Simple bedtime change that helped an autistic child fall asleep faster. Learn practical autism sleep tips, calming routines, and strategies for more peaceful nights.
Calming down and putting my autistic child to bed was among the most trying aspects of our daily life. This often led to a situation where the child would fight bedtimes for a long time to exhaustion while at the same time ensuring more and more such laps in the aggravation of the situation for everyone. There were the nights that I had to be able to coax her to bed for more than one hour. I struggled like any other mother to find a way out of every night’s hell.
In my case, all this possibly amounted to nothing how large the alteration was. After all we did have a bedtime, but it was not sooner rather than later. There were nights where some books were read. And other nights we had to snooze from the effects of a super good movie and go to bed only to adjust long sonnies for the next morning. At other times, moreover, the time of going to sleep was irregular. It is now difficult for me to understand.
There were several children who belonged to autism spectrum disorder who loved routine and forethought. That was when I figured it out and so, I came up with a straightforward timetable for bedtime. The timetable never changed and was strictly followed every night.
Everything in the daily schedule seemed to be normal. At first they went to bed and took a bath. Then, they dressed in nightwear, brushed teeth, read a story, and turned off the lights. Without fail, these steps will be undertaken in their correct sequence during every evening.
Nights also stayed the same for the first few. However, by the eighth night I could feel my calmness that was coming from knowing change was happening. My child was much more relaxed about going to bed. There was less yelling and more cooperation or appreciation for the most part. Now my son expectations were different, and he was really hoping for it to happen.
There was also the argument that not putting an end to screen time shortly before sleeping was not helping at all. We decided to remove any ipad and other computers from the case, an hour before sleep. When children ordinarily do not watch any digital screens within an hour after bedtime is delayed, it is going to be difficult to sleep immediately. Using rehabilitation time and developmental practices such as reading or coloring to take the place of screen time helped children in ceasing their agitations towards one another.
The aestharoom also had its impact on the whole story as it encompassed a number of implications. The room was kept cold, noiseless and was not cluttered. In time, softened light prior bed time indicated unwinding was in progress. It is likely that some children would cling more to a security blanket, soft toy or another such object.
Surprisingly, what helped me most was the security of having an organised plan for once. Instead of changing the routine often, one option for family activities was chosen. Every night went smoother, and it provided more of a coping mechanism in getting children to bed.
It goes without saying that each and every child suffering from autism is individual. Strategies that were helpful to one child, might not work in the same way or not work at all for another child. It’s possible that some children will embrace soothing pieces of music whereas other children will appreciate the silence. The important part is to create a routine that benefits the child and supports the child’s behavior.
It has been our practice, working alongside her, that bedtimes in our household no longer create any coercion. My daughter hardly ever woke up in the middle of the night after going to sleep consistently. It wasn’t easy though, but it got better eventually and one could see the difference.
Please, if you have sleep problems disorders, do not give up on yourself but seek control actively, as small measures can often yield worthwhile effects. A child with autism or any other special needs will nearly always benefit from a stressing familiar overwhelming vibe than a dynamic and unbaised limited responsive … discomfort.
For our family, this one change transformed bedtime from a nightly battle into a calmer and more peaceful experience. Sometimes, they say, the simplest solutions tend to work the best.
