Mutterings Of A Mindless Mommy

As a mother of a child with autism, I know first-hand the sleep issues that are so common among children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. My daughter seems to not need even half the sleep that is normal for other children her age. Not only does she have a difficult time falling asleep, she has an even more difficult time staying asleep. It is not unusual to wake up and find her asleep on the floor, in the playroom, or on the couch. Usually she doesn’t just get up and walk to another place to sleep she will pause to wreak havoc on the linen closet, the toy box, etc. For these reasons every door in the house has a childproof doorknob cover and we also have an alarm. It is not uncommon to hear of stories of children with autism leaving the house and wandering the neighborhood.

So what can you do about sleep issues? Well, there’s several things you can do to see if they help - forewarning some or maybe even all of these will fail at one time or another, addressing sleep issues in children with autism is an ever changing and ongoing process.

1. Weighted blanket - since children with autism typically have sensory processing issues a weighted blanket may enable them to fall asleep and stay asleep. The blanket is sewn with weights inside (poly-pellets, river rocks, sand, etc) and provides the child with the sensory input that they may need - deep and consistent pressure. Our weighted blanket is in the mail and should arrive midweek.

2. Bedtime routine - a bedtime routine is a great idea for any child. A nice warm bath, even one with some aromatherapy, will help quiet the child. Read a book, snuggle with your child a bit, get them off to sleep in a very relaxed state.

3. Reduce stimuli in the evening hours - turn off the TV well before bedtime, put on some nice classical music, dim the lights. Basically reduce the amount of sensory input the child is taking as his bedtime nears.

4. Ensure the child is well-fed - A nice healthy dinner can ensure that the child is fulfilled throughout the night and doesn’t wake up hungry. Children with autism often-times have feeding issues as well so I know this can be a challenge.

I practice Attachment Parenting and don’t advocate leaving your child to cry-it-out if they are not willing to go to bed. How would you feel if you were three or four, petrified about sleeping alone in a big room, unable to communicate those fears, and your one rock is leaving you all alone? I know I wouldn’t feel good. It is not unusual for my children to crawl in bed with us or my husband or I to crawl in bed with them (API’s Safe Sleeping Guidelines). This isn’t for everyone but this is about how I parent so I thought I’d share.

Whatever methods you choose a lack of sleep is difficult on both you, the parent, and your child. Some sleep issues can take years to resolve so persistence and patience are key. I wish you luck in finding the ultimate sleep solution for your child; we’re still hunting.