Lucky you I never got it

Used to hold my HFA daughter all of the time, but as she gets older she seems to want it less and less.

When my niece was 2 years old, the doctors gave her a heavy blanket, like lead weights encased in soft plastic, and we would wrap her in it and hold her. The pressure would calm her down and reassure her and talk to her.

I screamed at light touch so never got hugs either. May be nice but I will never know. I want to make a hug machine. Thanks, got a reason to get through another day.

I hate being touched, but like the pressure.

I carried my son around a lot, especially outside the home till he was 2 and I had the next baby. He enjoyed this and I could stop him running into danger (he'd rush off, up, into...).

He wasn't into hugs when he was older. But he did and does appreciate a calm, friendly manner with lots of respect, even when I had to deliver a consequence he didn't want but which I had to do as part of training him suitable behavior as opposed to what he wanted to do. I guess I did put my hand on him and my arm around him a lot though, especially when he was freaking out and needed grounding, etc. I aimed to do this in as "normal" a way as possible as my goal was always to get him to fit into "normal" life, which he has done (at 22).

When he was youngish and got extremely stressed, I found that dimming the lights in the lounge and settling him down with his favourite videos and food and drink helped. Also he had "teddy rug" to cuddle and his very own thumb to suck. Even now at 22, the thumb comes out when he thinks nobody is watching. I just pretend I don't see.

"Teddy rug" lives in a drawer now. I would NEVER have taken it off him but we did develop some rules about where "teddy rug" could go and have him waiting for later. "Teddy rug" got left behind twice (horror!) when we were out visiting and we went back across town to get him/it. That helped us to keep it safe in the car, waiting.

I love to hug and kiss my son. He isn't so crazy about the hugs as much as he used to be. But a few times a week he will just ask for a hug, he did tonight. He loves to be tickled though. I think we have kind of desensitized him a little because of the way we are. At night he likes me to snuggle with him, he likes heavy blankets and sometimes he likes to have his back rubbed or patted depending on his mood. I just like being close. My sister on the other hand gives hugs but it's like she's barely touching you, I always kid with her and tell her come on I know you can do better than that. I love my dad's big bear hugs. I think my son is also more okay with it when he knows it's coming than when you just come up out of the middle of no where. I wish people wouldn't give up so quickly in this area because I think they crave it, but never get the chance to adapt to it. So sad.

Jaquello5 *HUGS*

I HATED physical contact from my mom, even as a young child. It creeped me out and I pulled away. It's always worth a try ;)

You guys are awesome :)