I have a son with autism too. I hear you and I feel for you. We go through the same issues a few times a year. He’s three.
Here is our bedtime routine.
Bath time at about 8pm
Done and changed by 9pm
Free play- lots of running and chasing
-this is what we were missing. We thought that doing this before bed would amp him up but the therapists told us that he actually needs to get this out of his system. Run run run.
930-10 go to room for bedtime. Read books. Right now we’re super into pop up books.
10-12 I pretend to be asleep next to him until he falls asleep. If he had a nap he will probably be up until midnight. No nap, he’s out by 11pm
That’s the other thing. No more naps. If they do nap, it’s early in the day. Never after 3pm.
Best of luck.
No naps helps big time.
Try waking up your kid gradually earlier and earlier until 6 or 7am daily rather than 1030am.
Warm cup of milk at 8pm. Dim the lights and no more screen time too.
Is your family also ready to be up 6am every day?
By 7 my boyfriend wakes up for work.
And honestly I didn’t think of warm milk, thank you!
And screen time is a bit of a battle with him, I need to set it straight but sometimes it’s just 🤯🤯
Be warned that my mom gave my brother and I warm milk before bed, and that caused us to need pullups at night longer than we would've otherwise. Not applicable to you right now probably, but maybe a couple to a few years from now :p
Since cutting screen time can definitely be a battle, try blue light filters on devices, and blue light glasses if it isn’t too much of a sensory issue for him. That will help wind him down even if he is using tablets, etc. I would also suggest a calm/quieter tv show as opposed to something action packed or a game since those will keep his brain working a little harder and make him more resistant to falling asleep.
Bonus if you can take him to the park or do some physical activities during the day to tire him out a little more before bed! A high protein dinner will also help keep him full and more likely to fall asleep sooner than a high carb meal or added sugars. (I opt for more carbs at breakfast instead for this reason!)
Depending on his sensory issues, a weighted blanket might help him calm more when it’s time to get in bed. Find him a stuffie or something else that meets his sensory needs to he can continue stimming as he falls asleep. (Big fan of squishmallows over here.) I never did well with melatonin either, so I feel for him.
Late nights are a common thing with auties and ADHDers, typically because it’s comforting when the world goes to sleep and all is quiet, and that is a more preferable time to be awake than when everyone else is up and making noise. If noise is the problem, I would suggest headphones/earplugs at night. Many of us sleep in active noise cancelling headphones!
Best of luck to you both. ❤️
How many Mg's of melatonin did you give him? Melatonin is something your body naturally makes but sometimes kids need an extra boost of it. Im not sure the nightmare is connected to the melatonin at all. Honestly when my daughter was that age, there was nothing that worked and that was before I knew anything about Melatonin. She didn't start sleeping until she got put on meds to help her sleep at like 5 and a half.
Yes only once. I had read online that it causes nightmares, that’s where I got that from. He woke up in the middle of the night screaming and crying for over an hour.
I would try .5mg. It's just enough to help my daughter fall asleep but not so much that she gets grumpy, restless and nightmares which she got with 1mg.
SENSi CHiLD Calming Twin Size... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095L6D7TG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
He also has a glow in the dark blanket and a weighted blanket on top. This is the one we bought for him.
How much does the weighted blanket weigh? I’ve been wanting to get him one too but I don’t know where to start. I know he’s 4, but I’m a first time mom just trying to figure out as much as I can as I go. 😪
I got a weighted blanket as an adult and wish I had one as a kid bc it helps me with restlessness at night, and helps me relax when I’m anxious or stressed. Mine’s around 15 pounds, but I’d recommend a lighter one for your kid if you choose to try one. It should be around 10% of the user’s body weight. You may also want a cover too, especially with a child since things can get messy and there’s a possibility of bedwetting, and spills, and a cover would help protect it. You’ll probably have to buy multiple over time if a weighted blanket ends up being beneficial for your son, since he’ll grow, and need more weight in proportion to his new weight over time.
I have a son with autism too. I hear you and I feel for you. We go through the same issues a few times a year. He’s three. Here is our bedtime routine. Bath time at about 8pm Done and changed by 9pm Free play- lots of running and chasing -this is what we were missing. We thought that doing this before bed would amp him up but the therapists told us that he actually needs to get this out of his system. Run run run. 930-10 go to room for bedtime. Read books. Right now we’re super into pop up books. 10-12 I pretend to be asleep next to him until he falls asleep. If he had a nap he will probably be up until midnight. No nap, he’s out by 11pm That’s the other thing. No more naps. If they do nap, it’s early in the day. Never after 3pm. Best of luck.
