My 2 year old has autism. He in the past week or so has started to develop even worse sleeping habits. It's been proven already that he isn't getting enough sleep(his doctor confirmed this)but he was doing better than most kids with autism. He is now only getting at most four hours of sleep. He will wake himself up a few minutes after falling asleep multiple times a night. He does not nap, and has not for quite some time. The other night he slept for three hours and then was up for close to seven, finally passing out for a twenty minute nap. Anyone know of ways to get kids with autism to sleep better? We're going ot look into melatonin but also know that isn't a permanent fix.
I use to care for a little girl who had autism, and the only way we could get her to sleep was to get one of those hanging swings (also used for therapy) and she would sleep curled up in it.
Before that we ere able to get those relaxtion cds, and turn it up pretty loud to drown out other noises and had it on repeat so it played allnight, and we were able to get here to sleep for 6+ hours. and had her tucked in tight.
HI M....wht not try to google autism sleep disorder. I got 800,000 responses and suggestions.....
Good luck...
C. M Hamlin
Cave Junction OR
Hi M.,
I know how you feel. My daughter has autism and has had major sleeping problems. My brother, who is a pediatric development specialists suggested we try melatonin. I was really torn at first because I really did not want to give her something, but I also looked at the research on the studies they have done with it and concluded that we would try it. Now, melationin will help them get to sleep, but does not get them to stay asleep, which is our little ones problem, however, it has helped her to sleep better. We have been using it for two years now. THe first time I gave it to her I was scared. She had been sleeping so hard for the first time ever! I even noticed that the first time she actually started to yawn! Please feel free to email me anytime. I would love to help or just be a person you need to talk to. ____@____.com. I might sound scattered right now, but my husband has to leave and my kids are running like crazy.. Hope this helps some.
B.. BTW you can get chewable melatonin at Fred Meyer in a small dose of 500 mcg. and they test like peppermint..
Autism causes a lack of melatonin in the body, which will affect sleep. I strongly suggest giving your child melatonin every night. My daughter uses it, her neuro told us to give it ot her. Also my niece is also autistic and they have her taking melatonin also. I dont think there is a permanent fix, just the suupplement every night.
I wish I knew about the melatonin back in the day! My son is now 14, and I used a very set routine for bedtime which included music. He liked the security of knowing what came next. The big problem for us was him getting up at 5 in the morning! I don't miss those days LOL Good luck to you.
My son was diagnosed with autism at age 2, and we too suffered a lot of sleepless nights with him. Kids with autism do not produce enough of their own melatonin. Since starting on melatonin (we began with 500mcg - 1/2mg - about 30 minutes before bedtime, increasing the dose gradually to get the desired affect) he sleeps much better. Our pediatrician also prescribed clonidine to help him stay asleep at night since melatonin leaves the body fairly quickly. Since we have started our son on B vitamins he has started sleeping better and we have been able to cut back on both the melatonin and the clonidine. Good luck!
I have a few friends with kids with autism, and a couple things they were told to try are... weighted blankets, so they feel more secure... just sew some bean bag pockets around the blanket so they can be taken out for washing. And melatonin, but eventually the they build a resistance and you have to up the dose.. but that was actually something a Dr. told them to try... good luck
We used a battery powered baby swing (it was the only way to get sleep). You could also try a white-noise machine or fan.
