1.5 year old going through a clingy whinging phase

[Wantapotnoodle]

Title says it all really. DS was an easy pregnancy and an easy baby, although resulted in terrible PPD. He's now going to be two in October and has all of a sudden become a little menace - won't stay away from me for three minutes, bawls every bedtime, hates his high chair, fidgets every time i try change him, scared of nursery even though he's been going for a couple of months, cant stand being with his big sisters (11 and 7), behind on walking and talking. Suspecting possible autism but therapist said it was too soon to tell.

Sounds like he’s going into the terrible twos! Don’t assume it’s Autism until they’re 4/5.

All of this is typical toddler behaviour, which doesn't mean he isn't ND, but certainly doesn't indicate that he is.

The highchair and nappy stuff is usually just them objecting to being babies anymore. If you have a highchair with a tray that's seperate to the main table try taking the tray off and letting him sit up at the table with everyone else. Nappies are probably not negotiable unless you think he's ready for a potty. Have a bag of tricks to distract him at nappy changing time (it's an ideal use for all the party bag and front of magazine crap that you might have from your older kids).

With walking and talking just keep the pressure off, but lots of opportunities for physical play and loys of talking to him, at eye level where possible. If you use screens, stop.