How do you deal with sleep disorders in children with autism?

Children with autism have a harder time sleeping well than other children. In fact, insomnia is experienced by 40-80 percent of children who have autism. What causes children with autism to have difficulty sleeping, and what should parents do to help children sleep soundly? Check out the full info in this article.

What causes a child with autism to have difficulty sleeping?

There are many factors that play a role in causing a child with autism to have trouble sleeping well. The most common is a disruption in the production of the hormone melatonin, which triggers drowsiness.

Normally, levels of the hormone melatonin increase at night and fall during the day. However, in children with autism, the opposite is true. The production of the hormone melatonin is influenced by certain amino acids in the body. In children with autism, levels of this amino acid are not balanced so that melatonin production is higher during the day and drops dramatically at night. As a result, their sleep cycle is different from that of most children.

This disorder of the child's biological clock can also be caused by the side effects of the drugs he uses during his autism therapy. Some drugs to treat autism, ADHD, antidepressants, corticosteroids, and anticonvulsants can cause insomnia in children.

Or, it could come from excessive stimulation that the child receives just before bedtime. For example, from playing too long, or symptoms of restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea that can be experienced by some children with autism. Moreover, children with autism are also more sensitive to stimuli from their surroundings, such as sound or touch. So the slightest sound or even the lightest touch makes it easy for children to wake up during sleep and find it difficult to go back to sleep.

In addition, children with autism are also more likely to feel stressed and anxious than other children. Stress can increase the hormone cortisol in the body, which makes children more alert and anxious. This excessive stimulation makes the child feel like he doesn't want to sleep.

What can parents do to help children with autism sleep better?

Every child needs a different amount of sleep. Children aged 1-3 years usually need at least 12-14 hours of sleep per day. Children aged 4-6 years usually need 10-12 hours of sleep per day. Children aged 7-12 years usually need 10-11 hours of sleep per day.

For your child to meet this bedtime every night, you must establish a disciplined bedtime routine for your child. Children with autism tend to like things in order, they like being in order, and they don't like it when their routine suddenly changes.

So, Set up disciplined sleep and wake times for your child every night, for example, going to bed at 8 in the morning and getting up at 6 in the morning. Continue to enforce this time even on weekends and school holidays. This routine helps the child's body and mind get used to going to sleep and waking up at set times. We recommend that the child has get ready for bed 30-60 minutes before bedtime. This means, if the child's bedtime is 8 p.m., he must finish eating dinner, showering and brushing his teeth, drinking milk, reading a fairy tale, or other sleep routine by at least 7.45 p.m.

Create a bedroom atmosphere that is cool, dark and lonely free from distractions and clutter (including toys, tv and electronic gadgets). Make sure you close the window tightly, as well as the blinds, so that he doesn't wake up when there is light coming in from the window or something else that could disturb his sleep. You can also put a carpet on the bedroom floor to minimize the sound of footsteps when you walk in. Also make sure the door to the room does not make a squeak when it is opened or closed.

Lastly, don't give your child sugary drinks, which contain caffeine, or foods that contain sugar before bed. Also make sure children get enough physical activity during the day so they don't have too much energy at night.

The child is still having trouble sleeping too, what to do?

Sleeping pills are very, very rare, and actually not recommended, to be the first solution if a child with autism has difficulty sleeping. You should immediately consult a doctor if your little one still has trouble sleeping soundly.

You can record your child's sleep patterns for a week to find out how many hours he slept and when exactly your child slept. Also note what happens while he sleeps including snoring, changes in breathing patterns, unusual movements, or difficulty breathing. This can help you understand your child's sleep patterns. You can also take this note with you when you go to consult with your doctor.