Bedtime Routine Tips for Children with Autism and Sleep Issues
Getting a good night’s sleep can be a challenge for many children, and for children with autism the troubles can be even more complex. Whether it’s a struggle to fall asleep or to stay asleep, both the children and the parents will be affected. Finding the right way to work with these difficulties can help the whole household feel rested when they wake up in the mornings.
In this blog post, we are going to walk through creating a calming bedtime routine to help manage these sleep troubles.
Establish a Consistent Schedule
Possibly the most important step in helping a child with autism peacefully sleep is providing them with a consistent schedule. Being able to anticipate how their night will go will help them feel secure and relaxed. In allowing them to fully understand their routine, creating a visual for them is beneficial.
Building a Visual Bedtime Routine Chart
- Turn off screens
- Bath time
- Put on pajamas
- Brush teeth
- Storytime
- Lights out
Write out a chart with these steps, or any other routine steps your family takes with pictures and symbols and hang it up in their bedroom for their personal reference whenever they may need.
Create a Calming Environment
When approaching bedtime, take advantage of the routine time to create a calming environment. Turn down the lights, lower excess noise in the house, and clean up any clutter. This allows time for their minds to slowly wind down without having a drastic change in environment when going from full day mode to absolute silence and lights out.
Prepare for the Following Day
When going to bed, a child with autism may struggle to relax without knowing what is to come when they wake up the following morning. To reduce this stress, take a few minutes to walk through what they can expect. Prepare in physical ways like laying out their clothes and packing their school and lunch bags. This takes away one stressor in the morning. Also be sure to talk about what tomorrow looks like. Answer any questions they may have and paint them a full picture of what the day will look like.
Bring More Peace into the Household with The Deron School
If these tips help your household rest easy at night, take a step further by exploring how The Deron School can support your child with autism. We offer a state-approved private school program that will work with your child’s needs. Contact us today to learn more about enrolling.