Sleep challenges are typically frequent in relation to youngsters with autism spectrum dysfunction. Whereas there’s a variety of sleep points that current themselves, some of the frequent includes the kid with autism sleeping on the ground.
These sleep challenges can current issues for each the youngsters and their mother and father. However there are methods to assist help your youngster as they endure these points.
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Autism and sleep points
Research present as a lot as 80 p.c of autistic youngsters will expertise some kind of sleep problem.
These points can vary from insomnia to incapacity to remain asleep or uncommon sleep patterns. The explanations for these issues can fluctuate, from sensory sensitivities to the kid’s personal preferences.
From private expertise, my youngest son has skilled many of those points, together with a stretch the place he refused to go to sleep in his personal mattress. Whereas he by no means slept on the ground, he would go to sleep on a sofa or chair after which allow us to transfer him to his mattress.
However, very similar to a toddler sleeping on the ground, it raised some questions on why he selected to go to sleep this manner.
Why is a toddler with autism sleeping on the ground?
It is a query each mother or father will ask if their youngster chooses to sleep on the ground. However what are some potential causes for this choice?
1. Sensory processing dysfunction
Many youngsters will expertise elevated sensitivities to sensory stimuli. The mattress might set off sensory points for these youngsters, making it tougher for them to remain asleep. The kid might sleep on the ground to keep away from these sensory triggers.
2. Mattress temperature
Have you ever ever gotten too heat whereas making an attempt to sleep? Temperature regulation could be difficult for autistic youngsters. A lot of them might expertise a mattress that’s too scorching and sleep on the ground to really feel cooler.
3. Private choice
Some youngsters could merely want sleeping on the ground. Possibly they’ve a really tender mattress, and the arduous ground feels extra comfy for them.
Typically, a toddler might select to sleep on the ground as a result of it offers a way of safety that will increase the probabilities of an excellent evening’s sleep.
Dangers and considerations with sleeping on the ground
Whereas an autistic youngster might want to sleep on the ground, it may nonetheless result in different points that will disturb a toddler’s sleep. A few of these disturbances embody:
- lack of high quality sleep,
- discomfort,
- publicity to allergens.
Lack of high quality sleep
Research have discovered the ground can result in much less restful sleep for some autistic youngsters. This could result in different points together with elevated scuffling with emotional regulation or social abilities. The decrease high quality of sleep may also assist contribute to anxiousness points.
Discomfort
Whereas youngsters, even these with autism spectrum dysfunction, might be able to bounce again from sleeping in uncommon methods, sleeping on the ground can nonetheless result in bodily ache or discomfort.
A few of these youngsters might not have the ability to talk they’re in ache and may have hassle associating that ache with sleeping on the ground.
Publicity to allergens
Some youngsters could also be allergic to mould or mud. Sleeping on the ground might put the kid nearer to mould or mud, growing their publicity to these allergens.
Find out how to handle sleeping on the ground
A toddler with autism sleeping on the ground can result in points with security, consolation, and hygiene. However there are some instruments you need to use to encourage your youngster to go to sleep someplace aside from the ground.
1. Weighted blankets
Some youngsters may have strain utilized to remain of their beds. A tender, weighted blanket might assist relieve anxiousness for youths at bedtime and supply a way of safety which may be lacking after they usually lay in mattress.
2. Sensory sheets
If weighted blankets will not be the reply, some youngsters with autism sleep higher with sensory sheets. These sheets may help the kid sleep with out tossing and turning an excessive amount of. Additionally they have a tendency to regulate to the kid’s consolation degree.
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3. Sleepytime pillow
Sure pillows are stuffed with fragrances related to sleep to assist encourage youngsters with autism to make use of them in mattress. These fragrances can typically result in extra restful sleep and decreased anxiousness.
4. Beds and mattresses
There are additionally specialised beds and mattresses created to assist an autistic youngster go to sleep and keep in mattress. My son has a Noah’s mattress, or tent mattress, that helps hold him secure.
It grew to become a necessity as he would typically rise up in the course of the evening, resulting in sleep deprivation for my spouse and me. This sort of mattress will also be used to assist make certain the kid doesn’t climb off the bed and sleep on the ground.
Endurance and understanding for an excellent evening’s sleep
It’s essential to recollect there’s nothing inherently flawed together with your youngster desirous to sleep on the ground. Many instances, they’re simply uncomfortable and are on the lookout for a option to really feel safer and higher whereas sleeping.
Nonetheless, sleeping on the ground might not at all times be the best choice. It’s going to take endurance and understanding to assist your autistic youngsters acknowledge a mattress is a greater choice.
Serving to them perceive might take time, and like anything associated to autism, might even see some setbacks. These are regular. So long as mother and father persist in serving to their youngsters really feel secure, we are able to go a great distance in serving to youngsters with autism discover consolation in their very own beds.
FAQs
Q: Do autistic individuals sleep otherwise?
A: Individuals with autism typically battle with sleep disturbances. These can embody insomnia, waking up in the course of the evening, or sleeping in a spot aside from a mattress.
Q: Do autistic individuals dream much less?
A: Whereas it’s not totally clear if individuals with autism dream lower than neurotypical individuals, analysis has discovered individuals with autism are much less prone to bear in mind their goals.
Q: When do sleep issues begin in autism?
A: There’s no set age when sleep points formally start for youngsters on the autism spectrum. Nonetheless, many youngsters start displaying the primary indicators of sleep issues across the age of two.
Q: How a lot sleep does an autistic youngster want?
A: Whereas the common youngster between the ages of two and a half years to 5 years previous wants 11 hours of sleep, analysis has discovered many youngsters with autism want much less sleep to perform. Nonetheless, the precise quantity isn’t identified.
References:
Chen, H., Yang, T., Chen, J. et al. Sleep issues in youngsters with autism spectrum dysfunction: a multicenter survey. BMC Psychiatry 21, 406 (2021).
Navjot Sidhu, Zoe Wong, Amanda E. Bennett, Margaret C. Souders, Sleep Issues in Autism Spectrum Dysfunction, Pediatric Clinics of North America, Quantity 71, Situation 2, 2024, Pages 253-268, ISSN 0031-3955, ISBN 9780443184093, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2024.01.006.
Sleep Disturbances in Kids Affected by Autism Spectrum Dysfunction https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.736696/full
