Most parents assume the first few years of their child’s life is going to be full of sleepless nights, but can be surprised when the problem persists even after their son or daughter begins elementary school. Insomnia can strike any child, but those with developmental delays like autism are especially prone to sleep disorders. This can be due to differences in brain structure or chemistry, and adds an extra burden to already stressed-out and exhausted parents.
So what can you do about insomnia in children? For all but the most serious of cases, you don’t really want to use prescription medication. Luckily there are a number of natural sleep aids that can help your child sleep longer and more deeply without the worrisome side effects associated with prescription medications. One such sleep aid is melatonin, which is actually a substance that occurs naturally in the body. Melatonin cues the brain that it is time to sleep, and those who don’t produce enough of it can have trouble falling asleep at night. Over-the-counter melatonin simply corrects this imbalance. It can be found in natural food stores, and even comes in a handy spray formula. A few squirts in your child’s mouth will help to make him sleepy, but has no side effects and is not habit forming.
Aside from natural or herbal sleep aids, there are a few lifestyle changes that may help your child’s insomnia. Cutting back on sodas or any other foods containing caffeine should be helpful. Also limit television or computer time in the hours preceding bedtime, because “screen time” actually contributes to insomnia. Keeping a predictable bedtime routine is crucial for children as well, especially for a nonverbal child with developmental delays. When they know what is expected of them, and the routine is predictable and feels safe, anxiety is lowered and bedtime meltdowns can be avoided. It can take a few weeks of lifestyle changes combined with a natural sleep aid, but your child’s sleeping and waking rhythms can be trained.
