Although I missed the original post, I have been reading with great interest
the Lactnetters comments on the autistic child.  My son was diagnosed as
autistic at two years of age.  At that time, he was 'still' nursing; it was
the only way we could communicate.  He could not speak, could not control his
behavior, and could not make eye contact.  Yet the doctors recommended I wean
him immediately.  They couldn't tell me why, only that because nursing 'wasn't
helping the situation'.  I resisted; how could I take away the only thing that
he truly enjoyed, the only way he could tell me that he loved me, and that I
loved him?

To make a long story short, William self-weaned two years ago, on his fourth
birthday, when he patted my breast and announced "all done".  He is a loving,
affectionate child, speaks a few words now, makes eye contact, and is learning
new things everyday.  There are so many times when mothering an autistic child
can be such a lonely, sad, and exhausting experience. All I can say is that
mom should keep nursing as long as she and her baby want to.  I don't think
William or I would have survived if we hadn't.

Barbara Ash, MA, IBCLC
Burke, VA