Need for sleep

If you have autism or ADHD, you know how difficult it can be to sleep. Because of this, people with these two conditions often choose to sleep on their stomachs so that they don’t roll onto a sharp object.

Sleepsia offers some pillow alternatives for people with these conditions. It outlines the benefits of body pillows in comparison to regular pillows, and covers which types of body widgets are best for each condition.

I have autism and ADHD, falling asleep was always an issue, ever since I discovered public library at the age of 10, until adulthood I was reading books until 4am, taking a nap until 7am, getting up, going to school that was starting 8am, dosing off during boring classes :P and compensating on Sunday, sleeping until noon

That sounds a strange thing for the Doctor to have said. Doesn’t quite ring true to me, though Im not remotely medically qualified!

I can't entirely agree with this statement regarding how many hours of sleep he should get, and I think it's more important for him to feel rested than to calculate his sleeping hours. Regarding the sleeping experience, you can try to get him an amazon body pillow. I believe it will help him feel like he is sleeping with someone and make him sleep better. I use one on my own, and I can assure you since I got it, my sleeping experience has gotten ten times better. Moreover, they are made from a very good material which will keep you cold even during the summer nights.

Oh, dear, I'm sorry to hear your kid has a sleep problem. When my autistic daughter was 6, she struggled to fall asleep. She would also wake up repeatedly throughout the night. After consulting multiple pediatricians, I decided to establish a nighttime routine and change her pillow. I've been told numerous times that pillows that hold their shape allow kids to fall asleep easier and have a restful night. So, I did that. Besides, I would add some lavender oil on top of the pillowcase. All things combined helped improve my daughter's sleep. You should try to do the same for your kid.

try a lavender pillow spray it works for me 

Thanks. We've got a bedtime routine, weighted blanket etc, but he seems to fight sleep. 

What's ASMR?  I'm eager to try anything that might help him.

Thanks

Falling and staying asleep for many people with autism is a problem. I have been prescribed melatonin tablets, and they have helped me to fall asleep, but I still have trouble staying asleep.

My sons nurse from CAMHS had previously said to me that melatonin doesn’t always work with children who have adhd. It took about 6-9 months to find a correct dosage that works for my son. 

Have you got a nice bedroom routine in place? A hot bubble bath with some battery operated candles or a microwave hottie teddy bear to cuddle into once in bed.  soft lighting? A weighted blanket? 

My eldest listens to ASMR in bed i allow him to play this on his tv from a you tube app it helps him falls asleep. 

Hi, is your son taking any medication for his ADHD diagnosis and is this also recent?  Does he sleep for several hours once he gets to sleep?  My son is in his late teens and has recurring phases of sleep disruption, which melatonin has sometimes helped in the past.  I expect you have already researched the good sleep hygiene tips and know that NAS have run workshops on this topic.

I would think regardless of wether you are neurotypical or neurodiverse you should sleep the recommended amount for your age range. 

My son has had sleep struggles since he was about 7 (now 11) and since being prescribed melatonin last year his sleep has improved so much. He is able to function a lot better in the mornings as he is not sleep deprived anymore.