Octomom Natalie 'Nadya' Suleman Opens Up About 'Profoundly Autistic' Son Aidan: 'I Knew When He Was Born' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Natalie ‘Nadya’ Suleman’s son Aidan has a special place in her heart.

“He’s the light of my life and I love him,” says Suleman of her adult son who has autism and is non-verbal. Aidan, 20, along with his 13 siblings will be featured in Lifetime’s upcoming docuseriesConfessions of Octomom, premiering March 10.

“He’s the biggest blessing of my life,” she says. He’s also the child who has needed her the most. “I’d say the greatest struggle for me, and it always will be a struggle, is caring for my son, Aidan. He’s profoundly autistic, he’s total care.”

One of hersix older childrenwho she welcomed via IVF prior to welcomingher octuplets, Aidan was diagnosed early on. But when it comes to Suleman, “I knew when he was born, mom’s intuition,” she says. And, “because he never made eye contact. He never achieved the milestones that babies do in child development, and he never crawled. He scooted on his butt. There was holes in all the bottoms of his pants.”

Natalie ‘Nadya’ Suleman and her 14 kids.Nicolette Lambright/courtesy Lifetime

Nicolette Lambright/courtesy Lifetime

Years later, after she welcomed the octuplets, “he was just like one of the eight, and I would just have him more with me than anyone,” she says. “The kids would always be around him, and he wouldn’t require too much. His diaper, he had a bottle when he was younger, feeding him. And I would talk to him, sing to him all the time.”

Natalie, Aidan.Nicolette Lambright/courtesy Lifetime

Back in 2013 Suleman left the spotlightand returned to work as a counselor. But in 2018, “I had to leave my job,” says Suleman. “Aidan’s needs were becoming overwhelming. He’s like a full-time job for four people. I’ve always been his only provider, but I never got paid. So in 2018, that’s when I started to get actually paid.” She adds, “It’s decent money, but it’s still nothing compared to what we need to make to be comfortable in life.”

Makai and Aidan.Amanda Friedman

Amanda Friedman

But when it comes to caring for Aidan, Suleman isn’t alone. “The kids all look out for him,” she says of her 13 other children.

“But,” says Makai, “still he’s very smart.”

I Was Octomompremiered March 8, whileConfessions of Octomompremieres March 10, both on Lifetime.

source: people.com