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🧠 In Support Of Mental Health Awareness Weeks - 20% Off All Sleep Packages - Quote Code MHA20 - Ends 18th May 2025 🌙

February 14, 2024

Unveiling the Relationship Between Neurodiversity and Children’s Sleep

 

SEND and sleep

 

Having a child with sleep difficulties is exhausting, but as a parent of a child with neurodiversities your child is more likely to be struggling with their sleep! Research shows about 80% of children with autism have problems sleeping.

Why your child may be struggling with their sleep

  • Children with autism often have difficulties winding down and going to sleep. They may repeatedly get out of bed and refuse to go to sleep unless you are close by.
  • They may also have problems staying asleep and be awake for many hours during the night, perhaps coming into your room or going to other parts of your home.
  • They often find it hard to relax and can have high levels of anxiety, meaning emotional upsets at bedtime and taking a long time to go to sleep.
  • Social cueing difficulties can mean your child finds it hard to make connections in terms of pre bedtime activities and understanding that it’s bedtime. They may have developed a series of nightly rituals and routines that potentially delay bedtime.
  • They can have a poor concept of time and not realise it’s bedtime or recognise tired signs.
  • Research shows many children with autism have irregular secretion of the sleep hormone melatonin, impacting their ability to go to sleep.
  • Your child may have sensory difficulties such as sensitivities to smells, sounds, touch and light that could prevent them both falling asleep and staying asleep.
  • They may also have medical conditions affecting their sleep such as sleep apnoea, epilepsy, restless leg syndrome, allergies and gastrointestinal problems such as reflux.

 

What can you do to help your child sleep?

  • As most child sleep problems are multifaceted it will help you get a good understanding of your child’s sleeping pattern by filling in a sleep diary for a week or two. This information could also be invaluable when discussing your child’s sleep with health professionals.
  • A visit to your GP may be needed to explore underlying medical concerns, as well as a possible referral to a dietician.
  • Review your child’s sugar and food to ensure they are having sleep inducing foods rather than high sugar snacks in the evening.
  • To help your child understand sleep and the steps of their bedtime routine, visual aids showing their bedtime routine in picture form can really help. You may like to make a booklet or laminate cards and create a Velcro wall chart that you go through with them on the lead up to bedtime each evening.
  • You may also wish to create a social story for your child that you read to them each evening that describes their bedtime routine and makes them the centre of the story. Social stories were created by Carol Gray in 1991 and are meaningful short descriptions of activities and specific actions to help children understand and know what to expect.

 

Children love routine

  • Time your child’s bedtime routine so you have a consistent start time each evening and even more importantly, a consistent wake time in the morning.
  • Aim to avoid all screens an hour before bed- just 4 minutes of light at the wrong time of the evening can suppress the sleep hormone melatonin.
  • Start their bedtime routine with about 10 to 15 minutes of quiet fine motor such as colouring-in, fuzzy felts, sticking or puzzles. Or your child may prefer a relaxing story at this time.
  • To help your child unwind, from this point on it’s best not to chat too much. Instead use simple sentences or their visual aid booklet to guide and instruct them.
  • Then go for a short relaxing bath in warm water.
  • Go straight into the room they sleep in to get dressed for bed.
  • To stop your child becoming distracted or loosing focus with the routine it’s best to keep everything around the bedroom and bathroom area.
  • Once they are tucked up in bed, read then a bedtime story, at this time of night its best to be to too lively or stimulating.
  • Some children find a massage and or soothing music will help them to go sleep. Do whatever you feel is right for your child’s sensory needs.

Check their bedroom environment

  • Your child may have their own specific sensory differences that you need to consider.
  • Is their bedroom dark, cool and quiet?
  • Do they find it more relaxing to have gentle sleep sounds playing and a small amber night light?
  • Are there smells that they find upsetting, can you minimise smells from the kitchen and would scented oils help them relax?

