Strategies for Helping Your Toddler or School-Age Child with Autism Sleep Through the Night

If you’re a parent of a child with autism, then you know how challenging it can be to get them to sleep through the night. Autism can impact your child’s sleep in many ways, from the difficulty of winding down at bedtime to the struggle to stay asleep until morning.

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for helping your child with autism sleep better, you can take steps to make the process easier. In this blog, we’ll look at how to help a toddler or school-age child with autism get the restful night of sleep they need. 

We’ll provide tips for creating a consistent bedtime routine and offer advice on how to create a calm environment for your child. With the right approach, you can help your autistic child get the restful sleep they need to stay healthy and happy.

Autism can have a big impact on a child’s bedtime routine, from difficulty winding down in the evening to trouble staying asleep until morning. As parents of an autistic child, it is important to be aware of how autism may affect your child’s sleep habits and take steps to ensure that they get the restful night of sleep they need.

Benefits of Establishing a Bedtime Routine for Autistic Children: 

Consistency is key when it comes to helping autistic children with their bedtime routine. Creating a calm, consistent bedtime routine can help your child relax and prepare for sleep each night. Additionally, establishing clear expectations around the bedtime routine can help your child understand what is expected of them and give them a sense of control.

Tips for Setting Up an Effective Autism-Friendly Bedtime Routine: 

When creating a bedtime routine for an autistic child, it is important to keep the routine simple, consistent, and predictable. It is helpful to set a consistent bedtime and stick to it, as well as setting up limits around screen time before bed. Additionally, it is important to create a calming environment for your child by dimming the lights, turning off screens, and playing soft music or white noise.

Strategies for Creating a Calm Environment Before Bed: Erase Personal Data

To create a calm environment for your child, it is important to create a consistent sleep setting each night. This includes dimming the lights, playing soft music or white noise, and ensuring that the room temperature is comfortable. Additionally, providing comfort items such as a weighted blanket or stuffed animal can help your child feel secure and relaxed.

What Can Help Autistic Children To Sleep Through The Night

Once your child is in bed, there are several strategies you can use to help them stay asleep. For example, limit trips to the bathroom and stick to a consistent wake-up time each morning. Additionally, if your autistic child wakes up during the night, it is important to provide reassurance and comfort without turning on the lights or other stimulating activities.

By following these steps and creating a consistent, calming bedtime routine for your autistic child, you can help them get the restful night of sleep they need to stay healthy and happy. With patience and consistency, you can set your child up for success in getting the restful sleep they need.  

Here on the team, we also have a Certified Special Needs Sleep Coach, Raline Sexton, who would be happy to speak with you more about your spirited child’s sleep struggles. Click here to meet her and learn more about her background and approach to helping your autistic little love sleep through the night.