More than 2,160,000 people or 1 among 5 people in India, i.e., 0.20% of India's population shows the prevalence of autism, says The Statesman.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or, simply, autism includes various conditions marked by repetitive behaviour and challenges with nonverbal communication, speech and social skills. Children with this condition may not respond to their name, avoid eye contact, talk less than other kids and not smile back when you smile at them. They may repeat certain phrases and get very upset if they dislike any sound, smell or taste.

If your baby shows any of these signs, take him/her to the doctor right away. Even if you don't see these symptoms, opt for regular baby health care checkups that screen for developmental disorders like autism.

But that's not enough. If your child has autism, you too must give him/her special care. Here are 5 tips for that.

Focus on the Positive

Kids with autism usually respond well to positive reinforcement. Therefore, praise them when they behave well so they feel good about themselves.

Be specific to help them know precisely what you liked about their actions. Try different ways to reward them, say, by giving them small prizes like stickers or extending their playtime.

Besides, remember to prize your kid for who he/she is as your love and appreciation can work wonders for him/her.

Seek Support

Support from the baby health care provider, friends and relatives can be very helpful. Create a group of family and friends who understand your kid's diagnosis. Stay in touch with the doctor. As your child mixes more with them, he/she can open up more. Besides, whenever you need advice, guidance or help for your child, you can get that from these people who're familiar with autism and ways to deal with it.

Always Remain Consistent and on Schedule

Children with ASD like routines. Ensure to provide them with consistent interaction and guidance so they can practice what they pick up from their therapy. Then they can easily learn new behaviours and skills and apply that in various situations. Speak to their therapist and teachers to align on a consistent set of ways of interaction. Thus, you can bring what your child learns at home.

Add Play to the Schedule

Your child may not always open up through therapies or education. Therefore, find activities that are pure fun so that your kid can connect better with you easily. Then the professional baby health care can also work better.

Let Your Child Assist You in Daily Activities

If you find your kid's behaviour unpredictable, you may want to avoid exposing them to specific situations. Instead, take them on daily errands like a post office run or grocery shopping. This may help the child get habituated to the world around them.

Most importantly, give it time. Your child's therapy will work gradually. To ensure it works, make sure your little one receives the necessary baby health care for autism on time. However, don't skip MMR vaccination for kids as it has been proven to have no link with autism, according to a 2019 study.