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Can't get my son to sleep

Clemmie

hi all.  My son isn't diagnosed, we are half way through the process but he really dips into anxiety when there's change happenning and it's worst at bedtime.  So right now, with school about to start again (he's 9) he just cannot get to sleep, it took 2 hours tonight. I have to sit with him every night until he's asleep.  And then he's wakeful in the night and often gets in bed with me.  he wakes early in the morning too, sometimes dashing off to start at one of his 'hobbies' - TV, list writing, cutting paper - at a really early hour.

I try so hard to have a routine, he has a lavender bath, he's got a lava lamp to watch to calm him.....

but he can't cope on a 10pm bedtime, he then has a really bad time at school, although they are very understanding, and his behaviour at home becomes more erratic and difficult to manage.

Anyone got any answers?  Do I just keep him up?  Let him sleep in my bed? is it time to go to the GP? 

Parents
  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Sleep issues are very common for people with autistic spectrum conditions.

    See community.autism.org.uk/.../"sleep issues"

    Kids will learn bad habits if they are rewarded. If he finds that the night time world has entertainment rather than calm, safe, peace and quiet then he will want more of that. Generally children need to be reassured when they wake in the night but if you give them a practically silent hug and tuck up back in their own bed then they can learn that bed is where you expect him to be. This is easier said than done but the method gets repeated on all of the TV programmes that show kids that can't sleep. If you are patient and consistent then this often works.

    Some people find that Melatonin (I think you will find it mentioned in some of the threads returned by that search) can help re-establish a good rhythm. A lot of autistic minds have different wiring and chemistry and respond well to this particular drug. It isn't an anti psychotic or anything like that but equally it should only be tried after you have tried the strong silent treatment above.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Sleep issues are very common for people with autistic spectrum conditions.

    See community.autism.org.uk/.../"sleep issues"

    Kids will learn bad habits if they are rewarded. If he finds that the night time world has entertainment rather than calm, safe, peace and quiet then he will want more of that. Generally children need to be reassured when they wake in the night but if you give them a practically silent hug and tuck up back in their own bed then they can learn that bed is where you expect him to be. This is easier said than done but the method gets repeated on all of the TV programmes that show kids that can't sleep. If you are patient and consistent then this often works.

    Some people find that Melatonin (I think you will find it mentioned in some of the threads returned by that search) can help re-establish a good rhythm. A lot of autistic minds have different wiring and chemistry and respond well to this particular drug. It isn't an anti psychotic or anything like that but equally it should only be tried after you have tried the strong silent treatment above.

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