sleeping problems - Autism Spectrum Message Board

pisan · 09-03-2005, 04:53 PM

I have a 12 yr. old autistic son who still wants to sleep with us (mom and dad). Does anyone have the same problem ? Maybe you could help us. This is a very hard habit to break.

Thanks,

pisan · 09-04-2005, 06:41 AM

ausomemom. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. We live in the chicago metropolitian area also. Tony's social worker told us , You just have to contiuallly bring him back to his room ..I must get up at least 20 times a night. It is like having a baby again. It is just nice to know I am not alone.

Kempsmom · 09-04-2005, 07:01 AM

I to have the problem with my son sleeping with me. We can put him back in his bed ten times but he doesn't stay! I from the get go always put him in his crib or pack 'n' play. Even when we would go camping he still wouldn't sleep with us alway always the packnplay or crib. I have never brought him in our bed. But one he just crawled in and hasn't left.ha. He goes to bed every night in his bed but......I wish both of you good luck and if you two figure the trick out share please!

off kilter · 09-04-2005, 08:32 AM

We put 2 twin beds in Little Paul's room a few years ago he's 7 now and at first they were side by side. but with separate sheet sets, over time we moved the beds further apart finally making a L shape with them against two walls, it has allowed him to learn to sleep in his own bed but also while learning that skill it was easier for me to sleep next to him with my own sheet set just patting him if he woke. I do sleep in the room with him with the door locked high up on the inside to keep hom from wandering as Paul is nonverble and could not call out to us for help at night he also has seizures and If I'm in the room I hear his bed shake when he has one.

off kilter · 09-04-2005, 11:03 AM

I think it really depends on the kid. I can't remember how long it took. I know we took a few steps backwards along the way. Paul was always climbing in our bed and disturbing our sleep. trying to put him in his own bed resulted in my laying down with him usually in some akward position and then trying to slip further away from him while not waking him. often finding myself half on half off his bed only to have him reach out pull me back on the bed and starting over. I was exhausted. By getting two twin beds to put next to each other, I had my own bed to sleep in and with separate sheets on the beds he got use to not feeling me right next to him, skin to skin. as he slept longer alone I tried moving the beds apart. to be honest more then once in the beginning I would push my bed against his at 2 in the morning to get a good nights sleep. We use no bedframe ( I was afraid Paul's jumping on the bed would break a frame and did not want him crawing under a frame) just the really high boxspring and mattress sets. He sleeps 8:30 till 6am most nights now alone, but if he does wake I usually just touch his head and quietly say MaMa's here and he goes back to sleep. Good luck keep us posted.