 

If you would like help with your child’s sleep please don’t hesitate to call us to discuss how we can help you and your child.

 

 

Filed Under: Anxiety Sleep Problems In Children: Causes, Autism and sleep, SEND and sleep, Uncategorized Tagged With: ADHD, anxiety in children, ASD, autism and sleep, bedtime routine, bedtime routines, hELP CHILDREN SLEEP, melatonin, my child wakes frequently through the night, neurodiversity, SEND, sleep advice, sleep through the night

January 15, 2024

How anxiety disrupts children’s sleep

First Published: 15 Jan 2024. Last Updated: 24 Feb 2025

Helping Your Child Feel Calm and Sleep Better

Does your child struggle to fall asleep because of anxiety?

Do bedtime worries keep them tossing and turning long into the night? If so, you’re not alone. Many children experience bedtime anxiety, which can make settling to sleep a real challenge—for them and you. The good news is that there are ways to help.

In this blog, we’ll explore how anxiety can affect children’s sleep, why it happens, and most importantly, practical steps you can take to help your child feel calmer and more secure at bedtime. With the right approach, you can support your child in developing healthy sleep habits, giving them (and yourself) more restful nights.

Anxiety/Worries and Sleep

Anxiety can disrupt children’s sleep for various reasons, creating a challenging cycle that affects both their physical and emotional well-being.

Firstly, anxiety triggers the body’s stress response, leading to heightened arousal and difficulty winding down for sleep. This can result in racing thoughts, increased heart rate, and muscle tension, making it hard for children to relax and fall asleep. Additionally, anxious thoughts and worries may intensify at night when the distractions of the day fade away, leaving children feeling more vulnerable and unsettled. Moreover, anxiety can manifest in physical symptoms such as stomach aches or headaches, further disrupting sleep.

The fear of the dark, separation anxiety, or worries about school or social situations can all contribute to bedtime anxiety, making it a multifaceted challenge to address. Understanding the underlying causes of anxiety and implementing strategies to promote relaxation and security are essential steps in helping children overcome sleep disturbances caused by anxiety.

Often these fears only surface at bedtime, when the day is over and there are no distractions to divert their thoughts.

So how can you help your young person manage their sleep at this time…..well the good news is there are things you can do to help.

how to help my anxious child sleep

What causes worries or anxiety at bedtime?

There are numerous causes of anxiety in children that can impact negatively on their sleep. These include long-term unresolved sleep issues, overthinking or over-worrying, experiencing vivid and scary nightmares, fear of the dark and monsters, starting nursery or school, family breakdowns and bereavement.

Older school-aged children who struggle to sleep are often perfectionists and academic high achievers. They find themselves in a vicious cycle where they worry about how lack of sleep will affect their work, which stops them from falling asleep and in turn leads to negative thoughts or even fears about sleep itself.

Children with autism and ADHD may have more bedtime anxieties than their peers. Bedtime can be particularly challenging for children with ADHD who have difficulties quietening their racing minds from the stresses or worries about their day.

A typical bedtime

Children with anxiety at bedtime often struggle to fall asleep and can lie awake for hours.  They can reappear numerous times in the evening with excuses such as being hungry, thirsty, too hot, too cold or needling the toilet.  You take them back to bed, but in no time at all, they are back with more excuses.  This process happens night after night leading to cross and stressed parents and an even more anxious child; you all dread bedtime!

You eventually find yourself getting into your child’s bed just to get them to sleep and then in the night they wake and seek you out again to help them get back to sleep.  The perfect recipe for a tired and stressed family!

Have a stress-free bedtime that helps your child sleep well

Starting your child’s bedtime routine

  • About an hour before your child goes to sleep have quiet time. Tidy away the toys and turn off all screens. Research has shown that not only does light from computers, iPads etc. can interfere with sleep, but the content can have an alerting effect, delaying bedtime even further.

