Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for every child, but it can be especially challenging for children with autism. Many parents struggle with their child’s sleep issues, from difficulty falling asleep to frequent nighttime awakenings. Sleep problems are common among children on the autism spectrum, impacting their mood, behavior, and overall well-being. In this blog post, we will explore proven tips and strategies to help your child with autism sleep better. By understanding the unique sleep challenges faced by children with autism and implementing effective solutions, you can help your child achieve more restful and restorative sleep.
Why Sleep Issues occur frequently in Children with Autism?
You may be wondering why sleep issues are so common in children with autism. Here are a few questions you may want to ask yourself.
- Has there been a change in their routine?
- Do they have a routine?
- Are they not feeling well?
- Is your child watching TV or on electronics?
- Are they over stimulated?
- Did your child have enough sunlight?
- Is your child getting enough physical activity that day?
- Are they eating right before bed?
- Did they have a nap?
These are common questions you want to ask before going into the next stage of questioning which is sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, anxiety, etc.
If you feel like your child is developing sleep disorder it’s time to speak with his doctor to determine the best course of action. They may prescribe you with some medication and that is something that you have to determine would be best for your child.
Creating a night time routine for your child
A routine is everything! Know what’s going to happen next. You have to ask yourself what is your child’s current nighttime routine? Do you think something has to be removed or added? If you don’t have a nighttime routine for your child with autism, I recommend downloading the sheet above. Just an idea of what you can do to prepare your child for sleep. Make changes as you see fit! Now let’s talk about naps and electronics.
No electronics before bed
Electronics are one of the primary reasons I see sleep disruptions in children on the spectrum (people in general). If your child is watching TV or on the tablet they will not fall asleep. The phone, tablet and television is stimulating your child’s brain non stop. They are getting color stimulation sound movements and so forth.
Have you ever been watching TV and you tell yourself “I’m going to go to sleep in 10 minutes after this episode finishes.” 2 hours later you are still up, watching tv past your bedtime and finished 2 other episodes on Hulu. Exactly what it does to you, is what it does to your child on the spectrum.
It can be hard to remove the tablet or phone from your child. Understand this! This is why you need to redirect them. Right before bed have them take a shower. This way they are not around when you turn off the TV hide the tablet or hide the phone. This has worked for me with my stepson and I recommend this for everyone.
Creating Sleep Environment
This is different for everyone! Some children may need pure silence while others need to hear a white noise. Some children want their door closed while others would like it open.You need to find what is going to fit your child best. Find out what relaxes your child on the spectrum. Here are some things to try:
- Lavender aromatherapy / shower scents
- Kiwi 1 hour before bed
- Relaxing gummies
- A shower one hour before bed
- Blackout curtains
- White noise (if that’s something that comfort your child)
- No electronics 1 to 2 hours before bed
- Close the door
It’s also very important to not do any type of hyperactive activities! Once you find the nighttime routine that best fits you and your child’s needs (that you can commit to regularly), implement it and keep it that way!
Co parenting and sleep routine
It’s also important to understand that the nighttime routine at your house, may not be the same at the coparent’s house.
These are different environments, different smells, different beds, different rooms, different personalities and your child sees you both differently. They may be comfortable doing one thing at your house but not someone else’s.
Give each other ideas and feedback if one another is having complications but understand that it’s not going to be the exact same. That does not mean that you are failing your child on the spectrum! If anything you are teaching them how to self regulate and adjust.
Avoid bright light exposure at least an hour before you go to bed. Turn off all smartphones, tablets and laptops.
Remove the naps
For children on the spectrum naps are not your best friend! Apps give them an extra jolt of energy for them to bounce off the walls. If it’s 30 minutes of sleep. Specially if your child has a comb of autism and ADHD! The last thing you want to allow them to do is take a nap.
When they hit a certain age naps are not going to be a necessity. If your child is already having issues falling asleep because they are not tired, what do you think naps will do?
If your child is five years or older remove the naps. If your child is taking naps later on in the day it’s time to remove the naps!
Questions to ask
- Is your child waking up in the middle of the night?
- Is your child falling asleep at midnight instead of eight or 9 PM?
- Is your child having energy throughout the day?
- When your child gets one hour of sleep are they able to stay up for 24 hours afterwards?
The AuStars App is Your Key to Organized Parenting
If you’re a parent of a child with autism, the AuStars app is here to support you. With its user-friendly design, built-in timers, and automatic calendar, the app is tailored to meet the needs of families managing the complexities of autism. Stay organized, reduce stress, and gain valuable insights into your child’s behavior with the AuStars app. Download the AuStars app today and take the first step towards a more organized and stress-free parenting experience.
Download AuStars App!
