Right, Oliver has always had a good routine..Ie; bed times, meals etc but lately i'm noticing little things that he is just getting too..erhh!! obsessive about.

I am a tad OCD myself and quite anal about certain things too.. such as cleaning, "place for everything and everything in its place" kinda gal.

But am noticing things like, if I open the gate he HAS to have it tided back before he comes down the stairs. When he goes to the kitchen he HAS to kick the dog outside. If a door is slightly open he HAS to shut it asap. When he leaves the room he HAS to turn the tv off, when I'm on the loo he HAS to give me the loo roll, and makes me flush it before i've even got my trousers up, if he see's you drinking a cuppa..he'll urge you to hurry up and drink it so he can take the cup to wash (he doesn't actually wash it but takes it to be washed lol). Now I know it sounds like noting but he really does get quite obsessive about it (there are more stuff but i'd be here all day) he actually gets quite upset or angry even

Another example - My mum has been off work for 2 weeks now and each afternoon she comes round for tea. Whilst i'm cooking tea she sometimes takes him for a walk round to her's to see Tess (her dog)..but last night she came round later than usual, we had tea and straight after he was grabbing her bag and shoving it in her face saying 'ready, ready!!' ..it was getting quite late but he just wouldn't give up..so my mum took him round to her's. But she even told me, when he's there he HAS to go in and open the back door to see the dog, THEN he goes to the cupboard to get a drink, they feed the dog, but as they are packing up to come back, he MAKES my mum go to the loo (even when she doesn't need it) and again gets quite anxious if she doesn't go.

Is this normal? does your LO get so worked up if the smallest little thing isn't right??

Am just worried that i've scared him because i'm a tad obsessive too.

I wouldnt think this was OCD at his age but it could be that he is picking things up from you. Kids notice more than we think so maybe he is adopting your habits.

I wouldnt have thought it was anything to worry about at the moment but i would keep my eye on it. Also maybe try to vary how you do things slightly each time you do it.

Hope this helps. Unfortunately my kids are the opposite and are slobs!! Every day for the last how ever many years they have been told get dressed, brush your teeth but i still have to tell them everyday!!!

Thanks for the reply Mara. I'm gunna try mixing it up a bit I think..I keep trying to be 'relaxed' about things and 'don't stress about the little things' but it only lasts 24hrs, then I get all silly and obsessive again So it's probably rubbing off on him.

Like today, rather than Nanny coming round here, we went round there lol But he still did the whole opening the back door to the dog, going to get juice etc.

Arh, we'll see. My mum said I used to get really upset if thing wasn't 'just so' when I was younger

My 1st thoughts when reading that were autism. I do not want to alarm u but its what popped straight into my head!
I think maybe a chat with HV might be useful, right everything down that he does, even if its something little.
Hopefully she will be able to advise you x

Mmm, am worried now.

My mum keeps saying its just a phase..that 'he see's me do it so it must be important' and he copies cos he thinks he's being helpful.. but he's so driven by routine and so ritualistic My friends little girl isn't so bad, she only does it when it comes to emptying her potty.

Tbh I don't have much faith in my HV's but am gunna start documenting it I think and keep an eye on it..see if he grow's out of certain things etc.

I also read your post about him being emotional. That is also a sign.
Im sorry, I didnt mean to worry you but all I will say is there are lots of mums out there who do lots of housework and can be quite OCD about it the child is not like it.
I am really over the top with keeping my house tidy to the point where I hate a single thing being out of place but my boys are not like it.
I hope your mum is right and its just a stage, all children go thru these odd stages where we worry over nothing!
Might also be a good idea to google autism and see if there are any more similarities.
If you do not have much faith in HV then will be good if u had knowledge if its needed so u are not fobbed of.
I really hope I am wrong here but it is best to get something like this out ruled at an early age x

Try this.
If some of the 1st questions seem irrelivant keep going as some questions might be there x
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/autism/l/bl_autism.htm

Chloe is a little like this but not quite to the same degree,

She's the same with the stair gate having to be shut, and she can't bear any cupboard doors open, she also does the cup thing and takes it out to the kitchen and she has to take everyone's shoes off when you come in the house and put them in the shoe rack

I assume it's a phase, maybe have a chat with your HV and see what they suggest xx

Aw bless him Zee!

