Sleeping on floor!!

Hi. So my 18 month old toddler going through autistic diagnosis used to be fine sleeping in his bed he used to sleep without troubles 6pm til 5 am now his started to cry a lot in his sleep last night Im unsure if he fell of the bed or he sleepwalked because he does do this. He got onto the floor for the first time in 2 weeks he slept all night and even till 8am! Has anyone else had where their autistic children prefer floor to bed? What can I do? And why is this? Thanks 

  • Hi, I've experienced the same issue but with my 14 y.o. She will sleep on the floor, in a teddy box, in her sisters bed (who is 13). She will wake up in the night and will lay in her brothers bed (who is 7)... She will usually sleep in her bed all the time but with an odd night with her sister, (They share rooms), but at the moment she isn't sleeping. My advice is putting a mattress on the floor. Good luck 

  • Maybe a cotton futon would be a preferred bed for this one? Or just get a wee indoor tent & sleeping mat if the floor is the preference (if you're looking to make this fun). 

  • My granddaughter prefers to sleep on a mattress on the floor. She sleeps on the floor now if we have her mattress on a frame or even simply on a box spring. 

  • Hi - for whatever reason, he's chosen to sleep on the floor, at least for the "meantime".  Wd he be willing to sleep on his mattress if it was put on the floor?

  • I used to sleep in  bed, but it always resulted in my back hurting, plus I used to 'travel' i.e. roll about to the point where I'd fall out or wake up half hanging off the bed. After I got diagnosed, one of the lovely SEN teachers at my high school suggested a hammock as once you're settled, its hard to fall out, and the swaying motion puts me to sleep. Ever since starting to sleep in a hammock however, I find I can't tolerate sleeping in a bed at all, its floor or hammock now.

    What kind of matress does your toddler have? Have you tried him on memory foam (bearing in mind its not for everyone, it can either help or freak him out)? If not, perhaps a thin mattress topper on the floor as a substitute bed will help him sleep?