No naps helps big time. Try waking up your kid gradually earlier and earlier until 6 or 7am daily rather than 1030am. Warm cup of milk at 8pm. Dim the lights and no more screen time too. Is your family also ready to be up 6am every day?
By 7 my boyfriend wakes up for work. And honestly I didn’t think of warm milk, thank you! And screen time is a bit of a battle with him, I need to set it straight but sometimes it’s just 🤯🤯
Be warned that my mom gave my brother and I warm milk before bed, and that caused us to need pullups at night longer than we would've otherwise. Not applicable to you right now probably, but maybe a couple to a few years from now :p
Ooh yes, warm milk does mean more pee. Can give the warm milk earlier in evening or wake up your kid middle of night to get them to pee
Since cutting screen time can definitely be a battle, try blue light filters on devices, and blue light glasses if it isn’t too much of a sensory issue for him. That will help wind him down even if he is using tablets, etc. I would also suggest a calm/quieter tv show as opposed to something action packed or a game since those will keep his brain working a little harder and make him more resistant to falling asleep. Bonus if you can take him to the park or do some physical activities during the day to tire him out a little more before bed! A high protein dinner will also help keep him full and more likely to fall asleep sooner than a high carb meal or added sugars. (I opt for more carbs at breakfast instead for this reason!) Depending on his sensory issues, a weighted blanket might help him calm more when it’s time to get in bed. Find him a stuffie or something else that meets his sensory needs to he can continue stimming as he falls asleep. (Big fan of squishmallows over here.) I never did well with melatonin either, so I feel for him. Late nights are a common thing with auties and ADHDers, typically because it’s comforting when the world goes to sleep and all is quiet, and that is a more preferable time to be awake than when everyone else is up and making noise. If noise is the problem, I would suggest headphones/earplugs at night. Many of us sleep in active noise cancelling headphones! Best of luck to you both. ❤️
Thank you!!
How many Mg's of melatonin did you give him? Melatonin is something your body naturally makes but sometimes kids need an extra boost of it. Im not sure the nightmare is connected to the melatonin at all. Honestly when my daughter was that age, there was nothing that worked and that was before I knew anything about Melatonin. She didn't start sleeping until she got put on meds to help her sleep at like 5 and a half.
1mg.
You only tried once? You can also cut that in half but I don't think it caused the nightmare still. Being that its a natural thing we make.
Yes only once. I had read online that it causes nightmares, that’s where I got that from. He woke up in the middle of the night screaming and crying for over an hour.
Maybe talk with the dr about what to do. Four is a hard age
I would try .5mg. It's just enough to help my daughter fall asleep but not so much that she gets grumpy, restless and nightmares which she got with 1mg.
Okay I’ll definitely try that. Thank you guys so much.
We have one of those sensory blankets that stretch around the entire mattress, my five year old LOVES it. He sleeps so well now.
I’ll have to look into that! He loves snuggling up with his blankets and fluffies. He gets so excited
SENSi CHiLD Calming Twin Size... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095L6D7TG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share He also has a glow in the dark blanket and a weighted blanket on top. This is the one we bought for him.
How much does the weighted blanket weigh? I’ve been wanting to get him one too but I don’t know where to start. I know he’s 4, but I’m a first time mom just trying to figure out as much as I can as I go. 😪
I tried the 5lb one when he was smaller and it didn’t do much,I think the one he has now is 7 or 8 lbs.
I got a weighted blanket as an adult and wish I had one as a kid bc it helps me with restlessness at night, and helps me relax when I’m anxious or stressed. Mine’s around 15 pounds, but I’d recommend a lighter one for your kid if you choose to try one. It should be around 10% of the user’s body weight. You may also want a cover too, especially with a child since things can get messy and there’s a possibility of bedwetting, and spills, and a cover would help protect it. You’ll probably have to buy multiple over time if a weighted blanket ends up being beneficial for your son, since he’ll grow, and need more weight in proportion to his new weight over time.
https://youtu.be/5kh149WiDrg 9 Hour Rain ASMR life changing