Autism and sleep

[Kaboomba]

Looking for some advice.

My son is 5, nearly 6 and was diagnosed with autism in March last year. Just recently his sleep has been getting a lot worse. He would have a random night maybe once a month where he'd be up all night and then that was it for another month. We could cope with this but this is now becoming much more often. I am currently sat here with him for the third night in a row with him being up and I'm really struggling to cope and keep my cool with him.

We have stopped allowing him any iPad time after his bath which is usually an hour and half before bed time. We have allowed tv time but didn't tonight to see if that helped, it hasn't. We stick to the same bedtime routine, bath, downstairs, story, 8pm in to bed. He can take up to an hour to go to sleep and then is back up around midnight and will stay up anywhere for 2-6 hours.

I'm at a loss with what we can do and am considering phoning our GP tomorrow to discuss options but I want to make sure I have exhausted everything before resorting to medication!

Please help!

Are you under CAMHS or a paediatrician still? If so, ask them for melatonin.

You could also ask the GP for a referral to a sleep clinic.

Some people say they find lavender in the bath helps them.

You say you stick to the same bedtime routine, but also that he normally gets tv after bath but not tonight - so a different routine. Sticking to the same strict routine is important, every night, and try the same thing for a a month+ before writing it off.

Definitely speak to your specialists about it & see what additional help you can get (respite/ out reach work etc).

Stay strong & positive! You can do this

Thank you both for replying.

I have spoken to GP today and they have referred him to the community paediatrician again.