Early Signs of Autism in Toddlers: A Checklist for Leesburg and Lake County Parents

Maybe it happened on a walk through Venetian Gardens in Leesburg. You called your toddler's name and they didn't turn around. Maybe a cousin the same age is already pointing at boats on Lake Harris, and your child isn't. You may wonder whether it's worth a closer look.

That worry is normal, and you're not alone. The good news is that you don't have to guess. This checklist walks you through the milestones to watch, the early signs, and the next steps in Lake County.

This checklist is general information, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified professional can diagnose autism. If something worries you, talk with your child's doctor.

Why do early signs matter?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is common. The CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network estimated that about 1 in 31 children aged 8 years had been identified with ASD in 2022 (CDC, 2025). That same report found that the median age of earliest known diagnosis was 47 months.

Yet autism can often be spotted much sooner. The CDC says ASD can sometimes be detected at 18 months or younger, and that by age 2, a diagnosis by an experienced professional "can be considered very reliable" (CDC). An expert review in Pediatrics recommended that support for toddlers with suspected or confirmed autism "begin as early as possible" and actively involve families (Zwaigenbaum et al., 2015). In one randomized trial, toddlers who received two years of early intervention built on developmental and applied behavior analysis principles made significant gains in IQ and adaptive behavior compared with a community-services group (Dawson et al., 2010).

What milestones should my toddler reach? (Checklist)

Developmental milestones are things most children (75% or more) can do by a certain age, according to the CDC's Learn the Signs. Act Early. program. Missing one milestone doesn't mean your child has autism, but the checklist gives you something concrete to share at your child's next visit.

The items below come from CDC milestone checklists and the CDC's list of autism signs (CDC).

By 12 months (1 year)

Most babies (CDC):

• Play games with you, like pat-a-cake
• Wave "bye-bye"
• Call a parent "mama," "dada," or another special name
• Understand "no" (pause briefly or stop when you say it)

Possible signs to mention to the doctor: not responding to their name by 9 months, not playing simple back-and-forth games like pat-a-cake by 12 months, or using few or no gestures (like waving) by 12 months.

By 18 months

Most toddlers (CDC):

• Point to show you something interesting
• Try to say three or more words besides "mama" or "dada"
• Follow one-step directions without gestures, like handing you a toy when you say, "Give it to me"
• Copy you doing chores, like sweeping

Possible signs to mention: not sharing interests with you by 15 months (for example, not bringing you a toy to show you), or not pointing to show you something interesting by 18 months.

By 24 months (2 years)

Most toddlers (CDC):

• Notice when others are hurt or upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone cries
• Look at your face to see how to react in a new situation
• Say at least two words together, like "More milk"
• Point to things in a book when you ask, like "Where is the bear?"
• Use more gestures than waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes

Possible sign to mention: not noticing when others are hurt or upset by 24 months.

What other red flags should I watch for at any age?

The CDC also lists repetitive behaviors and interests that can be signs of autism (CDC). Watch for a child who:

• Lines up toys or objects and gets upset when the order changes
• Repeats words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
• Plays with toys the same way every time, or focuses on parts of objects, like wheels
• Gets upset by minor changes or must follow certain routines
• Flaps hands, rocks, or spins in circles
• Has unusual reactions to how things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel

One more sign deserves special attention: losing skills your child once had, such as words or social games. The CDC's milestone checklists ask parents to share any lost skills with the doctor.

The CDC notes that some children without autism show some of these behaviors, so the next step is a conversation, not a conclusion.

What should Lake County parents do next?

Step 1: Track what you see

CDC's free Milestone Tracker app (iOS and Android, in English and Spanish) lets you check off milestones from 2 months to 5 years, see photos and videos of each one, and print a summary for your child's doctor (CDC). Jot down real examples, too.

Step 2: Talk with your pediatrician

Bring your notes to your child's next well visit, whether your pediatrician is in Leesburg, Tavares, Clermont, or nearby. Or call sooner if you're worried. The CDC's advice is simple: "You know your child best. Don't wait."

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends autism-specific screening at the 18- and 24-month well visits, along with general developmental screening at 9, 18, and 30 months (CDC; Hyman et al., 2020). A common autism screener is the M-CHAT-R/F, a two-stage parent questionnaire validated for toddlers 16 to 30 months old (M-CHAT). In a study of more than 16,000 toddlers screened at 18- and 24-month visits, children identified through the M-CHAT-R/F were diagnosed about two years younger than the national median age (Robins et al., 2014).

