Question about a three year old who rocks back and forth.

[RootSkier]

Don't tell Mrs. Rootskier about this thread.

We have a guy who just turned three. He is smart, happy, has good friends, and all around seems normal. He speaks well, isn't shy, engages with strangers, looks you in the eye when he talks, understands humor, laughs a lot, likes ice cream, etc.

The issue is that when he's alone, he rocks back and forth. He will engage in normal conversations when he does it, so it's not like he tunes out.

But the Mrs. is concerned. I admit its slightly weird but there are no other issues with it, really. He was kind of a late walker, and he used to move around by doing a similar motion on the wood floor.

The pediatrician doesn't seem too concerned, but her "solution" is that he will eventually be shamed out of it by his peers. This seems odd to me. At my wife's prodding, she suggested we could take him to a child neurologist, but this seems like a bizarre solution to me. I mean, the guy specializes in epilepsy, not behavioral issues.

Has anyone ever dealt with anything like this? Was anyone a child psychologist prior to their dental career?

[KQ]

From what little I know it is commonly seen as a self-soothing behavior but, as in often the case, can mean something more like the dreaded "A" word. Can't hurt to have him seen by a specialist and either rule it out or start early intervention, no?

[mtngirl79]

Get a second opinion, and then listen to the professionals. Seeing a child psych or other specialist should not hurt anything, tho.

[buttahflake]

Buddy of mine still did it through high school. He went to Middlebury and is super chill. Smart and successful. Let it go

[Notchtop]

I did this for a long time. Especially when trying to sleep when not tired. My folks were kinda freaked. Doc said I'd grow out of it. I did. Something like 4th grade though. That's a long time.
And now I'm a ski schooler and English major grad ... so there's that.
Glad there wasn't a big pediatric drug push back then though. Late 70s n early 80s. Just about the time my spaz classmates were being soaked in Ritalin, it passed.

[dschane]

Your first child? If it were your second or more, I would have thought that attention to detail would have been long gone.

I've never dealt with it, but I agree with your doctor. I think he'll either grow out of it or learn from other social cues (though at 3, he's got a long way to go before he gives a shit about his appearance among peers). I can chide my 6-year kid not to eat his boogers, but he'll ignore me until some girls tells him how gross that is. I figure I have 5-6 more years of watching him consume meals from that orifice. At least it's not his arse.

[PNWbrit]

Before you know it he'll be getting arrested for ducking ropes, driving a Sonata and boiling his steaks.

GET HELP NOW!

[digitaldeath]

obsessed much

[iceman]

It could/can/might very slightly possibly be an indicator that something is amiss. But chill, it's most likely going to go away on its own. Like anything else, if it gets worse or persists to the point that you think it's a detriment to other things, than think about another step. Common sense rules will apply. There's nothing immediate that needs to be done nor will it help anything to get frantic.

[irul&ublo]

I think consulting a bunch of internet dentists is the right move

[iceman]

How are the kid's teeth?

[RootSkier]

Spectacular.

[Meadow Skipper]

I did this for a long time...And now I'm a ski schooler and English major grad ... so there's that.

^^^That right there should be all the warning you need to prompt you to seek immediate professional help.

j/k

I'm just an unhelpful dentist, like everyone else, but KQ's advice above seems pretty good to me. Get it checked by a specialist, get reassured, and move on to worry about something else.

[buttahflake]

The last thing you wanna do is bring a specialist on board. Doctors are shilling for the big pharma. Let it go

[JayPowHound]

I work in that field, if you want a second opinion beyond your pediatrician you could seek an assessment from either a developmental psychologist or developmental pediatrician.. or ideally a team including both

Not sure where you're located or where you'd find those services, but those are the professionals you'd want to look for if you're worried enough.

If there are no other concerns I probably wouldn't be worried enough to seek that type of specialized opinion... but again, my wife and I both work in that field, so my background knowledge and ability to assess at home is different than most.

[RootSkier]

The last thing you wanna do is bring a specialist on board. Doctors are shilling for the big pharma. Let it go

There will be no drugs. At least for the kid.

[iceman]

Just play it by ear. You'll figure it out, you're moderately intelligent.

Don't freak out. Don't completely ignore it. Go from there.

[AK47bp]

I would suggest Xanax.



Medicating your wife is the solution.



Seriously wouldn't worry about it unless gets worse or doesn't go away in early grade school

[iceman]

I would suggest Xanax.

Medicating your wife is the solution.

Some degree of truth in there for sure.

Maybe get her pregnant again.

[digitaldeath]

Anyone seen "the accountant"

[iceman]

Well of course, I have to manage my empire.

[FLS]

Get him a Bluetooth speaker and play "your" music. He will look like he's boppin' to music and you get to raise him on the good stuff.

Like others have said, might be a little early to tell if it's anything. He sounds well adjusted in every other way.

[KQ]

Rocking back and forth or self soothing behaviour is not a indication of Autism in toddlers.

I said "can mean something more like the dreaded "A" word." Operative word being "can". Jury seems split on this one according to articles on the subject. Don't know beyond what I've read on the subject and indicated by saying "from what little I know" so the OP knew where I was coming from on the matter. A question was asked, advice from internet individuals on a ski web site sought, thoughts and answers given. The end.

Here's an article - read it, debunk it, what-have-you:

Your Toddler’s Weird Self-Soothing Behaviors Explained

[Buster Highmen]

Has anyone ever dealt with anything like this? .

Yes.
I think we have Aspergers Syndrome in our family. My brother did that kind of repetitive motion in a variety of ways. My son exhibited some very anti social behavior when young in particular with his peers.
We voiced concerns to a number of professionals and they told us not to worry as long as he makes contact with us, which he always did. They did stress lots of physical and emotional contact on which we followed through. Full contact parenting through those first 8 years and some setbacks on his trusting people. But things seems to have worked out.

[Viva]

Teach your kid to jerk off; that'll get his mind off of rocking.