What Is Wrong With Waiting To See If My Baby's Odd Behaviors Will Just Go Away?

Oct. 23, 2008 -- Question: What is wrong with waiting to see if my baby's odd behaviors will just go away?

Answer: When a child has behaviors that are not thought to be appropriate, investigation is necessary. First, a simple one is peace of mind for the caregiver otherwise it's just going to dwell and think and think. Number two, is we need to define exactly what the reason is for that behavior. Is it something that's relatively innocent such as a habit in a three year old that will gradually fade? Or is it something more serious such as an autistic disorder that will benefit from intervention. Then, number three, assuming that you find out what the problem is and it's something that needs treatment, many times earlier treatment leads to a better and more effective outcome.