My son is 7 years old with autism. He is not willing to sleep on his own and needs me to sleep with him every night. If I am not back from work, he will sleep with his helper. How can we make him a more independent sleeper?
As a parent or caregiver, bedtime can be difficult if your child is having issues going to bed, staying asleep, and getting back to sleep. Your patience can be tested through long hours of frustration before your child goes to sleep. You end up either sleeping in your child’s bed or having them sleep in yours. Sleep disturbances can significantly disrupt your household. You may have insufficient energy in the day due to battles over bedtime as a parent or caregiver. Other children at home may also have their sleep disturbed.
Your child’s insufficient sleep may result in daytime sleepiness, which decreases their ability to learn new critical skills. Behavioral issues such as hyperactivity, inattention, and aggression may surface as well. For a child receiving therapy or attending school, this can greatly affect his or her learning.
As we all know, sleep habits are hard to change. As adults, we may be disturbed when we sleep in a different bed, on another side of the bed, or with a different pillow. Naturally, if your child is used to sleeping with you or going to sleep late at night, he or she will resist any change in their routine. The earlier the problem is addressed, the easier it will be to help your autistic child sleep independently. This way, everyone in the family will be able to get a good night’s sleep.
Be sure that you prepare yourself by getting as much sleep as you can beforehand, or catch up on your sleep during the day since you may not be able to have a restful sleep for several days. Choosing a period when you can offer consistent intervention is important.
If your child keeps getting out of bed, you will need to repeatedly put him or her back in bed in a neutral manner. Do this in the shortest possible time with the slightest opportunity to fuss. Once your child realizes that they will end up in bed and receive absolutely no attention, they will give up. The process requires patience and persistence. The good news is that you will eventually be rewarded with undisturbed sleep.
Often, you may wake up to find your child sleeping in your bed. Unless you would like to have him or her sleeping with you when he or she is an adolescent, you should discourage him or her from sleeping in your bed now.
This process is similar to the previous step on putting your child back to their bed with the least intrusive method. As long as your child is of the appropriate age, you can let him or her join you in bed on weekend mornings to watch cartoons. You may also schedule a particular time of day for him or her to snuggle in bed with you.
Last but not least, if your child still requires a nap, we advise you to allow him or her to do so in his or her own bed. This will foster the habit of sleeping in his bed and support the bedtime routine you have established.
Nevertheless, as we discussed in step 2, it is best to reduce or eliminate naps so that your child is more tired at night.
Rather than try to directly make him sleep, you could prevent all other non-sleep activities from occurring. For example, keep away any toys, snacks, beverages, and keep the lights off. By keeping the environment quiet and dark, this is a good suggestion of sleep.
Our advice is to put your child back in his or her own bed and then provide the care and comfort there.
Rather than try to directly make him sleep, you could prevent all other non-sleep activities from occurring. For example, keep away any toys, snacks, beverages, and keep the lights off. By keeping the environment quiet and dark, this is a good suggestion of sleep.
Why do children with ASD have trouble communicating? Spontaneous communication is when communication is initiated voluntarily and is not a form of response. Some children may be non-verbal, while some can be verbal but have trouble speaking spontaneously. These children may have an extensive vocabulary and may be able to speak and respond to questions but […]
A common question parents have when enrolling their child in an ABA therapy program is the location for treatment. Often, parents wonder if having ABA treatment at home is better than the center-based option and vice versa. Additionally, parents may be concerned that they may not have enough resources at home for the therapist to […]
This special FAQ edition will cover some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding School Readiness, including a guide on choosing the right program. We also address some parents’ concerns about enrolling in a School Readiness Group Program, such as how a good School Readiness Group Program would benefit your child and know if […]
Please share to let more people learn about ASD and ABA therapy:
AP holds the belief that with quality Autism Partnership Method (APM) treatment, individuals with autism should reach their fullest potential and achieve the greatest degree of independence and highest quality of life possible.
Sign up now to get ABA and Autism related news delivered to your inbox. Enter your email to get started
Autism Partnership Singapore
All information received will always remain confidential. We will contact you as soon as we review your message. Thanks
