Repetitive Motor Behaviors in Non-Autistic Toddlers

RMBs are not uncommon in 24- to 36-month-old children who do not meet diagnostic criteria for autism. Among non-autistic children, RMBs are most likely to occur in those with other developmental challenges but are also present in some typically developing children. The presence of RMBs in toddlers should be evaluated within the context of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition ASD criteria, and RMBs alone without social communication challenges core to ASD should not be viewed as automatically indicative of autism.