Re: [i]Note: SFTAH transferred this from old data base when site was updated, thus d

[Anonymous]

#5186

Note: SFTAH transferred this from old data base when site was updated, thus date and name lost, all dates 2006 & 2007 changed during changeover to odd dates.Children who insist on parents' presenceGraded withdrawal:1. Lie next to child on bed for three nights2. Lie on mattress next to bed for three nights3. Move mattress closer to door every three nights4. Sit on chair in bedroom at door with door open for three nights5. Sit outside door whilst still visible to child for three nights6. Sit outside door not visible to child for three nights7. Sit outside room with door closed for three nights.Social stories could also be used to reassure your child that they are safe when sleeping or in bed alone. Please see the 'Useful fact sheets' section for further details. For night wakingScheduled awakening: 1. From sleep diary, see when child wakes up during the night2. Set alarm clock for 30 minutes before this3. Wake child and allow to fall back to sleep4. If child doesn't fall back to sleep try waking 45 minutes before on the next night and experiment until you find the best time.To ensure your child is sleepy at bed timeRestricting sleep: 1. From sleep diary, see average hours of sleep per night2. Calculate 90% of this and make this the new sleeping time (delay bedtime and/or waking time); never restrict below five hours3. If lying awake, occupy in another room until sleepy4. Avoid naps in day/oversleeping at weekend5. After a week, move settling/waking time by 15 minutes - continue until desired pattern of sleep occurs.SummaryNone of these suggestions can be guaranteed to work in themselves. You may find that a combination of them proves most effective. Close examination of your child's sleep diaries is likely to give you the greatest insight into what is causing your child's problems and which solution is most likely to work. When implementing these strategies it may be that the problem gets worse before it gets better. However, it is important to remain consistent in your approach. Rewarding and praise following a better night's sleep will help to positively reinforce it.Getting some sleep yourselfIt is not unusual for professionals to suggest that you sleep when your child sleeps. Anyone who has actually been in the position of caring for a child with a sleep disorder knows how difficult this is. We cannot just switch our bodies on and off like a light bulb. By the time you have eventually calmed your child down enough for them to sleep you may be far too wound up to sleep yourself. Your child may not choose to sleep at times which are convenient to you and if there are other children in the family they may need your attention when your child with autism is asleep. It is important to be assertive about your need to sleep. Sleep deprivation can be extremely dangerous (for example, falling asleep at the wheel causes 20% of all fatal road traffic accidents) and can have a very negative impact on your overall health and mental well-being. So getting a proper night's sleep is hugely important, but this may be easier said than done.Safety-proofingMaking your child's room safe can be one of the easiest ways to improve your own sleep. If you can fall asleep knowing that even if your child wakes up they cannot do any harm, you are already improving your chances of not being disturbed. shell