This is a subject that I have all too much experience in. My little guy is close to 4 years old and has had trouble with falling asleep and staying asleep since he was itty bitty. Of course when baby doesnt sleep, neither does mommy and daddy.
I have learned over the last few years that this is a common issue that similar families deal with. So,what did I do? I researched the heck out of it to see what has worked for others, Some suggested letting him cry it out. Some suggested sitting in his room all night. Some said a full belly helps while others said not to feed him too close to bedtime. Others suggested things like a noise machine, twinkle lights, blackout curtains, etc. Those weren’t winners for us. The more I researched, the more I learned that there is no perfect answer.
The neurologist explained that asd kids often have trouble producing melatonin, which is the case with my son. Supplementing with a very low dose of melatonin at the same time every evening will not only add to the all important routine and help him fall asleep at a reasonable hour but might also jump start the natural production of melatonin. That plus minimizing blue light, like from an iPad or television was our saving grace. Even with the melatonin, our routine was ever revolving. Some nights went smoother than others, At first we had to drive him to sleep. Then we realized a walk around the neighborhood in the stroller worked too. In either case the transition from car or stroller to his bed was like disarming a bomb. One false move and you’re done. Although this worked, it wasn’t persistent or practical. So, through trial and error and vigilant routine we were able to get him to fall asleep snuggled up against me or my husband on the couch. Some nights went smoother than others. Its not perfect but its a huge leap in the right direction from pacing the floors at 4:00 a.m, begging him to go to sleep while he screams and bucks in my arms. The exact process is far too long to describe in detail but I’ll be sure to dedicate an entire post to it soon.
Once he has fallen asleep, getting him to stay asleep or go back to sleep after waking up in the middle of the night is its own challenge altogether. I’ll write more on this in another dedicated post on this issue but basically my husband and I alternate shifts, keeping him company until he either falls back asleep or until morning.
Sleep is one of the more challenging aspects of our son’s spot on the spectrum but like with everything so far, we tackle it as a family and make it work.
As with any supplement, medication, therapy, etc. check with a medical professional before experimenting on your own. I am not an expert.