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Helping Your Child With Autism Get to Sleep

Many children on the autism spectrum experience sleep problems. These tips will help you and your child get to sleep and rest well. 

The following statements are the views and opinions of Jenny Wise of SpecialHomeEducator.com.  

Many children on the autism spectrum experience sleep problems. Most often, this manifests in difficulty falling asleep and frequent waking up throughout the night. These sleep disruptions not only affect nighttime rest, they also impact behavior throughout the day.

Scientific American explains that poor-quality sleep can “exacerbate many of the challenging behaviors associated with autism.” This includes hyperactivity, compulsions and rituals, inattention, and physical aggressiveness.

 

 

In turn, sleep problems add to the challenges faced by parents of children with autism. Not only is their child more prone to acting out, but because their own sleep has been disrupted, it’s harder for parents to meet their child’s needs.

When you’re in this cycle, the challenges can feel insurmountable. With your own energy sapped, creating routines to improve your child’s sleep sounds like an impossible feat. Despite the difficulties, establishing healthy sleep routines is one of the most important things you can do for your child and your family.

 

 

Start by assessing your child’s sleep-wake cycle. In children with autism, the body’s natural circadian rhythms may be off. This affects a child’s sense of sleepiness and ability to stay asleep at night. Parents can compensate by maintaining consistent sleep and wake times and establishing nighttime routines that signal to the child that it’s time to prepare for sleep. These routines should revolve around calming activities like changing clothes, brushing teeth, and reading stories. Avoid electronics, as the blue light emitted from screens is known to disrupt circadian rhythms.

Many parents of children on the autism spectrum lay with their child until he or she falls asleep. While co-sleeping can help in the short-term, it’s not a long-term solution for sleep problems. It’s better to change the behavior while your child is young than try to break an entrenched habit years later. If your child is afraid of sleeping alone, make sure your child has comfort items available and gradually separate yourself from your child’s bedtime. If your child tends to sleep in your bed, try ASD specialists strategy for getting your child to sleep in his or her own bed. The goal is to get your child accustomed to falling asleep without your presence. In addition, if your child wakes in the night, don’t cater to them by turning on the TV or fixing a snack. The goal is to teach your child that it’s still nighttime, and the day isn’t going to start because they woke up.

 

 

Create a sleep environment that is soothing to your child. Don’t underestimate the power of a comfortable mattress. While investing in an entirely new mattress can be a little pricey, look into a mattress topper that can be placed on top of your child’s current mattress for extra comfort and support. A topper can be helpful if your child has sensory issues, as it can make the bed firmer or softer depending on their preference. Speaking of sensory issues, this is an area in which you should be sensitive. If your child is focused on itchy pajamas or outside noises, falling asleep will be difficult. Likewise, if your child is a “hot sleeper,” it’s important to have adequate airflow in the room and a mattress that has breathability as well as heat conductivity and retention. Some children on the autism spectrum also find weighted blankets comforting.

Changing up daytime routines can improve your child’s sleep as well. By increasing your child’s activity levels and exposure to daylight, you can increase feelings of tiredness as nighttime approaches. Keep stimulating activities in the earlier parts of the day, opting for relaxing activities as you approach bedtime.

 

 

When your child is experiencing sleep problems, the entire family can end up exhausted. Instead of throwing in the towel, start implementing these simple changes in your child’s life. While it may take time for your child to adapt to the new routines, it shouldn’t be long before you start noticing improvements in your child’s sleep quality and overall behavior.

 

Cathy Alvarez, MSN, CPNP-PC

Family Practice

Cathy Alvarez, MSN, CPNP-PC, is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with over two decades of experience dedicated to nurturing the health and well-being of children from birth through adolescence. Known for her warm, individualized approach to care, Cathy is passionate about building lasting relationships with her patients and their families—many of whom she’s supported through every milestone of childhood.

Cathy began her nursing career after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1999. She gained valuable experience working on the inpatient pediatric unit at Advocate Lutheran Children’s Hospital in Aurora. Driven to deepen her impact, she returned to UIC to complete the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program, earning her Master of Science in Nursing in 2005. She is certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) and has since devoted her career to providing expert care to diverse pediatric populations.

She is an active member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, always staying at the forefront of pediatric healthcare.
Fluent in English and Polish, with conversational Spanish skills, Cathy connects seamlessly with families from many cultural backgrounds.

Outside of work, you can find her cheering on her son at soccer games, exploring new destinations, and enjoying quality time with her family. Her caring spirit and clinical excellence make her a trusted partner in every child’s healthcare journey.” 

Marixa Alvarez, ARN, MSN, FNP-BC

Family Practice

Marixa Alvarez, ARN, MSN, FNP-BC, is a dedicated and compassionate Family Nurse Practitioner, board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Lewis University, where she cultivated her passion for holistic, patient-centered care.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Marixa connects deeply with diverse communities, ensuring every patient feels heard and supported. Outside of the clinic, you’ll likely find her in the kitchen—cooking, baking, and bringing people together over a homemade meal. A fun fact? Marixa has a knack for solving puzzles and putting things together—whether it’s a 1,000-piece jigsaw or helping patients piece together their path to better health.

Carlos Sian, PA

Physician Assistant

Carlos is a board-certified Physician Assistant who joined the IWS Family Health team in January 2024. He was born and raised in Antigua, Guatemala and is fluent in both English and Spanish.

His academic journey began at Saint Michael’s College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology alongside minors in Chemistry and Religious Studies. Driven by a commitment to service, he devoted a year to volunteering as a medical assistant at a health clinic in Albuquerque, NM, through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. This experience solidified his interest in medicine, inspiring him to delve deeper into healthcare and ultimately leading Carlos to pursue a Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences and Infectious Diseases from Boston University School of Public Health.

Following his MPH, Carlos dedicated several years to the public health sector, primarily serving as a linkage to care coordinator,  clinical research coordinator, and COVID-19 contact tracer. Moved by a need to help his community during the 2020 pandemic, he secured admission to and completed the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine PA program, earning his Master of Medical Science degree.

Carlos aims to integrate his public health training with his medical practice to bring culturally competent and inclusive medical services to all his patients, but specially the Hispanic/Latino and LGTBQ+ communities he serves. In his downtime, Carlos enjoys cooking, collecting plants, fostering dogs, playing video games, watching reality TV shows, and adding more stamps to his passport!

Dr. Tara Ioffe

Family Practice

Dr. Tara Ioffe is a dedicated and compassionate Board-Certified Family Medicine physician with a strong commitment to providing excellent care to her patients. She obtained her medical degree from Avalon University in Curacao and went on to complete her Family Medicine Residency at the University of Oklahoma. She has worked at the University of Chicago and most recently NorthShore University. She has since returned to Chicago and is thrilled to join the IWS Family Health team in 2023, where she will continue to provide excellent care to her patients.

Throughout her career, Dr. Ioffe has gained experience in diverse medical fields, such as immediate and urgent care medicine while working at NorthShore Immediate Care. She did clinical research at the University of Chicago. Dr. Ioffe strives to foster a secure and inclusive environment for all her patients. She believes in an integrated approach to medicine, dedicating her time to understand each patient’s unique needs.

During her leisure time, Dr. Ioffe indulges in reading a variety of books for pleasure, plays boardgames, and loves to explore Chicago with her spouse and young child.