• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Overcoming Sleep Disorders For Kids On The Spectrum

April 14, 2014 by ModernMom Staff Leave a Comment

The following is a guest post by the team in the Boone
Fetter Clinic at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Did you know research
shows that about half of school-age children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
have trouble sleeping, compared to about one-fourth of typically developing children?
Parents of children on the autism spectrum often report
sleep problems such as resistance to going to sleep or sleeping alone, waking
up often or sleepwalking during the night, and being groggy in the morning.
The most common
problem for children on the autism spectrum is refusing to go to sleep at night. Some children may need to be
rocked, patted or have someone lie next to them before falling asleep. Others
may wake up easily during the night or want to sleep somewhere else other than
in bed. It is difficult for the family, because everyone wakes up tired from
not sleeping well. Parents are tempted to let their children nap during the
day, but this only contributes to more problems at night.
Children need to
get enough sleep for health, mood and behavior. A child’s sleep problems are
also stressful for parents, so it is important to find solutions that work for
the family.
There are many
types of sleep problems, as well as other issues that can disturb sleep. Some
children with ASD:
  • Have
    trouble falling asleep at night, but sleep soundly once they fall asleep.
  • May fall
    asleep without any difficulty, but wake often during the night and can’t get
    restful sleep.
  • Have
    trouble both falling and staying asleep.

A Good
Sleep Environment Helps


The most
important thing to do is develop a consistent routine around sleep, maintaining
what we call good “sleep hygiene.” Sleep hygiene is about keeping a daily
routine and providing an environment that promotes sleep. A calm, supporting
and consistent bedtime routine allows a child to wind down and get ready for sleep.
Also, there should be a consistent wake-up time every day and limited naps for
older children. The sleep schedule should be the same on weekends and school
nights.
Good sleep
hygiene at bed time includes: 

  • Dimming the lights in the evening and before bedtime
  • Following a consistent bedtime routine
  • Limiting TV, computers or games before bedtime
  • No snacks or drinks in the bedroom
  • No vigorous exercise one to two hours before bedtime
  • No mentally-stimulating activity before bedtime
  • Sleeping in a dark, cool and quiet room
  • Using a comfortable bed and using it only for sleep


Resources for Families 

Nurse care managers in the Boone Fetter Clinic at Children’s Hospital
Los Angeles are available for telephone inquiries through the free
Autism Warm Line. Call 323-361-6102,
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 The Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network also offers a great resource:
The Parent’s
Guide to Improving Sleep in Children with Autism, which provides strategies and suggestions based on both research and the
clinical experience of sleep specialists. You can access this toolkit and other
great resources by visiting autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits.
There are also a number of
mobile apps that can help you build a good sleep routine; check out Little
Star Sleep Time Story
, Sleep Champ and Birdhouse
for Autism
to see if they work for you.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Kids, Parenting

About ModernMom Staff

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

Six Reasons to Have Six Kids

When people hear that I have six kids, the reaction is … [Read More...] about Six Reasons to Have Six Kids

Must Have

STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

April has arrived which means it’s time to pull out the food … [Read More...] about STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

Did you know?

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Cover a Pork Roast

Should You Cover a Pork Roast & Add Liquid When Baking?

can you get pregnant on birth control pill if you miss one day

Can You Get Pregnant on Birth Control Pill If You Miss One Day?

What Happens When You Mix Lemon Juice With Baking Soda?

What Happens When You Mix Lemon Juice With Baking Soda?

Meals That Pair With Corn on the Cob

Meals That Pair With Corn on the Cob

Natural Remedies to Increase Sperm Count

Natural Remedies to Increase Sperm Count

stop a new piercing from itching

How to Stop a New Piercing From Itching

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2023 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.