“Talking time”

  • This is the time to set aside 10 to 15 minutes of one-on-one calming and quiet time with your child.
  • Ensure you put your phone away and make sure you have nothing else you need to do at this point so you can give your child your undivided attention.
  • At Millpond we often call this “Talking Time”.
  • This will give your child the space to discuss any worries or fears they may have and just as importantly means they are less likely to need to bring them up just before you say goodnight.
  • If your child doesn’t have anything specific they wish to discuss, as an alternative you could help set a positive tone by discussing 3 positive things about that day. If possible try and find new things each evening.
  • Your child may like to write them in a notepad that you keep just for bedtime.

Get your routine right so your child settles to sleep calmly and happily.

  • Initially focus the bedtime routine around the time your child naturally falls asleep; even if this seems late.
  • For example, if your child usually falls asleep at 10.00 pm start your routine at 9.15 pm. This way you are allowing 30 minutes for the routine and 15 minutes for them to fall asleep.
  • Carry out the same series of steps every night – make this routine your bedtime routine ritual. Having a routine means your child’s body will start to prepare for sleep as soon as you start this process.
  • If your child is falling asleep well in 15 minutes, after a few nights, start your bedtime routine 15 minutes earlier. Repeat this pattern, slowly advancing the start time of your routine until you reach the time that works best for your child.

Have a warm relaxing bath.

  • Have a warm, relaxing bath lasting no longer than 10 minutes. Keeping the bath to a maximum of 10 minutes means bath time doesn’t become a stimulating playtime. The added bonus is coming out of the warm water allows the body to cool quickly triggering the sleep hormone melatonin.
  • Then go straight into your child’s bedroom; going back into the living area at this time will lose the focus and magic of the routine.

Dim the lights.

  • Pre-dim the lights in their bedroom, as this will also help with melatonin production. If your child is scared of the dark and requests you leave a light on it’s best to have one that emits a warm amber or orange glow. Turn it on at bedtime and leave it on all night. The warm low-level light will not interfere with their sleep and will offer them the reassurance they need.

Dress for bed.

  • Have their night clothes ready for their return from the bathroom so they can quickly get dressed and climb into bed.

It’s time for a story.

  • Even if your child can read to themselves, read a quiet calming story and have a cuddle and kiss goodnight then tuck them in with their favourite soft toy so they are warm and cosy.
  • Now that they’re drowsy, leave the bedroom so that they learn to fall asleep independently.

I want you to stay.

  • Your child may only be able to fall asleep happily if you stay with them. If this is the case you can help build your child’s confidence in falling asleep independently by implementing a slow gradual retreat programme at bedtime.
  • If you are sitting by the side of your child’s bed as they sleep, start by sitting just a little further away. Reassure them you will wait for them to be fully asleep before you leave their bedroom. After 3 to 4 nights, move just a little further away from their bedside; you may only move a foot at a time. Keep repeating this process very slowly moving in small incremental steps until you are out of their room and then along the landing as they go to sleep. This process should take about two weeks to achieve. 

Written by Mandy Gurney the founder of Millpond Children’s Sleep Clinic

Mandy has been advising on baby, toddler and school-aged child sleep issues for nearly 30 years. She is a qualified nurse, midwife and health visitor.

Blog updated Feb 2025

Filed Under: All, Anxiety Sleep Problems In Children: Causes, Autism and sleep, Fear of the dark, Teens sleep Tagged With: ADHD, anxiety about sleep, anxiety and sleep, anxiety in children, anxiety triggers, ASD, autism and sleep, bedtime routine, can't fall asleep, Common Causes of Bedtime Anxiety, corona virus and childrens sleep, covid 19, Creating a Calming Bedtime Routine, fear of the dark, fight or flight, frightened by monsters, how to manage anxiety related sleep issues, Recognizing Signs of Sleep Anxiety in Children, scared of monsters, scared of the dark, sleep, stressful bedtime, tips for fear of the dark, Understanding Sleep and Anxiety, what cause anxiety at bedtime?, worried at bedtime

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