The early signs of autism in toddlers include limited eye contact, not responding to their name, and loss of skills. Here's what to look for by age — and what to do if you're concerned.
The early signs of autism in toddlers most commonly include limited eye contact, not responding to their name by 12 months, not pointing to share interest in things by 14 months, loss of language or social skills they previously had, and little to no pretend play by 18 months. These are the red flags pediatricians and developmental specialists look for first — and if several of them sound familiar, it's worth pursuing a screening.
Between 9 and 12 months, early signs can include not babbling or using gestures like waving or pointing, limited back-and-forth sounds or facial expressions with a caregiver, and not following a pointed finger to look at something.
By 16 to 18 months, concerns deepen if your toddler isn't using any single words, isn't imitating actions or sounds, shows little interest in other children, or lines up toys or objects repeatedly without functional play. The M-CHAT (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers) was specifically designed for children in this window — ages 16 to 30 months — and is one of the most reliable early screening tools available.
By 24 months, the clearest flags are no two-word phrases (other than imitating or repeating), loss of any language or social skills that were previously present, and very limited eye contact even with familiar caregivers.
One sign that often surprises parents: regression. If your child was saying words and then stopped, or was making eye contact and seems to have pulled back, that warrants a call to your pediatrician promptly — not a "wait and see."
Noticing one or two of these signs doesn't mean your child has autism. Some toddlers develop on different timelines. Boys tend to develop language slightly later than girls on average. Bilingual households sometimes see temporary speech delays that resolve on their own.
What matters is the pattern — multiple signs present consistently, across different settings and over time. A child who doesn't respond to their name, doesn't point, and shows very little back-and-forth social engagement is showing a different picture than a child who is simply a late talker.
Don't wait for your next annual well-child visit if you're concerned now. Call your pediatrician's office and ask for a developmental screening appointment. Bring a list of specific things you've observed — dates, behaviors, context. The more concrete you can be, the more productive that conversation will be.
You can also take the free M-CHAT screening right now. It takes about five minutes, covers the exact signs listed here, and gives you something real to bring to your doctor — not just a worry, but data.
If your child is under three, ask about early intervention services in your state. Early intervention — sometimes called EI — provides developmental support to children under age three and does not require a formal autism diagnosis to access. Getting on that radar early matters.
Take the free M-CHAT screening now — it takes 5 minutes and gives you a real starting point. Start here.
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