[dianamerrell]

my 2 1/2 year old ds has autism, and i am wondering if anyone else has tried clw in this situation.

he does not drink anything else

his developmental age is approx under one year old. i know that he needs it now, but i am worried due to the nature of autism (he is moderate to severe) and the fact that he might not grow past level of toddler - that he will never wean

any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated

 

[Lovenest]

My son does not have autism but does have sensory issues and we think low end aspergers. He will be 5 in August and still nurses. It has been great for our relationship as its one thing that makes him calm and it has been very bonding for us. I cant say when he will wean as he still very much enjoys nursing and still co-sleeps and night nurses, but I can say its a very special thing for us and I would not change it.

I know its hard being a mama and trying to find out whats best for our children. I always follow my heart and it always seems to be the right choice.

 

[williamsmommy2002]

My ds is diagnosed with pdd-nos. He is 4.5 and still nurses. His emotional maturity is probably 1-2 years behind his chronological age. His nursing has dropped off in the last year or so. He nurses for maybe 5-20 minutes a week total. He is definately weaning but probably slower than a NT child. It's really funny when it's brought up in your child's iep meeting when they are talking about sending him to kindergarten.

My ds has severe anxiety issues. I'm glad he has something that can help him out a bit. A year or so ago, I thought the same thing. I really thought he would never wean at all. Now i'm worried that everytime will be the last.

 

[joesmom]

I think his nursing is a blessing. Especially at this point, when he drinks nothing else- he needs it physically & not just mentally.

Breastfeeding is so beneficial to him- it is good for his body, mind & spirit. You are getting a special closeness to him through nursing that many moms of autistic children would also LOVE to experience.

Right now, your son is only 2- he is still a baby. If his neuro age is even younger than that, then nurse away.

Don't even worry about him nursing forever- he won't- I can almost guarantee it.

Tell yourself that you will happily nurse him for the next year- & then you will reevaluate. I bet by that time you will be assured that he is going to wean someday.

Joe does not have autism, but when he was your son's (developmental) age, I wondered if he'd ever wean, too.

I think it's the age.

My bff nursed her daughter, who has autism, until she self-weaned at around 2.5 years old. To this day she believes that that special, close time has allowed them to have a very attached & loving relationship.

Hope this helps!

 

[mom3b1?]

My oldest son has Asperger's. He's progressed a lot, and is now fairly close to age level in maturity, most of the time. He's 10.

He nursed on and off till he was about 4, which I think is quite acceptible. He did take to solids pretty well, but always choked easily, and was very finicky in some ways about what he'd eat. He was more about texture than taste. He'd eat spicy foods, but not chunky. He loved mashed potato like things and ate an awful lot of yams/sweet potatos.

If you knew him 8 years ago you'd never expect him to be so high functioning now. Things still set him off and he has melt downs that don't seem to make sense unless you understand his sensory issues, but those are more and more rare. I hope your son surprises you too.

His youngest brother appears to have it to, but it's much more mild.

Kiley

 

[dianamerrell]

thank you all for your encouragment

i will listen to my insticts and my child.
sometimes that is hard to remember, this is uncharted territory for me. A few of the professionals that my son see do not agree with my choice to nurse, and i fall into self doubt.

i do believe that bfing has had a huge impact the relationship my son and i share. for the first two years i felt like i was only a pair of breasts, as my son was so hard to engage, but in the last six months he has really let us in!

some days i do wonder if he will ever wean

: but niether of us are ready yet!

 

[williamsmommy2002]

I also wanted to tell you that your son might surprise you. When my ds was set to preschool last year he was basically untestable. We were told they thought he was cognitively delayed also. This year they are mainsteaming him in kindergarten with just speech therapy. Not only did he surprise us, he surprised his teacher and therapists. William is still autistic and has serious issues but we never thought we would be at the place we are at even a year ago.