Autism confirmed

Please don't quote

So today my 2.5 year old nephew was diagnosed with autism. I feel bad for his parents even though the whole family really is going to stand behind them. The signs have been there for the last year and I'm so relieved we all have answers but of course I understand it's hard, because everyone was holding on to some hope that he'd come away from this appointment all clear :/ I just want to be able to help in every way I can, I babysit sometimes (not often now at 33 weeks along) so I want to make sure I support him when I do watch him. He's going to be in at least 25 hours of therapy a week from now on so I'm really hoping we'll have more answers on how to help once that starts.

Just wondering what somethings are that I could do to show my support and help not only him but his parents?

First of all...I have to say you ARE an amazing person to want to help. I have a 7 year old who is Autistic and have no help from my family or my son's father's family...heck not even my son's father to be honest. He gets him every other week for one day.

Also I am really glad they caught his Autism so early. That means they can work with him early and get him and keep him on the right track. Early intervention is so important.  )

Since your 33 weeks along in your pregnancy, babysitting has to be hard for you. But if Mom gets in a bind just try to be there for her. My son is very hard to take to any kind of appointments or anything. You take him out of his environment and he throws mass fits. He use to not be that way when he was 2 though.

Just be there for Mom & Dad to vent. It is so important. Even if it's small stuff they just want to be heard.

Best of luck to your little nephew! It seems he has a wonderful start!!!  )

Quoting April Hayman:" First of all...I have to say you ARE an amazing person to want to help. I have a 7 year old who is Autistic ... [snip!] ... if it's small stuff they just want to be heard. Best of luck to your little nephew! It seems he has a wonderful start!!!  )"

Thank you! I feel so much better just getting some feed back. I have an autistic cousin who's 9 (lives out of state though so never had much experience with him), he had early intervention starting at 17 months. He's doing so amazing, and his parents really give all the credit to the therapy so early.

I really hope that even though my nephew is a year behind that, that it's still early enough to help him. The therapy I think will be awesome because the tools his parents learn, they can share with us other caregivers so we can keep him on track when he's away from home.

He definitely throws fits like that too, if he gets somewhere unfamiliar, whoever he's with that he knows he just clings to and cries. Or if he wants something, he doesn't have the language to communicate what he wants-so he throws a massive fit. It's hard just to watch honestly :/ I feel so bad because the first 2 years of his life I lived with them, and we had such a bond. Things have changed with the pregnancy and I try to be close with him but he's very stand offish at times, I don't blame him, because now I'm not as familiar of a face as before.  

Babysitting at this point really is next to impossible but it's been getting difficult for months, mostly because watching him isn't like any other kid. He gets angry and it's hard to calm him if he's thrashing, or pick him up because I'm afraid to get hurt or for him to get hurt too.

Thank you for the advice though, I really want to be there for them! And if they need to vent I'll definitely let them- I may not be in there place but I know just from living with them for so long that long periods of time with him can be difficult. As he gets older it's been worse, once again crossing my fingers the therapy can help!  Thanks again

I have 2 children w/ASD both at different ends of the spectrum, different triggers, sensory issues , socail delays and ''quirks''....feel free to ask me anything.

Quoting 5 blessings so far....:" I have 2 children w/ASD both at different ends of the spectrum, different triggers, sensory issues , socail delays and ''quirks''....feel free to ask me anything."

Oh thank you so much, I'll definitely pm you