There is a big big difference between liking routine and autism. It is a spectrum, of course, but don't even let it worry you when he's so teeny. You will drive yourself nuts. Documenting things is a good idea though to look back on.

All I would say is that he is at an age where he is starting to realise he has some control over the world - and is asserting his authority to do so! It obviously depends on how upset he gets when things don't work out the way he wants them too, but it just does sound like he likes his little way of doing things.

You and my hubby would get on like a house on fire though - you could compare your cleaning and sorting hints and tips

Now i'm confused

I did the quiz that Nikki posted and out of 25 questions only 4 were true..
That were these:
* cannot explain what he/she wants.
* at times, seems to be deaf.
* seems to hear sometimes, but not others.
* is hyperactive, uncooperative, or oppositional.

But isn't that normal for a toddler??
And it said "Your child does seem to have some of the signs and symptoms that should prompt and evaluation for autism or other communication disorder"


I had a look at another site that was aimed at looking for autisum in babies and toddlers..
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/autism_signs_symptoms.htm#babies

Early signs of autism in babies and toddlers

* Doesn’t make eye contact (e.g. look at you when being fed).
* Doesn't smile when smiled at.
* Doesn't respond to his or her name or to the sound of a familiar voice.
* Doesn’t follow objects visually.
* Doesn't point or wave goodbye or use other gestures to communicate.
* Doesn’t make noises to get your attention.
* Doesn’t respond to cuddling.
* Doesn’t imitate your movements and facial expressions.
* Doesn’t reach out to be picked up.
* Doesn’t play with other people or share interest and enjoyment.



Well in this case all the statements are wrong. He is very affectionate, he makes good eye contact, he smiles lots, makes noises to gain attention, loves cuddles and so on.

Thanks for all you input ladies, it has been really helpful and defiantly reassuring. Am still going to do a little diary I think, just so I can monitor and look back

Mandy - its nice to know that Chloe has her little quirks too, they'd make a right pair lol

Thanks again. xx

I honestly think, that babies and toddlers, just like adults have their little quirks and things they have to do. It's like I have to have the loo roll positioned so the roll comes over the top and not underneath, if I know it's wrong I have to go and change it, I even change it in other people's houses, lol

I'm sure there would be other signs and symptoms if it were anything as serious as autism, please try not to worry. They would make a pair wouldn't they, jsut think as grown ups they'd have the cleanest house around

Lol..Mandy, i'm the same with the loo roll..I mean why would you have it coming from underneath..the pattern is on the top so the loo roll should feed from the top

Well I certainly have lots of funny quirks..my mum has alot of funny quirks..so maybe its inevitable

Sent you a pm Zee

I have issues with straggly bits of toilet paper - the type you get when it doesn't tear properly and coat hangers in a pile stress me out no end!!!

Thats good news.
I am sorry if I put the frighteners in you, I didnt mean to!
I have always been told my 7 year old is a little 'different' but no one seems to be able to work out what it is, doing the online test it came up as what yours said but now at 7 I am not sure where to go as no one has been able to come up an answer to why he is like he is but I guess it just goes to show all children are different, they all do things at different times.
I think in this day and age there is so much in the media about things that we tend to worry more about things. When my 7 yr old was 2 I had never even heard of autism!
I am glad Oliver is not having lots of the signs and again sorry if I worried you x

TBH i think the quiz is a bit of a catchall. I did it out of interest and C had flags too even though i have no worries about her at all. She has

At times seems to be deaf (dont all toddlers)
Seems to hear sometimes but not others (ditto)
Throws intense tantrums (shes a redhead!)
Is very independent for her age
Does things early (I ticked this mainly for her speech)

so as you can see they can pretty much all be explained. I think they do it to catch a large percentage which can then be narrowed down - i wouldnt be following it up. I think Oliver is just a baby who has his routine and it makes him feel secure. C is the same to a degree

Thanks peep's. Nikki, its ok hun..if anything its educated me Thank you every one for your input.