DS 1 is nearly 7. He has a diagnosis of ASD. Anxiety affects him in many aspects of his life.
Bed times are tricky at the moment so I would love a bit of advice.
At the moment he has a bath, goes down stairs for a drink, and then I take him up to brush his teeth and go to bed at about 8pm. I read to him and then sit by his bed until he is asleep. No matter how long I sit with him, the second I stand up to leave the room he wakes up. His immediate reaction is to cry and scream. If I sit back down he will quickly settle back down and go to sleep. However, as soon as I stand up to leave he wakes up again and cries. This goes on and on until I eventually lie down at the bottom of his bed. The longer this cycle goes on the more anxious he becomes and the more likely he is to keep waking up.
I have tried leaving the room with him relaxed but awake with a clock in front of him, telling him that I would like him to lie quietly and I will be back in 1 minute. I was hoping to gradually build up the time I am away so that we can work towards me leaving him for long enough for him to fall asleep without me next to him. As soon as I turn my back to leave the room he starts shouting and screaming. He does not seem able to lie quietly without me for any time at all.
I have tried sitting slightly further away from his bed with a view to gradually getting further and further away until I am sitting in his door way, and then on the landing. This just makes him cry as well.
I have tried offering rewards for lying without crying for 30 seconds. He lives in the moment to such an extent that he just wants me next to him.
Thank you if you have read all that. Does any one have any ideas? He is a lovely boy. I just want him to get enough sleep.
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Anxious bedtimes
7 replies
Twoseventhsaweasley · 29/03/2016 07:25
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