Intro and Question About Possible Sensory Issue

ThreeBoyCircus

Hi, this is my first post ever, but I've been a long time lurker of The Bump.  I've got two boys (3.5 yrs & 2 yrs), and am expecting my third boy in August.  My question to you fellow mommies is about my youngest child.  I'll try to keep it brief, but please let me know if you need more info.

Since as long as I can remember, our youngest (now 2 yrs) has always (and I mean ALWAYS) had to hold onto my hair if I'm around him.  It's almost as if my hair is his comfort item/lovie, but it goes beyond comfort -- it's as if it's a requirement for him to rest easy/be calm.  I realize this sounds strange, but I can't overstate how much he NEEDS to hold my hair when I hold him, rock him, lay down with him, sit with him, etc.  It doesn't matter what we're doing, whether he's standing next to me, sitting next to me, or I'm holding him, his hands immediately grab a lock of my hair and he "worries" it with his fingers.  Put another way, there is never a time when I'm next to him and he doesn't need my hair.  He does this with other females in his life, e.g. daycare workers, but not with males, e.g. dad.

The pediatrician picked up on this during his 18 month visit and said he might have a sensory issue and it's something to be aware of for the future.  His older brother had a similar behavior, except he expressed it with having to put his hand down my or his dad's shirt to touch our skin along the top of our chests.  The pedi asked us if we have a family hx of ASD, but we don't to our knowledge, and our older son has not been diagnosed with anything (he's 3.5 yrs).  The only family hx I can think of is my synesthesia: I've always associated numbers, letters, colors, days of the week, and months with having a specific gender, age and personality.  I realize how odd that sounds.  It's basically a crossed-wires thing in my brain and I suppose it could be sensory related. 

Sorry if I'm rambling, but have any of you had a child that has expressed a similar type of sensory need?  Is it a warning sign, or indication of something to be concerned about, e.g. ASD, ADHD, something else?  In case it's relevant, our son is also VERY, VERY clingy, as in, it's a rare moment that he will allow himself to be on his own and often I can't even walk a foot away from him without him getting very upset/concerned and needing to be picked up again.  The pedi wasn't concerned about the clinginess.

Thank you so much!  I'd appreciate any info you can give.

ThreeBoyCircus

Thanks very much for your reply!  That's very interesting about your nephew and what Isla's therapists said.  I suppose we all have our own quirks to some extent or another. 

I saw a reply to another post that said, I never worried this much before I became a mom.  Isn't that the truth!

Thanks again.

ThreeBoyCircus

Auntie, thank you so much for your detailed response!  You gave me so much to think about and take back to the pediatrician at his next appointment, which is in a couple of weeks.  Something that really stood out from your response is your question about what my son does if he can't get to my hair.  Although he doesn't throw a tantrum or freak out, if he can't get to my hair (e.g. I have it up in a clip), he definitely nags me until I let it down for him to reach.  He won't accept another object, but to be fair, I don't know that I've tried that hard with re-direction.

 As for when the baby comes, I don't know what I'm going to do.  I've been praying every night that this baby is capable of being put down, left in a swing, etc because I know my son will become unhinged if I can't hold him when he wants me.  I suppose I'm also hoping that in the next five months, my son will become less clingy.

 And thanks for the information on synesthesia.  I had no idea about the connection with Aspergers.