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What Are Autistic Hand Gestures in Babies?
Close-up of Newborn Baby’s Hand

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Most babies hold their hands or fingers out in what adults consider unusual positions. This is a standard way of exploring their bodies and surroundings. As a part of their neurotypical development, babies are supposed to raise and reach their hands up, grasp, and point.

But what if you notice hand movements that seem out of the ordinary? This might include your baby stiffening their arms or extending their fingers at an angle. What if they’re pointing and gesturing much less than their neuro-typical friends? It might mean your baby is developing differently, or it could be an early indicator that your child is on the autism spectrum.

At Heartlinks, we often receive calls from concerned parents who describe their baby’s hand gestures and ask if they indicate that the child is on the autism spectrum. The answer we often give is to consult your child’s pediatrician for an official diagnosis. In the meantime, read about spotting the early developmental differences in babies that might indicate they’re on the spectrum. 

Why Does my Baby Make Weird Hand Gestures?

The term ‘weird hand gestures’ can mean many things to different parents. A neuro-typical baby from the age of three months until 12 uses a variety of hand gestures as part of their early communication and exploration. Including the following:

Newborn to 3 Months

  • Grasping Reflex: When an object is placed in a baby’s palm, they instinctively close their hand around it.
  • Fisting: Most often a sign of their developmental stage or general hunger, keeping hands in a closed fist.
  • Waving Arms: You’ll witness random uncontrolled movements as babies explore their motor abilities.

4 to 6 Months

  • Grabbing and Reaching: At this stage, babies reach out for toys, objects, or their caregiver’s hand as their hand-eye coordination improves
  • Open-Hand Exploration: Using hands to explore their face, mouth, or objects.
  • Swatting at Objects: Swinging their arms toward dangling toys or objects.

7 to 9 Months

  • Pointing: Your child will begin to point at objects of interest, indicating developing communication skills.
  • Clapping: Babies can copy clapping gestures, often in response to excitement.
  • Waving: Once they understand the social cues, your infant will start waving “hi” or “bye.”
  • Grasping and Pinching: The baby will slowly develop a pincer grasp, which helps it pick up smaller items such as food.

10 to 12 Months

  • Passing objects to others: To interact and connect, your infant will offer objects to others.
  • Gestures of Sign Language: Able to incorporate simple gestures such as “all done” or “more” if they’re familiar with baby sign language.
  • Pointing with Intent: Baby will start to gesture or point at things that fascinate them.

It’s important to remember that these gestures will evolve as your baby grows, reflecting their developmental milestones and increased ability to communicate with the world around them. 

Early intervention can be crucial if your baby doesn’t show the typical hand gestures within the age range. If you’re concerned, talk with their pediatrician to confirm your baby is meeting their developmental milestones.

Does an Autistic Baby Make Specific Hand Gestures?

A baby that is believed to be on the autism spectrum will typically move their hands, fingers, or other body parts in a repetitive fashion or unusual ways. 

Several types of hand movements are commonly associated with autism. Remember, they can vary in frequency and intensity among babies, children, and teens and differ between genders.

Bear in mind that the following are characteristics and signs that autistic babies and infants may display. But they are by no means conclusive, and whether they’re present or absent should not be taken by parents as conclusive evidence of autism or otherwise.  

Hand Flapping

Hand flapping is the quick and repetitive opening and closing of their hands. It is often seen at the wrists and considered a form of sensory stimulation or stimming.

Finger Flicking

Finger flicking is the repetitive movement of one or more fingers involving quick flexion. It is often considered a form of self-stimulation, providing sensory input and encouraging emotional regulation. Finger flicking may occur due to heightened sensory sensitivity or to express anxiety or excitement.

Hand Wrapping

Hand wrapping involves repetitively interlocking fingers and clenching their hands together. The hands are usually in continuous tension and pressure. Hand wrapping is often used as a self-soothing tool or when dealing with sensory overload.

Hand Tapping

The repetitive drumming or tapping of hands or fingers on surfaces, including tables, objects, or walls, is called hand tapping. Babies and infants frequently hand tap to seek sensory stimulation, or as a way to express their excitement.

Why Is an Early Diagnosis Important?

Therapy for children with autism often begins once they’ve received an official diagnosis, which typically doesn’t occur until they’re the age of at least two. 

However, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association of Pediatrics found that infants who received ABA therapy, considered the pinnacle of autism therapy, at 12 months or younger and were re-assessed at age three, exhibited fewer autism traits, including difficulty communicating or unusual hand gestures than those who hadn’t received therapy. The study indicated that starting autism therapy during the first year of a child’s life, when the brain and mind rapidly develop, may have even greater benefits. 

Types of Therapy for Babies and Infants

ABA Therapy

ABA or applied behavioral analysis therapy can be used on babies, especially if they exhibit signs or symptoms of autism, such as:

  • Being unresponsive when their name is called 
  • Unable to show facial expressions
  • Seeking attention infrequently
  • Unable to make eye contact or does sporadically
  • Demonstrates delayed or infrequent babbling

Regarding babies, ABA therapy focuses on breaking down developmental skills into tiny, manageable steps and teaching them using the following techniques. 

Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement involves rewarding desired behaviors with praise, toys, or other motivators. For babies, this means encouraging behaviors such as reaching for toys or making eye contact by offering smiles, clapping, or gentle affirmations.

Shaping

Shaping involves slowly reinforcing every approximation that gets closer to a desired behavior. For babies, this would mean encouraging or rewarding each attempt to crawl, talk, or even stand. 

Modeling

Modeling involves role-playing the desired behaviors for a baby to imitate. This would include showing them how to crawl, point, make eye contact, or clap their hands and then encourage the baby to copy them.

Language and Speech Therapy

You may think a baby might be too young for language or speech therapy. However, these professionals can help their youngest clients by encouraging them to experiment with vocalizations and sounds, teaching them sign language, and helping with oral motor skills such as sucking, feeding, or swallowing. Speech therapists can also use preference assessments to identify what motivates a baby or captures their interest, making therapy more effective and engaging. They can work closely with parents at home to teach them how to encourage communication throughout the day. 

Occupational Therapy

If your infant is demonstrating unusual hand gestures, whether they indicate autism or not, your pediatrician may recommend that your infant see an occupational therapist (OT). The OT would identify whether the gestures result from sensory needs, developmental delays, or other underlying factors. The OT may also teach parents to encourage positive motor and sensory experiences at home. 

Heartlinks Can Help You Navigate Autism with Expertise and Care 

Recognizing the early signs or symptoms of autism in babies, such as unusual hand gestures, can be critical for ensuring they receive the support they need to thrive now and in the future. In understanding what these behaviors may indicate and investigating therapy options such as ABA, speech, or occupational, parents can make informed steps to encourage their child’s development.  

At Heartlinks, with our extensive range of ABA services and our locations in New Jersey, Indiana, North Carolina, and Georgia, we’re here to guide you. Whether you seek resources or professional recommendations, we can help.

Contact Heartlinks today to learn how we can help you and your family navigate this path with expertise and care.

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