4 Things That Throw off Sleep During Summer
Sleep disturbances are very common in autistic children, and can significantly impact their overall well-being and daily functioning. This is especially true during the summer season. Summertime can disrupt sleep patterns, and exacerbate existing challenges. If your child has been struggling the last few weeks, there are 4 things that you want to be mindful […]
6 Tips for Using a Sleep Training Clock
The sleep training clock is a tool that my team uses often when sleep training kids with special needs. When used correctly, a sleep training clock can be a very effective way to combat early mornings, and teach your child when it’s okay to start the day. However, before you rush out and buy a […]
Your Holiday Handbook – Keeping Sleep on Track
So, we can tick Halloween and the time change off our checklist. Good work! And now, it’s time to add the craziness of the holidays: It’s exhausting just listing those things! Here are my top recommendations to THRIVE during the holidays and make sure that your family is still getting a good night’s rest: Write […]
5 Calming Bedtime Activities for Your Child with Special Needs
One of the most important steps to help your child with special needs sleep better is a consistent bedtime routine. This helps the brain and body wind down for sleep, and makes sleep predictable. For a child with special needs, having a consistent routine each nights helps them to calm down and relax after a […]
Foods to Avoid for Better Sleep
For many kids with special needs, a close look at the diet is important for a better nigh’s rest. The gut and brain are very closely connected. If something is in the digestive system that shouldn’t be there, it’s going to cause ripple effects (learn more here). But, diet is often not even considered when […]
Visuals for Sleep Training
When teaching families of kids with special needs, the number one question that comes up is this: “Will my child understand what we’re trying to do?” The answer: you bet. But, you have to make it abundantly clear what is going on. In all of my programs, I teach parents the importance of visuals. This […]
Sleep Struggles: Your Child with Trisomy 21
Many children with special needs have difficult sleeping well through the night. For a child with Trisomy 21, it is not uncommon for them to deal with a number of issues nightly: Difficulty falling asleep (takes a long time) Restlessness, lots of tossing and turning Wakes up frequently at night Needs help falling asleep Light […]
What’s Happening in the Brain While We Sleep?
Unraveling the mystery behind why we sleep Let me preface this by saying this — sleep science is still trying to figure out what exactly is going on. Sleep is by far one of the most mysterious things our bodies do and for decades researchers have been trying to get to the bottom of it. […]
Your Child’s Vision and Sleep
When it comes to improving a child’s sleep, especially for children with special needs, one thing that parents do need to look at carefully is their child’s vision. For some children, they may have blindness, limited vision, or can be incredible sensitive to light. Our brain is reliant on light and dark changes throughout the […]
Why Sleep Regressions Aren’t a Bad Thing
Nothing strikes fear in the heart of parents more than a sleep regression. No, I’m kidding, but it’s no fun to deal with for sure. Baby wakes up more, spends longer stretches awake (read: up to several hours), and often it keeps parents up more than they really want to be. They often happen around […]
