Help with Sleep please!!! ASD!

[Blossom4538]

Hi all,

Dds sleep is terrible! She was awake almost all night the past two nights, has slept for an hour or so tonight and now wide awake again and won’t go back to sleep!

We’ve been struggling like this for a couple of months now.

I ended up sleeping in her room the other night and noticed just how much she moves around in her sleep - it was pretty much almost constant...to the point, I could sleep!
What causes this? Is it part of ASD or something else? Anyone noticed this with their child and any advice on sleep greatly appreciated. We tend to do all the usual wind down etc. Even if she happily falls asleep quickly, she will wake within two hours. GP/CAMHS aren’t currently willing to prescribe melatonin. Some meltdowns during the night and in the morning are extreme, as a result of lack of sleep.

Hi @Blossom4538. Sleep problems with ASD are very common. Sounds exhausting for you all. My approach generally is to just roll with it and sleep when we can. Does your daughter eventually sleep for a decent stretch, even if it’s at unusual times of day? How old is she - could she have some quiet activities or books for when she wakes up, and maybe some nice gentle lighting, so that she stays in a night time calm space even if she’s awake? Is there any pattern to the wake ups - eg any link to anxiety/ exercise etc?

Hi blossom4538
I feel your pain and know from experience what it’s like.
Our son now 10 severe ASD and severe behaviour problems including self harming - for many years we had very very stressful nights, did the whole routine with camhs waited ages only to be told no for melatonin
Although he was a prime candidate for this. As with many things we took this into our own hands and ordered melatonin in strawberry gummy form, worked a treat honestly life changing for the whole family
By the way we were let down in a big way by camhs when we needed it the most. Will pass details of these to you if you wish for you to do some investigation and research.
Regards

My DS would takes ages to get to sleep and he had to have someone there while he did - then would wake every 90mins - repeat.
Took the easy way out and let him sleep with me - still took ages to get off (2hrs) but once he was asleep, he somehow sensed I was there and he would stay asleep. We got to age 7 and I was thinking something has to change. We got a bed with cupboards underneath (high) and got him a puppy. He slept with him and didn't have any sleep problems at all!!

However, he's now older and doesn't want his dog on his bed all the time. He has developed other sleep issues now! But hey, that's ASD, constantly changing.

My DD13 is difficult to settle at night, it’s usually past 12 and then exhausted in the morning.

One thing we found recently which she does like, when she wants to be settled but still fidgety is a weighted blanket. What I have noticed is that she used to wake up after about 20 mins, sometimes screaming or with what seems like night terror, and this seems to have reduced with weighted blanket.
Not a magic wand by any means, but another useful tool. Also she likes it when she is on the floor after a meltdown, helps settle her.
Hugs.