GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT , & DON'T LET THE BED BUGS BITE: establishing positive sleep patterns for young children with autism spectrum

by Marci Wheeler

Most parents have had some experience with a child who has difficulty falling asleep, wakes up frequently during the night, and/or only sleeps a few hours each night. Temporary sleep difficulties are an “expected” phase of child development. Ongoing and persistent sleep disturbances can have an adverse effect on the child, parents and other household members. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders appear to experience these sleep disturbances more frequently and intensely than typically developing children. A child’s sleeping problems can quickly become a daily parenting challenge.

There are a number of factors to address when establishing a plan to reinforce a positive sleep pattern. First, any underlying medical problems that may be affecting sleep should be assessed. Consider checking for food and/or environmental allergies or intolerances, gastrointestinal disturbances, and seizures. All of these are more common in persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Also sleep disturbances can be a side effect of other medications an individual takes and so this should be considered, too.

Sleep disorders

Sleep disorders that affect the general population should also be ruled out for your child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Sleep apnea is a disorder that can affect anyone at any age. It is a disorder in which a person experiences pauses in breathing when the airway becomes obstructed during sleep. The most common cause for blockage is enlarged tonsils or adenoids. Upper respiratory illnesses and/or allergies can also contribute to the development of sleep apnea. Beside pauses in breathing, symptoms of sleep apnea in children include: snoring, mouth breathing, restless sleep, sweating, night wakings, and/or frequent coughing or choking while asleep. Other sleep disorders to assess in a child, if appropriate, include sleep terrors and confusional arousals. These both are frequently referred to as parasomnias. Parasomnias are disorders of “partial arousal” that lead to unusual behaviors during sleep. Children with sensory processing difficulties have more problems falling asleep and night waking. An assessment and consultation with an occupational therapist trained in sensory integration may be important to assess relaxation and arousal difficulties, and to help design strategies that address these issues.

After possible medical problems have been addressed, other factors contributing to sleep problems should be considered and strategies for addressing these implemented. Other issues to consider are: environmental variables, bedtime routines and the use of a sleep training method. Each of these three topics is discussed in further detail below.

Environmental Variables

After examining your child’s sleep environment more closely, there may be some adaptations and modifications needed to assist your child’s ability to relax at bedtime.

Consider whether your child is too hot or too cold. Assess the temperature of the room, bedding and sleep clothes to decide what combination is best for your child. Remember that your child’s sense of temperature may be different then your own. Recall what temperature your child seems to prefer and/or seek during the day, and consider when making decisions.

Consider tactile sensitivities that may be affecting your child’s ability to sleep. Certain textures can relax or arouse your child. Look at bedding and pajama textures. Your child may prefer his/her feet covered or uncovered with footed pajamas, socks and or even the covers themselves. How tight or loose the clothing fits, and whether or not there is elastic or seams can be an issue for some children. Also bedding should provide the optimum level of pressure, as this too can affect individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Consider noises and how they affect your child. At night, when trying to relax and fall asleep, the noises your child hears may be over powering and impossible for the child to filter out. These noises, such as water running or an animal scratching may not affect you or other household members but can be disrupting for a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Can certain household noises be monitored for the effect on your child? Sometimes a fan, air filter, TV or soft music in the child’s room can help mask other noises and provide a consistent sound that is comforting and/or soothing for the child.

Also consider visual stimuli that may be causing problems for your child at bedtime. Is your child afraid of the dark? Some children with Autism Spectrum Disorders may seem to prefer dark places during the day but that is different then being expected to sleep in a big room in a bed at night in the dark. Streetlights, the moon, or car lights shining in the room at intermittent intervals may be affecting your child’s sleep. Providing a room that is consistently light or dark may be very important, depending on your child’s needs.

Bedtime Routines & Autism Spectrum Disorders

Bedtime routines and rituals are very important for most children in establishing positive sleep patterns, but are extremely critical for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Your child will benefit from a set bedtime. Pick a time for bed that is reasonable for your child and which you can consistently provide.

Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder need to know what is going to happen next. Establish a bedtime routine that can provide predictability and a comforting, familiar pattern. For further understanding and structure, a visual bedtime schedule can help. The visual schedule can provide reminders and consistency for the whole family.

A good bedtime routine will help teach a child to calm down, relax and get ready to sleep. For example, if bathing is stimulating or frightening for your child, even though you may want him/her to bathe before bed, it may be best to bathe at a completely different time of the day. Likewise, there may be sensory integration activities that have proven to be relaxing to your child during the day that you can also use as part of the bedtime routine.

A bedtime routine should be the same everyday and should include activities that are pleasant and relaxing as well as special and individualized to fit your child’s needs and interests. A bedtime routine should realistically consist of 4 to 6 steps that do not take more time then is reasonable on a nightly basis.

