Should I be concerned about my 15 Month old nephew's behavior?

My sister had her third child when she was 43 yrs old. I am pretty sure she was on prozac when she got pregnant. She stopped it during her pregnancy but started up again on it after her son was born. What concerned me was she nursed him. But stopped after three months because he was impossible to nurse unlike her other children whom she nursed for a year. I babysit my nephew three days a week.




I myself have four children and also have babysat other children in the past so I have a lot of experience. My nephew is 15 months old and I am seeing signs of abnormal behavior that are raising some red flags in my mind. First of all, he doesn't say a word...just grunts...not mama nor dada..nothing. At about a year he would say a couple of things like "ruff" for what a doggie says or "again" but he has stopped saying them. He seems very smart. Responds to his name always. He smiles and laughs alot and is very active...all pretty normal except he will not hold his own bottle and refuses to drink from a sippy cup.

At first we all thought it was just laziness...but I have been trying to make him hold the bottle himself and he just screams and clenches his hands as if he doesnt get it. When feeding him in his highchair, he shoves all the pieces of food in his mouth. I try to cut them up tiny but still manages to do it. I can't give him a whole little cookie. I try and show him to take a bite of it but he will shove the whole thing in his mouth anyway! He is also a very picky eater.

He is constantly falling and running into things. He doesnt play with many of his toys just wants things he cant have. He is very destructive and strong! His mother says "thats a boy for you". This is her only boy. I have an eleven yr old boy myself. He was boy through and through but never displayed behavior like this! I dont really want to say anything to my sister just yet being that he is still developing and I am not with him all the time. Help? Does anyone think I should be concerned?



Comments for Should I be concerned about my 15 Month old nephew's behavior?

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Jan 22, 2012
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by: Anonymous

have you gone through the checklist on this website? it's a pretty good indicator as to whether there are spd factors in the equation. i would suggest starting there is you haven't already.

and perhaps picking up some sign language and teaching him when he is in your care would help with the communication barrier. children pick up sign quickly. i am actually a sign language interpreter and have taught my children from a young age and there are many benefits. here's a link to a dvd series we own and love. :) www.signingtime.com

in the mean time, continue to take note of the things that appear 'different' and if you think your sister would be open to discussing them with you, then do so. it's better to get it out there i think than to harbor it and worry, when things could be taken to the next level and you could be actively trying to figure whether intervention is needed. good luck.

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