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Son currently waiting diagnosis but does not sleep need advice

Kirbz

Hi, not too sure if anyone can help my 5 year old is still waiting to be seen for a diagnosis, having so many trouble trying to get someone to listen to me to give me advice, there are many signs that are leading me to believe my son is on the autistic spectrum, but one thing I'm having great difficulty with at the minute is sleep, he just never seems to be tired, at night he won't sleep until 11-12 at night wakes up in the middle of the night, then falls asleep around half 5 6. All agencies involved i.e. Speech And language, teachers, senco and Homestart all have suggested no tv, games consoles we have done this along with set routines, taking him park etc for run about to burn energy after school and snack and milk but he still doesn't settle, and is still running around...the only way he does actually settle is if he is watching tv or on his game, he won't fall asleep until gone half 11 but he actually sleeps through. I was just wondering ahs anybody else been through this, or maybe some new ideas please. we are at the point now where me and my partner are disagreeing because he's trying to do what the agencies are telling us and I'm like no he gets up more. We have been doctors who gave us medication but he had an allergic reaction And I don't really want to be going down medicine route. 

  • Hi yes we have tried "quiet time" which involved bath snack warm drink story and bed, but as soon as the story is over that is it he is straight back at it. He has a night light, as that is what he said to us a few months back so we got him a night light and he has to have his bed in a particular way too or that is another thing which gives him reason not to go. I think we are going to try the quiet time at 10 and then sleep at 11 seen as tho this is the tome he does go to bed, the only hard part is keeping him asleep until morning , it's like he only needs a few hours and that's all, unfortunately for me I need more than that haha

  • Does he run around the whole house? Even if he is not asleep, it's better for him to stay in his bedroom after bedtime, the place which is associated with sleeping and has less stimulation going on.

    I was always scared of the dark as a child and needed a night light - you could try this if he doesn't already have one. 

    Have you tried reading him a story? Our Autistic brains sometimes just can't shut off, but perhaps giving him something different to think about will do the trick?