Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night’s Sleep

In the first few months after their birth, babies enter into a regular cycle of sleep and wakefulness. And, over a period, the number of daytime naps gradually decreases, and children begin to sleep longer at night. However, some children have a problem falling sleeping in (or sleeping throughout) the night, which can last for a long time, even after they start their school.

And interestingly enough, this type of sleep disorders has also been found in children with autism.

According to researchers, 40% to 80% of autistic children have a difficult time falling asleep. The most prominent sleep disorders these children suffer through:

• Erratic sleep routines
• Hard time falling asleep
• Waking too early and too frequently
• Poor sleep quality or restlessness

As you can imagine, a lack of proper night’s sleep not only affects the child but the whole family. If your eyes are dimmed and watery due to night after night of waking up with your kid, then there are several fundamental lifestyle changes (and sleep aids) that might help you.

What are the main reasons that cause sleep disorders in children with autism?

Experts can’t tell for sure why children with autism have sleep disorders, however, they have few theories to explain.

The first theory has to do with the social cues. Many of us know when it’s time to go to bed at night, thanks to the regular cycle of the day and night and the circadian rhythms of the body. Besides this, we also use social cues. For instance, we often tend to go to sleep when we see our siblings go to bed. Since autistic children have difficulty communicating, they may not understand these cues or misinterpret it.

And another theory is about the melatonin. This hormone is responsible for regulating sleep and wake cycles in human beings. To produce this hormone melatonin, the body needs an amino acid (known as tryptophan), which, according to researchers, is either higher or lower than average in autistic children. Most often, melatonin level either spike up during the night (in response to the darkness) and plunge down during the daylight hours. Other studies have revealed that some autistic children do not release melatonin at proper times of the day. Instead, they release a very high level of melatonin during the day and lower level during the night.

And another reason could be heightened sensitivity to external stimuli, like sound or touch. While healthy children have no problem sleeping soundly, even when their parents open their bedroom door or tuck under the covers, an autistic child, however, might abruptly wake up.

Another reason that could affect normal sleep cycle could be anxiety, researchers report. Children with autism are known to suffer from higher anxiety levels than average healthy kids.

What kind of problems do sleep disorders impose on your child’s health?

Not getting enough sleep (at least 8 hours of good night sleep) can have hazardous consequences on a child’s overall health. According to research, in autistic children mainly, there is a direct correlation between lack of sleep and the following traits:

• Depression
• Irritability
• Aggression
• Hyperactivity
• Poor performance and learning
• Heightened behavioral problems

If your child isn’t sleeping enough, there’s a high probability you aren’t, too. One recent study revealed that the parents of children with autism often sleep less and have reduced sleep quality. They also get up earlier than parents of normal kids.

How to tell whether your loved one with special needs has sleep issues?

Every child is unique, and thus, they each need a little different amount of sleep. Typically, children require at least these amount of sleep per day:

• When they’re 1 to 3 years, they require at least 12 to 14 hours of sleep
• When they’re 3 to 6 years, they need at least 10 to 12 hours of sleep, daily.
• And when they are 7-12 years, they’ll require 10 to 11 hours of sleep every day.

So, if your child usually wakes up abruptly during the night or have difficulty falling asleep, it’s most likely they’re suffering from a sleep disorder. To know this for sure, make an appointment with your kid’s pedestrian. And they’ll refer you to a sleep disorder expert or a nose, ear, and throat doctor.

You can use a sleep diary for a week or two to keep track of how much your child is sleeping. In this journal, you may note down any changes in their breathing patterns, snoring, difficulty breathing, or unusual movements. Also, you can also include observations about your child’s behavior the following day. And, finally, share your findings with your child’s pediatrician.

How can I improve sleep time (and quality) for my children with special needs?

First and most importantly, we suggest that you do not use sleep medications on your child. Use it only as a last resort.

There are many lifestyle changes and natural sleeping aids that can significantly improve sleeping time (and quality) for children with autism:

For instance:

• Turn down TV, video games, and any other stimulating activities at least an hour before going to sleep.
• Don’t give your child stimulants such as sugar and caffeine before bedtime.
• You can also establish a night-time routine, such as reading a story to your child, giving them a warm bath, and putting him or her to bed at the same time every night.
• Discuss with your child’s pediatrician about giving melatonin just before bed. Melatonin, a dietary supplement, is usually given to people as a sleep aid to get over jet lag. In autistic children with sleep disorders, it may aid in normalizing sleep and wake cycles. And, it is safe and effective to take melatonin, according to researchers.
• At bedtime, you can cover your loved one with the therapeutic weighted blanket that stimulates the production of serotonin, which in turn will aid in the production of melatonin – the hormone responsible for helping your child sleep a peaceful and deep night’s sleep.
• Turn on soft music, give a gentle back rub massage, or read a book to help your child relax before bed.
• To minimize visual and sensory distractions during the day, install thick carpeting, put heavy curtains on the windows to block out light, and ensure the door doesn’t make a creaking noise. Also, make sure that the choice of bedding and temperature of the room match with your kid’s sensory needs.
• Talk to a sleep expert about giving bright-light therapy to your child. Exposing your child to bright light in the morning for a stretch of time may help balance the body’s release of hormone melatonin by aiding them to feel more awake during the daytime.