Help autistic kids feel safe at night using calming bedtime routines, sensory-friendly sleep spaces, emotional reassurance, and healthy sleep habits.
In their comfort zones, a number of autistic kids get distressed during the night. Such children tend to develop an appreciation of sensitivity to sounds or darkness, the fear of change even more. Unlike most kids others may opt to take off frequently, suffering from restlessness and that ‘every kid’s’ common trait – wind down problems. Fortunetly, at home one could better the situation during the night with a few readjustments made.
Perhaps, the most essential place to start addressing this issue would be to put in place a bedtime that can be followed as a routine. It relaxes the children, especially the autistic ones, since it removes uncertainties that they frequently experience. Put the activities lined up on top of one another at bedtime to con toe specific order before bed. Such an order includes but is not limited in doing the bathing, putting on pajamas, brushing teeth, reading a book and sleeps. The routine is favorable with the brain because it tends to repeat the same procedure everyday and hence works wonders in chilling the mind.
Moreover, there are some individual peculiarities and the autistic person’s habitat or the space around him or her. Such children may respond to such stimuli as loud sounds, bright overly illumination, or certain textures. Consequently, the child could benefit from say a cool dark room with turn down lighting. Some children like to keep dim night lights on as the fear and/or anxiety are more likely enhanced when it is completely dark.
The presence of familiarization objects is equally as important. For instance, children often use blankets, dolls, pillows, comfortable clothes help during the night for emotional support and safety. Such familiar elements can and often help calm children to sleep.
To add, evening time is inconvenient for many autist children, as loudness is too much for them. Noise of television shows, bright glow from a mobile phone screens or interesting activities before going to bed can simply ‘excite’ the brain. Instead, such thing as micro puzzles, coloring, playing soft relaxing music, reading good books has proven to work.
It is important to allow a child to wear clothes that are not only bright but also comfortable. These can be clothes with a large number of labels but not always made with synthetic materials or even taken with no connection to the baby’s will and other social relations. We consider the possibility of putting conventional cotton garments and very fine pillows into the newborn’s bag to be very useful and beneficial.
Lastly, some children associate only parents tucking them in bed, leaving the last impression that when mommy says goodnight to them, they cannot fall asleep. In such cases, possibilities of any social security and any protection wedding rings will come in handy. Using other examples of attempts at re-assuring a child, the conversation towards the fear of parental influences, hypnophobia, or the how-to-help technology or whatever other means can be taken.
Unfortunately, in each of these cases of phobias, the process of help may not be an easy one. It gets to a point that a child becomes totally dependent on the parent. One of the delicate dreams baby girls have when they are uncomfortable and they want their mothers to hold them is that the only thing which gets instant tiredness, is the back of a mother scooping the child in enclosed arms.
Weighted blankets are another one of the many tools some families resort to. Some autistic children may find that the effects of the so-called “deep pressure therapy” are quite soothing. It should be noted that practicing such therapy on a child with autism is a personal choice and not every child with autism can undergo the said therapy.
It should also be said that daytime behavior contribute to the nighttime emotions. Thus, children who engage in the necessary physical activities throughout the day usually enjoy sweet and satisfactory sleep. Watching a film, running errands, walking around, playing games or even yoga or doing some stretching can help to liberate the person of his/her negative energy and tension; while affective relaxation comes much healthier and better.
Besides this, eating does have its effects on the amount of sleep that a person obtains. The period in between dinner and sleep should consist of less operations and maybe snacks – at least such high sugar content products as chocolates should be avoided because they are more likely to be processed by the body faster compared to other food types. Light healthy supper and constant intake of water during the day, although not excessive at night, may also work for better nighttime comfort.
It is also important for family members to remember that the emotional safety is as significant as the physical comfort. It is difficult for autistic children to communicate their fears or discomforts. Observing, recording and predicting events as well as taking note of the interconnectivity of such behaviors are very helpful in communication.
Every autistic person has his or her unique behavior patterns. What may be appropriate for one child with an ASD may not necessarily be effective for another. Patience, assertiveness and most importantly, the comforting tone of the child will go a long way in establishing a sense of security around the child.
With time, basic pre-bath procedures, autism bathing requirements, and caring or loving attentions can be effective in making the children feel more secure and at peace at bedtime.
