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Mom of a 4-year-old with high-functioning autism. We are new to the group!

R

Rblom

New Member
Hello all, my name is Racheal and my 4-year-old was diagnosed a year ago with high-functioning autism. We noticed he was delayed in speech and he wasn't a very social baby. He has several sensory issues and has major sleeping problems. He was mostly nonverbal however with speech therapy he has come a long way and talks a lot but rarely makes sense. He attends a daycare where he has developed a great deal of speech and behaviors. He struggles with noise and has ear muffs for that. He hates socks and shoes. However he's very smart and right on track educationaly. He still has not been potty trained but has started to take interest in it. We just started a new med for sleep so fingers crossed that helps. Anyway nice to meet you all and im glad to be a part of a support group as I know I need it often!
 
Hello and welcome, @Rblom.

It sounds like you are solving problems as you go and that your son is responding well to some of the ways that you've tried to support him. I hope the potty training goes well - some parents have had a challenge there, but as with most things, probably some perseverance, patience and creativity, will get you there.
 
@Rblom , welcome. :)

Don't hesitate to ask for advice. Most of us are adults, that obviously, were once children, and we've been through a lot. So, plenty of lived experience to tap into here.
 
Welcome. My child, like me, does not seem to feel fatigue until it is at a breaking point. He was getting 5 hours of sleep a night from a very young age on. His pediatrician suggested 1mg melatonin 1 hour before bed, and that has helped a lot. The increased sleep seems to have calmed down a lot of his hyperactivity. You might want to ask your pediatrician about that.
 
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Welcome! This is a great place to get help.

I bribed my three kids with M&Ms when I potty trained them. The two girls were trained after a few weeks but my son took longer. I'm sure the "experts" would frown on bribing a kid to use the toilet, but it worked for me and may work for you, too. It's worth a try.
 
yup, believe in the candy t method for potty training, and then it's a habit without the candy. l had one mom tell me the cheerio cereal way for boys, drop cheerios in toilet, and tell them to aim at the little inner tubes.:)
 
Mary Terry said:
I bribed my three kids with M&Ms when I potty trained them. The two girls were trained after a few weeks but my son took longer. I'm sure the "experts" would frown on bribing a kid to use the toilet, but it worked for me and may work for you, too. It's worth a try.
Click to expand...

If you call it positive reinforcement it sounds more scientific.

Tokens. Rewards.
All that B. F. Skinner stuff.
 
Commonly in speech, child starts sounds, but has consonant deletion and I've answered to this in previous threads too. None of my kids would take naps, I tried tried.
Try speech and check as getting closer for school readiness and visit OT as going to need cert of exemption, if mostly applicable
 
jsilver256 said:
Welcome. My child, like me, does not seem to feel fatigue until it is at a breaking point. He was getting 5 hours of sleep a night from a very young age on. His pediatrician suggested 1mg melatonin 1 hour before bed, and that has helped a lot. The increased sleep seems to have calmed down a lot of his hyperactivity. You might want to ask your pediatrician about that.
Click to expand...
I recall at one stage dopamine and melatonin became buzz words; mostly I personally don't suggest this for children, but doctors do what pays, sadly. If child is 5 pls try holistic approaches first.
Obviously sugar is not good, some food trigger ADHD as in hyperactivity!! I left afternoon naps, (and really did try) and they slept through night. With sleep, routine is tops. So wake him up early, then he may be bit drowsy in day (my eyes are worst with inadequate sleep) but should be tired by night, and continue waking early until establish a routine. (Unsure about naps, sometimes it can be overload stress naps - so then we leave em to nap)
Also set mood for sleep, calm, storytime, dim lights, and repeat into routine.

You can try introducing healthy choices (test for nut allergies) and despite musli bars seeming healthy, full of sugar, same with many health snacks (misleading) so let child go hungry, (not starve but) and continue going hungry until eat chicken soup, no more argument!! Less sweets chips chocolate, the easier mom's job.
Exciting: platter with fruit variations, and stimulate sensses with new exciting health options, make healthy smoothies.
And rewards that fun based, let's go to farmyard to see animals, we doing this on weekend when you finish XYZ
 
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