Sleep resources for Autistic children - Podcast - Amaze
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Sleep resources for Autistic children – Podcast

With the support of Aspen Australia, AMAZE has developed a range of resources which aim to build a greater understanding of the relationship between autism and sleep. Hosted by Amaze, the following podcast resource explores the relationship between autism and sleep, discussing key signs and strategies to help improve a child’s sleep. 

Guests

A woman smiling in a blue shirt with a stethoscope around her neck Dr Lexi Frydenberg 

Dr Lexi Frydenberg is a General Paediatrician and Educator, who is passionate about children’s and adolescent’s health, development, and wellbeing. She has been working in paediatrics for 20 + years and works clinically between a large public children’s hospital and Victorian Children’s Clinic – a multidisciplinary paediatric practice she co-founded in 2013.

A mother of three children, Lexi is passionate about child and family centred care and is the Child Health Advisor to VicHealth. In addition to this, Lexi is the co-producer and cohost of the Kids Health Information Podcast for the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne and regularly writes articles and blog posts on parenting websites.

 

A woman smilingEmily Williamson

Emily is a medical admin worker from regional Victoria and is mother to a ‘nearly’ 10-year-old girl who is Autistic. From a newborn, Emily’s daughter struggled to sleep. From age 5, Emily suspected her daughter was Autistic before a formal diagnosis at age 6.

Aspen - Autism & Sleep Podcast

Show notes

Teaching your child to fall asleep on their own and in their own bed is the ultimate goal for many parents.

In the podcast, Lexi references several techniques to help achieve this goal. Below you can see the expanded descriptions:

The Camping Out method

Before you put your child into bed, make sure that they’re fed, well and comfortable. Then put your child into bed and follow these steps to help them settle using camping out:

  1. Place a bed, mattress or chair next to where your child sleeps.
  2. Lie or sit next to your child, and pat or stroke them off to sleep.
  3. When your child is asleep, you can leave the room.
  4. When your child is used to falling asleep like this (usually 3 nights), start reducing how much you pat or touch your child until they can fall asleep without patting or touching.
  5. When your child is used to falling asleep without patting (usually another 3 nights), move your bed, mattress or chair a short distance away from where your child sleeps (30-40 cm). Stay in the bed, mattress or chair until your child falls asleep.
  6. Move your bed, mattress or chair gradually towards the doorway and out of your child’s room. This could take 1-3 weeks.
  7. If your child wakes overnight, return to the bed, mattress or chair, at the step you’re up to. Stay there until your child goes back to sleep.

The Checking Method

The checking method involves going in to your child at regular time intervals to check on them. The purpose of returning to their room is to reassure your child that you are still there and to reassure yourself that your child is ok.

  • After your child has got into bed, say “good night” and leave, but promise to come back and check on them
  • for some children, frequent checking is good – say every 2 minutes
  • for others, less checking works best – say every 5 or 10 or 15 minutes
  • continue to check on your child if they are upset, gradually stretching the interval times
  • the checks should be brief (1 minute) and boring. Calmly tell your child it’s time to go to sleep but don’t play any games!

Additional resources

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