{"h1":"Early Signs of Rett Syndrome at 12–18 Months","faq":[{"a":"Not quite. A delay means a child is slower to gain new skills, while regression means losing skills she already had. Rett Syndrome characteristically involves regression — particularly losing purposeful hand use — which is why any loss of skills should be reviewed promptly by your paediatrician.","q":"Is losing skills the same as a developmental delay?"},{"a":"It is far more common in girls because of how the genetic change (most often in the MECP2 gene) affects development, though it can rarely occur in boys. Diagnosis is confirmed by a clinician through assessment and genetic testing, not by signs alone.","q":"Does Rett Syndrome only affect girls?"},{"a":"Speak with your paediatrician promptly, as this is a medical-referral situation. They may arrange genetic testing and specialist assessment. Therapies such as occupational therapy then support hand function, movement and daily participation.","q":"What should I do first if I notice these signs?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-rett-syndrome-in-a-12-to-18-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Rett Syndrome at 12–18 Months","entity":{"key":"rett","kind":"condition","name":"Rett Syndrome","slug":"rett-syndrome"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"age","label":"Toddler-12-18","value":"toddler-12-18"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Context","value":"context"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Early Signs","value":"early_signs"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Special-Education","value":"special-education"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-rett-syndrome-in-a-2-year-old","title":"Early Signs of Rett Syndrome in a 2-Year-Old"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-rett-syndrome-in-a-18-to-24-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Rett Syndrome in an 18-to-24-Month-Old"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-rett-syndrome","title":"Early Signs of Rett Syndrome"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-rett-syndrome-in-a-2-year-old-girl","title":"Early Signs of Rett Syndrome in a 2-Year-Old Girl"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-rett-syndrome-in-a-9-to-12-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Rett Syndrome in a 9-to-12-Month-Old"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-rett-syndrome-in-a-3-year-old","title":"Early Signs of Rett Syndrome in a 3-Year-Old"}],"summary":"Between 12 and 18 months, early signs of Rett Syndrome often include a slowing or loss of skills a child once had — especially purposeful hand use, replaced by repetitive hand wringing or mouthing — alongside slowing head growth, movement changes and loss of emerging words. Because this involves regression and a genetic change, it warrants prompt medical review, not home diagnosis.","answer_md":"*Your daughter was reaching her milestones, and now something feels different — here's how to understand what you're noticing, gently and clearly.*\n\n## In short\nRett Syndrome (ICD-11 LD90.0) often shows a distinctive pattern in the second year: a baby who was developing as expected begins to slow down or lose skills she had already gained — particularly purposeful hand use and emerging words. The hallmark sign is a loss of meaningful hand skills replaced by repetitive hand movements such as wringing, mouthing or hand-to-hand rubbing, alongside slowing head growth. These are signs to observe and discuss promptly with a clinician — never to diagnose at home.\n\n## Early signs to watch between 12 and 18 months\n**A pause or regression after early typical development**\n- Skills that were emerging — babbling, words, reaching, grasping — begin to fade or plateau\n- A period of withdrawal or reduced eye contact and social interest, which can later partly recover\n\n**Loss of purposeful hand use**\n- Stops using hands to reach, hold or explore toys the way she used to\n- Repetitive hand movements appear — wringing, squeezing, clapping, tapping, mouthing or washing-like motions, often near the midline\n\n**Movement and growth changes**\n- Slowing of head growth (the head circumference your paediatrician tracks may fall away from its earlier curve)\n- Unsteady, wide-based or stiff walking, or delay in walking; reduced muscle tone or unusual stiffness\n\n**Communication and breathing**\n- Loss of emerging spoken words or reduced communicative sounds\n- In some children, irregular breathing patterns while awake (breath-holding or fast breathing) — though these often become clearer a little later\n\nWhat distinguishes this from ordinary variation is the **loss or regression** of skills a child once had, especially purposeful hand use, rather than a simple delay in gaining new ones.\n\n## When to seek a check\nBecause Rett Syndrome involves a genetic change and can affect movement, growth and breathing, any regression — losing skills your child previously had — warrants a prompt medical review with your paediatrician, who may arrange genetic testing (commonly MECP2) and onward specialist assessment. This is a medical-referral situation first; therapies such as occupational, physiotherapy and communication support then play a vital role in nurturing comfort, connection and ability.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nAt [Pinnacle Blooms Network](/), we walk beside families with warmth and a strengths-first lens — focusing on what your daughter can do and how we grow it. Targeted support like [occupational therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) helps protect hand function, movement and daily participation, while you learn more about [Rett Syndrome](/rett-syndrome) and what to expect. A clinical [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care; nothing here is a diagnosis. Across 70+ centres in 4 states and 4.95 lakh+ families served, our aim is steady, compassionate progress.\n\n## Trusted sources\nAligned with WHO ICD-11 (LD90.0 Rett syndrome), and developmental and child-health guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildren.org on monitoring milestones and acting early when skills are lost.\n\n**Next step —** if you've noticed your daughter losing skills or changing how she uses her hands, please speak with your paediatrician now, and book a developmental screen with our clinical team on WhatsApp at +91 91001 81181 — let's understand this together.\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-rett-syndrome-in-a-12-to-18-month-old","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-rett-syndrome-in-a-12-to-18-month-old","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"}],"meta_title":"Early Signs of Rett Syndrome at 12–18 Months","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Keep a simple dated note or short video of what your daughter can do with her hands and her sounds. A clear before-and-after record helps your paediatrician see change quickly and act early.","published_at":"2026-06-10T10:54:00.24648+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-rett-syndrome-affect-a-child-s-daily-life","title":"How Rett Syndrome Affects a Child's Daily Life","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-rett-syndrome-considered-a-disability","title":"Is Rett Syndrome considered a disability?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-rett-syndrome-genetic-or-hereditary","title":"Is Rett Syndrome Genetic or Hereditary?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-common-myths-about-rett-syndrome","title":"What are common myths about Rett Syndrome?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-rett-syndrome","title":"Types and Stages of Rett Syndrome","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-causes-rett-syndrome-in-children","title":"What causes Rett syndrome in 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Any loss of skills warrants a prompt paediatric review.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://icd.who.int/","code":"LD90.0","label":"WHO ICD-11: Rett syndrome"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org/","label":"HealthyChildren.org: monitoring milestones and acting early"},{"url":"https://www.aap.org/","label":"American Academy of Pediatrics: developmental surveillance"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T10:54:00.24648+00:00","meta_description":"Early signs of Rett Syndrome in a 12–18-month-old: loss of hand skills, repetitive hand movements, slowing head growth and regression. When to seek a check","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}