I wrote my latest handout pack, “Kids and Sleep” for Your Therapy Source because it is the perfect melding of my training as a certified sleep therapist (thanks, UC Berkeley!) and my long career as a pediatric occupational therapist.
Sleep is foundational for health. Full stop.
Even though little kids can remain asleep while you pour them out of their car seats and into bed, they can also have some serious sleep issues. These can last from birth all the way to the day they leave for college.
My handout packs have been a true success because they contain a lot of information in an easy-to-read format. Not a lot of details, but lots of actionable ideas and useful information to help you continue exploring sleep issues. I cover some issues known to be factors for special needs kids. Things that may or may not be obvious. Kids with ASD and hypermobility can really struggle. Kids with feeding issues as well (buy the handout pack to find out WHY!).
And then there are all of the common sleep issues that we see in typically developing kids as well as the special needs guys. Sleep can be complicated by a series of ear infections or having multiple caregivers for naps and nighttime. I get into all of it. Because improving a child’s sleep can transform their mental and physical health. It can give them a mood reboot without therapy. It can help them academically and socially. The research is really exciting.
Here are a few things that all parents need to know:
- Special needs kids often require their bedtime routine to start earlier and include the lighting and noise in the entire house.
- Infants can and should be woken up from too-long naps to preserve their nighttime sleep length and depth.
- Weighted blankets aren’t for everyone. Certain conditions make weighted blankets a medical risk.
- What is viewed on that tablet or phone is just as important as when it is viewed.
- Using the settings on a screen to make it less biologically addictive is easy and free, and won’t incur hysteria.
Looking for information on ASD and sleep? Read this: 7 Reasons Your Kid With ASD Isn’t Sleeping Well