Some activities to consider as part of a bedtime routine or ritual include looking at the same book or story each night, saying good night to favorite objects, toileting, bathing, getting pajamas on, brushing teeth, having a glass of water, singing a favorite song or prayer, listening to calming music that the child enjoys, hugging and kissing family members and/or engaging in a calming sensory integration activity.

On days when you are away from home and/or get home late, it is still important to follow bedtime routines and rituals. You can shorten each step significantly and potentially eliminate nightlong frustrations due to the change. If your child is away from home for a night or two you may see old sleeping patterns emerge. Even in a temporary new environment, routines may help. Upon returning home the bedtime routine will continue to be effective, though the excitement from the change may take a night or more to fade depending on your child and how long you have been away.

Sleep Training & autism

After addressing medical issues, environmental variables and bedtime routines it is time to tackle the hardest piece in establishing positive sleep patterns: teaching your child to sleep through the night. There are various versions of sleep training methods you may have read or heard about. Basically after the bedtime routine is done and your child is in his bed or crib, leave the room without long drawn out words or further attempts at touching the child in any way.

If the child is upset and obviously not sleeping, wait a few minutes and then go back into the child’s room to check on him/her. Checks involve going back into the child’s room and briefly (not more than a minute, preferably less) touching, rubbing or maybe giving a “high five”, “thumbs up” or hug for an older child who better responds to these gestures. Gently but firmly say, “it’s okay, it’s bedtime, you are okay” or a similar phrase and then leave the room until it is time for the next check or until the child falls asleep.

Using this technique consistently is generally harder on the parent then it is on the child. It could take a couple of hours the first few nights. It is important to know that it is very likely the child’s behavior will get worse for a few days or more before it improves. This is the child testing the change and trying to bring the old routine back. For some children who are older and not genuinely tired at a reasonable bedtime, a routine of staying in the bed or in the room quietly may be appropriate for these children. Sleep training methods can still be applied in these situations. Also a gate or other barrier may be needed at the bedroom door to remind the child it’s bedtime and the expectation is to stay in your room.

If your child is older and never consistently slept through the night, you may be totally sleep deprived yourself. Ask for help from your doctor, a psychologist, social worker or from a case manager if you have applied for Medicaid Waivers. It may not be easy to find a knowledgeable professional but you might start by asking other parents who might know a professional that has helped them in the past. Also if your child seems to regress in their sleeping habits, you may need to consult with knowledgeable professionals. Again, it is best to start with a medical assessment and proceed from there. Sometimes if other medical problems are ruled out, a temporary trial of medication taken under a doctor’s care can assist in turning around poor sleep patterns, while working to establish bedtime routines and rituals that work for your child.

melotonin , sleep & Autism Spectrum Disorders

Several doctors in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorders have done preliminary research on the short-term use of the over the counter supplement melatonin. Melatonin can help stabilize and promote normal sleep for some children by helping them fall asleep more quickly. The few studies currently available do caution, however, that melatonin sometimes stops working and does not usually help those who frequently wake up during the night. In addition, the long-term effect of taking melatonin has not been established. Some parents have found vitamin supplementation helpful for helping a child get to sleep.

It is extremely common for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to have difficulty getting to sleep, sleeping for a few hours at a time, and/or staying asleep without frequently waking throughout the night. These poor sleep habits are easily created and can be extremely difficult to change. One issue not yet addressed in this article is the habit of sleeping with the child. This habit may understandably gets started when poor sleeping patterns affect not only the child but the parents and the rest of the family as well.

If the child is in the habit of sleeping with a parent and/or in the parent’s bed, the same steps described above should be considered with additional support needed during the examination of the environment and bedtime ritual/routine. For example, a pillow or other item(s) from the parent(s) may help make the environment more comforting to the child as the parent(s) transitions from sleeping with the child. Desensitization to a new bed or room can be added as part of the bedtime routine. Desensitization to a new room or bed can be added as part of a routine done daily for a few days or weeks before also being done as part of the bedtime routine.

It can’t be stressed enough, the best advice is to avoid creating sleep routines and habits that will have to be broken later, if at all possible.

Checking for medical issues and environmental variables and then planning and consistently as possible following a bedtime routine and a sleep training method can improve the quality of life for the whole family. It can take time to establish positive sleeping patterns particularly if trying to change a long-standing problem. Families frequently have to make sleeping issues a priority until positive sleeping patterns are established. It is a priority that is worth the effort.

References

Dodge, N.N. & Wilson, G.A. (2001). Melatonin Reduces Sleep latency in children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Child Neurology, 16, 581-584.

Durand, V.M. (1998). Sleep better! A guide to improving sleep for children with special needs. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing.

Hayashi, E. (2000). Effect of melatonin on sleep-wake rhythm: The sleep diary of an autistic male. Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 54 (3), 383-4.

Mindell, J.A. (1997). Sleeping through the night: How infants, toddlers, and their parents can get a good night’s sleep. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

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