Step 3: Remember that screening is not diagnosis

A screening only tells you whether a closer look is needed. The M-CHAT's own authors note that many children who screen positive won't be diagnosed with autism, though they are more likely to have other delays that also deserve an evaluation. The step to a diagnosis is a Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation (CDE) by a qualified professional. Our next article, What to Expect at an Autism Evaluation (CDE) in Florida, covers the CDE in detail.

Step 4: Contact early intervention (you don't have to wait)

• Under age 3: Florida's Early Steps program serves infants and toddlers from birth to 36 months with developmental delays, disabilities, or at-risk conditions, at no cost to families (Florida Early Steps). In Lake County, the local program is North Beaches Early Steps, run by Easterseals, with a Lake & Sumter office in Fruitland Park (Easterseals). To request an Early Steps screening in Lake or Sumter County, call 386-873-0365 (FDLRS Action).
• 34 months to 5 years, not in public school: FDLRS Action, Florida's Child Find center serving Lake County, offers free developmental screenings for children 34 months to 5 years old who are not enrolled in public school. No insurance or doctor's referral is needed (FDLRS Action).
• Free autism support: UCF CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities) serves Lake County families at no charge. If you're still seeking a diagnosis, they can recommend local evaluators (UCF CARD).

How can Blaze ABA help Lake County families?

At Blaze ABA (formerly Thrive ABA), based in Leesburg, our clinicians have seen families thrive when they have the right care and a caring community behind them. We serve families in Leesburg, Tavares, Eustis, Mount Dora, Lady Lake, and Clermont, with therapy at home, at school, and in the community.

Our plan is simple. First, a targeted Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) helps us understand what your child's behavior is telling us. Then we build an individualized plan around your child and your family's goals. Consent and dignity come first, our care is trauma-informed, and you'll see the data behind your child's progress.

We're in-network with Aetna (commercial plans), Cigna, Florida Blue, Florida Medicaid, Sunshine Health and Curative. Molina Healthcare is coming soon (contract pending). Have a different plan? Call us and we'll check. See insurance & coverage for what each plan needs. Questions? Call us at (239) 465-8663 or email Connect@blazeaba.com.

Ready for the next step? Start your intake: call or email us.

This article is general information, not medical advice. It is not a substitute for a screening or evaluation by a qualified professional. Please talk with your child's doctor about any concerns about your child's development.

Frequently asked questions

References

1. Shaw KA, Williams S, Patrick ME, et al. Prevalence and Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 4 and 8 Years — ADDM Network, 16 Sites, United States, 2022. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2025;74(No. SS-2):1–22 (published April 17, 2025). https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/ss/ss7402a1.htm
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Signs and Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder. https://www.cdc.gov/autism/signs-symptoms/index.html
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder (reviewed October 2, 2026). https://www.cdc.gov/autism/hcp/diagnosis/screening.html
4. CDC, Learn the Signs. Act Early. Milestones by 1 Year. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-1yr.html
5. CDC, Learn the Signs. Act Early. Milestones by 18 Months. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-18mo.html
6. CDC, Learn the Signs. Act Early. Milestones by 2 Years. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-2yr.html
7. CDC, Learn the Signs. Act Early. Milestone Tracker App. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones-app.html
8. Hyman SL, Levy SE, Myers SM; AAP Council on Children with Disabilities, Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics. 2020;145(1):e20193447. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-3447
9. Robins DL, Casagrande K, Barton M, Chen CM, Dumont-Mathieu T, Fein D. Validation of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised With Follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F). Pediatrics. 2014;133(1):37–45. doi:10.1542/peds.2013-1813. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3876182/
10. M-CHAT-R/F official website (Robins, Fein, & Barton). https://www.mchatscreen.com/
11. Zwaigenbaum L, Bauman ML, Choueiri R, et al. Early Intervention for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Under 3 Years of Age: Recommendations for Practice and Research. Pediatrics. 2015;136(Suppl 1):S60–S81. doi:10.1542/peds.2014-3667E. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9923898/
12. Dawson G, Rogers S, Munson J, et al. Randomized, Controlled Trial of an Intervention for Toddlers With Autism: The Early Start Denver Model. Pediatrics. 2010;125(1):e17–e23. doi:10.1542/peds.2009-0958. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4951085/
13. Florida Department of Health. Early Steps. https://floridaearlysteps.com/
14. Easterseals Florida. Early Steps (North Beaches Early Steps, Lake & Sumter). https://florida.easterseals.com/get-support/areas-of-support/early-intervention/early-steps
15. FDLRS Action. Child Find. https://action.fdlrs.org/child-find
16. FDLRS Action. Child Find: Request a Screening. https://action.fdlrs.org/child-find/request-a-screening
17. UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UCF CARD). https://ucf-card.org/