is different from neurotypical children, you should look for any reluctance or refusal to make eye contact. This sign is a significant symptom of ASD in babies and children.

If My Baby Laughs At Nothing, Do They Have Autism?

Since unusual emotional reactions can be a symptom of autism in children and babies, you cannot rule out the possibility of autism when your child laughs at nothing. You should let your medical practitioner know about your concerns as early as possible, as they can analyze your child’s behavior to determine whether a congenital disability causes it.

The sooner you identify autism spectrum disorder in your child, the sooner you can plan their education and develop strategies to meet their needs and reduce overwhelm.

So, inappropriate laughter could very well signify your baby has autism. Or, it could be nothing. The only way to know is to talk to your healthcare provider and have your child screened for autism.

How To Develop A Care Plan For A Baby With Autism

To develop a care plan for your child with autism, you need to know about the different care methods and therapies available to help your child develop communication and language skills and manage to overwhelm in daily situations.

Here are the therapies available to help your child with autism spectrum syndrome:

• Occupational therapy.
• Physical therapy.
• Emotional and behavioral therapy.
• Developmental therapy.
• Social skill building groups.
• Psychiatric and medical services.

When your baby receives a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, this can be extremely overwhelming. It’s important to remember that just as much as your child needs help, you need help too. You should reach out to friends, family, and medical professionals to access support during this period and learn coping methods to mitigate stress.

Summary

Parenthood can be a trying time, and there are so many rules and restrictions to ensure your baby’s health. If you’re seeing any signs or symptoms of autism spectrum disorder in your child, you should seek advice from a medical professional.

The sooner you spot autism in your child, the sooner you can provide them with the help they need to learn, develop, and communicate with others.

And don’t forget to manage your stress if your child is diagnosed with autism – reach out for support, and ensure your emotional health is taken care of.

^{[1] A Systematic Review of the Link Between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Acetaminophen: A Mystery to Resolve, interpreting data from Parker SE, Collett BR, Werler MM: Maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy and childhood behavioural problems: Discrepancies between mother- and teacher-reported outcomes. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2020, 34:299-308. 10.1111/ppe.12601).}

^{[2] Paracetamol use during pregnancy—a call for precautionary action, Bauer, A.Z., Swan, S.H., Kriebel, D., Liew, Z., Taylor, H.S., Bornehag, C.G., Andrade, A.M., Olsen, J., Jensen, R.H., Mitchell, R.T. and Skakkebaek, N.E., 2021. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 17(12), pp.757-766.}

^{[3] A Systematic Review of the Link Between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Acetaminophen: A Mystery to Resolve, interpreting data from Parker SE, Collett BR, Werler MM: Maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy and childhood behavioural problems: Discrepancies between mother- and teacher-reported outcomes. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2020, 34:299-308. 10.1111/ppe.12601).}

^{[4] Paracetamol use during pregnancy—a call for precautionary action, Bauer, A.Z., Swan, S.H., Kriebel, D., Liew, Z., Taylor, H.S., Bornehag, C.G., Andrade, A.M., Olsen, J., Jensen, R.H., Mitchell, R.T. and Skakkebaek, N.E., 2021. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 17(12), pp.757-766.}