So many sleepless nights. At age 13, my daughter suffered from months of wakefulness. Only once every 3-4 nights, she would collapse for sleep and we with her. Sleep – and certainly sleep in children with special needs, is complicated. Many children with autism suffer from sleep problems. The difficulty can be falling asleep, multiple awakenings throughout the night, low sleep quality, and waking up very early in the morning with difficulty returning to sleep.
The link between autism and sleep is two-sided. There are common physiological changes in children with autism that interfere with sleep, such as sensory over-reactivity or abnormal melatonin secretion. Many children with autism receive medications for comorbidities that can affect sleep.
Here are a few pieces of advices that can help your kids sleep better.
Content:
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How to Establish a Sleep RoutineHow to Establish a Sleep Routine
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How to teach an autistic child to sleep aloneHow to teach an autistic child to sleep alone
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How to set boundaries around sleepHow to set boundaries around sleep
in the coming weeks, we will publish additional posts on the subject: boundaries around sleep, encouraging independent sleep, and coordinating expectations!
