New Study Finds Fussiness and Sleep Problems at 9 Months May Predict Autism Signs
New research from the University of Missouri (USA) reveals that certain behavioral traits in 9-month-old infants — such as frequent fussiness, sleep troubles, and difficulty adapting — may be early signs of autism-related behaviors. These indicators, reported by parents through structured questionnaires, were associated with a higher likelihood of autism risk just three months later. The findings suggest that autism screening could be made more effective and accessible by leveraging parental observations much earlier than the typical diagnosis age of 3–5 years.
Study Design: How Scientists Linked Infant Behavior to Autism Risk
According to Neuroscience News, the study was conducted by researchers Erin Andres and Stephen Sheinkopf at the University of Missouri’s Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment. Their research focuses on early signs of neurodevelopmental differences, with this specific study forming part of a longitudinal project tracking infants’ development from birth. The study was published on January 22, 2025, in Pediatric Research, a peer-reviewed journal from the Nature Publishing Group (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-03867-8).
How the Study Was Conducted
The study involved 332 infants (168 boys and 164 girls), whose mothers completed two key tools at 9 and 12 months:
- At 9 months: The Survey of Well-Being of Young Children (SWYC) assessed temperament, behavior, and developmental milestones. It looked at behaviors like irritability, difficulty sleeping, frequent crying, and resistance to new environments.
- At 12 months: Parents completed the First Year Inventory-Lite (FYI-Lite), a specialized autism screening questionnaire assessing early indicators like social responsiveness, sensory sensitivity, and repetitive behaviors.
To add another dimension, mothers also completed the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ), which examines subclinical autistic traits in adults. This allowed researchers to control for potential reporting bias based on the parents’ own neurodiversity.
Regression models were used to identify associations between early temperament and later autism likelihood while factoring in maternal education levels and BAPQ scores.
Previous Research on the Topic
Most autism screening studies focus on children with familial risk (e.g., siblings of autistic children), meaning they start with enriched risk populations. By contrast, this study stands out for using a general birth cohort — a more representative and scalable approach that reflects the broader population.
What Makes This Study Innovative?
- It uses a general population sample, not just high-risk groups. Most previous research has focused on infants with a known elevated risk for autism, such as siblings of autistic children. This study breaks new ground by using a broad, community-based sample, making the findings more applicable to the general population.
- It validates parental insight as a reliable source of data. Rather than relying solely on clinical observation, the researchers used parent-reported behaviors to assess early developmental risk. This approach elevates the role of caregivers in early screening and highlights the accuracy of everyday observations.
- It controls for maternal neurodiversity. By including the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ) to account for subclinical autistic traits in parents, the researchers added a crucial layer of objectivity to their analysis. This helps ensure the associations found are rooted in child behavior, not parental bias.
- It opens the door to AI-based screening tools. The study’s findings could be integrated into digital health systems, allowing electronic medical records or machine learning algorithms to flag early warning signs. This could revolutionize how and when children are identified for further developmental evaluation.
Key Findings of the Study
1. Fussiness at 9 Months Signals Higher Autism Risk
Infants who were described as especially fussy — often crying, hard to soothe, or easily distressed — had significantly higher scores on the autism screener at 12 months.
Example: A baby who cries frequently when meeting new people or being in unfamiliar settings may be showing signs of difficulty with adaptability, an early autism-related behavior.
2. Poor Sleep Patterns Correlate with Later Signs
Parents who reported their infants had trouble falling or staying asleep were more likely to see autism-related behaviors emerge just three months later.
Example: A 9-month-old who wakes multiple times a night and struggles to return to sleep may benefit from closer developmental monitoring.
3. Developmental Delays in Milestones Were Predictive
Delayed achievement in motor and communication milestones at 9 months — such as sitting up or babbling — were linked to higher autism risk at 12 months.
Example: A baby who hasn’t started crawling or rarely makes eye contact while babbling may require developmental screening.
4. Difficulty Adapting to Change Was a Strong Signal
Infants who struggled to adjust to new routines, environments, or caregivers were more likely to show early signs of autism.
Example: A child who cries every time there’s a change in daily schedule, such as a new babysitter or travel, may be more sensitive to environmental shifts.
5. Parent-Reported Traits Were Consistent Predictors
The behaviors noted by caregivers at 9 months were more predictive of autism likelihood than many clinical metrics used in toddlerhood, emphasizing the credibility of caregiver observations.
Example: A mother’s concern about her baby’s inability to respond to their name at 10 months can now be taken more seriously as a data point for early evaluation.
What Infant Behavior Tells Us About Brain Development
The behaviors noted in the study — such as fussiness, low adaptability, and sleep disruption — often correlate with the early development of emotional regulation, sensory processing, and executive function. These are foundational cognitive skills. Disruptions in these areas can later manifest as challenges in communication, learning, and social interaction.
The research suggests that what may appear as personality quirks in infancy could actually reflect early neurological differences. Identifying these variations helps professionals support brain development during its most plastic and responsive phase — the first three years of life.
Early detection of these behavioral markers is especially important because the infant brain is highly adaptable. With timely intervention, it is possible to strengthen key neural pathways and improve a child’s ability to cope with change, regulate emotions, and develop the social skills needed for later success in school and relationships. This underscores the value of watching for early signs not only to address potential risks, but also to proactively foster healthy cognitive and emotional growth from the very start of life.
Why These Findings Matter for Doctors, Scientists, and Families
The study’s results carry significant weight across multiple areas — from healthcare to education — and may influence how autism is detected and managed in the future.
In the scientific community, the research introduces a scalable method for studying autism risk in general populations rather than just high-risk groups. By using validated parent-reported surveys and accounting for maternal neurodiversity, the study offers a more inclusive and representative data model for early developmental research.
In medicine, pediatricians and developmental specialists may gain a powerful new tool for identifying children who could benefit from support — months or even years before they would typically qualify for a formal diagnosis. Integrating parent-reported signs like sleep disruption or low adaptability into routine wellness checks could change how early interventions are offered.
In education, the findings support earlier detection of potential learning and communication challenges, making it easier to provide timely language and social development support before preschool age. This proactive approach could improve school readiness and long-term academic outcomes.
For families and society, the study reaffirms the importance of trusting parental intuition and gives caregivers a stronger role in shaping developmental evaluations. When these simple screening methods are integrated into everyday pediatric care — for example, through digital health records or parent-friendly mobile apps — they can help ensure that all children, regardless of background or access to specialized services, receive timely attention and support during critical stages of development.
Overall, the research has the potential to shift the autism care timeline significantly forward, making support more timely, more targeted, and more effective.
Conclusion
The University of Missouri’s latest findings offer a promising shift in how autism might be detected — not years after signs first appear, but as early as 9 months. By centering parent observations and combining them with research-backed screening tools, the study lays the groundwork for more responsive and inclusive developmental care.
This work doesn’t replace clinical diagnosis, but it bridges a crucial gap between parental intuition and professional assessment. In the near future, AI-powered health systems and pediatric practices may be better equipped to identify children at risk and intervene when the brain is most ready for growth.
Digital tools can also support this transformation. Applications like BabyBright by CogniFit are designed to help caregivers monitor whether their child is developing in line with age-based milestones. These platforms translate scientific insights into daily, actionable guidance — empowering parents to track early behavior patterns, receive timely alerts, and engage in informed conversations with pediatricians.
By recognizing the power of early signals — especially those noticed by the people who know infants best — this research marks a critical step toward transforming autism care from reactive to proactive.
