Simple bedtime strategies to help autistic children relax, sleep better, and build a calming nighttime routine.
If you are a parent of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, you must have experienced that putting the child to bed can be one of the most difficult activities. This is often the case with one child laying quietly with his/her pillow, while another one gets overwhelmed by the light or simply loose the track of one’s thinking. The latter can be very confusing for parents because they might not understand the need to get back after a busy day.
On other days when their active child volunteers with cleaning, painting or cooking, they may want to define different periods on each day.
A different pattern of behavior comprehensively refers to the fact that a routine is being developed around the house, which signifies work at certain times.
Moreover, it is a routine that can include brushing ones teeth, putting on pajamas, reading a book, and eventually turning off the light.
It is possible to mitigate this problem by using simple visual timetables. Such students read better when there is a picture provided as opposed to giving oral instructions. For your child for instance, you can make a bedtime schedule step by step chart that will tell them what is going to happen next.
There must be a good conduct in management of the use of digital devices before sleep. Junk it; Switch off the tablets, phones, television, and video games as these also stimulate the brain too. Instead, consider other relaxing pursuits like drawing, solving puzzles, color painting, or even practicing a favorite story.
Assess the touch environment of the child. Other children do not like loud noise, intense light, rough surfaces of objects, or even extremely high or low temperatures. A dark room, shielded from sunlight, comfortable bed sheets, or a fan can aid if a child is unable to sleep well. In case your child is sensitive to certain clothes, try to select pajamas that make them comfortable and have soft fabric.
Strive for order in children’s bedrooms. Make sure to avoid too many toys, bewildering colors, or incessant flashes of light. Keeping the child’s bedroom plain and less busy most often aids the child in calming down and falling asleep.
Engaged in physical activity during the day is a remedy for also treating sleep. Avoid suggesting video games and television watching to encourage fun activities like the outdoor playground. But in the evening, avoid engaging in vigorous physical activities since it implies more energy will be gained.
It is important to observe how children consume their foods and drinks at night. Foods that are large in portion or those which are sweet and sugary snacks will often even prevent or disrupt sleep in some cases. Instead, eat something light and nutritious for dinner.
Some calming activities just before the sleep are helpful for many autistic children. This may include activities like slow deep breathing, pleasant sounds, warm bathing or reading of a goodnight story. Keep these activities easy and regular.
Changes can also be very difficult, and children may have sleep problems because of extreme anxiety. Give your child some warning instead of instantly saying, “Go to sleep.” As such, “Time for sleeping: only ten more minutes,” and “Now, five minutes before we go to bed”. This way, gives the child an opportunity to warn the child to make a mental preparation.
Kids are never predicted to have the same sleep patterns every night. There could be those nights where the child will sleep peaceably till morning and others where a lot of energy will have to go into putting the baby to bed. Stopping fights and arguments should be practiced as well. Encouragement and reassurance for the child also helps in decreasing the levels of anxiety.
If your child frequently wakes up during the night, try to respond consistently. Keep interactions quiet and brief to help them understand that nighttime is for sleeping.
Remember that child rearing is a process which is unique to every child. What may work efficaciously for one child may completely fail for another. Sometimes, one has to try a different approach before they can reach a compromise regarding the most suitable practices for the child.
If your child’s continuous sleep issues are not going away or if they are becoming serious in nature, talk to the pediatrician or the sleeping pharmacy specialist. Learning, mood, behavior, and overall wellness are interconnected with good sleep. Making small customary changes on the daily plan helps sooth most of the bedtime prayers even in the whole family.
