Re: Sleeping problems

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Posted By A Son-Rise Message Board Participant on November 10, 1999 at 23:19:59:

In Reply to: Sleeping problems posted byRichard van Houten on November 10, 1999 at 09:44:54:

: Our doughter, age 33 months, diagnosed to be within the autistic spectrum, has practically all her life
: very big problems falling asleep. Also the quality of her sleep is low, daytime sleep being much better
: then her night sleep which is short and light. We are improvising a Son-Rise program now for 8 weeks
: prior to our going to the start-up in the Netherlands in January 2000. We can only get our doughter to
: sleep when we give her something warm and liquid and hold her tight, ofcourse she tries to escape
: and screams and cries. It takes us each time from half an hour to an hour to get her to sleep and in
: that process we cannot avoid to force her by holding etc. Does that harm our program? Will she not trust
: us because of that? Does anyone have suggestions for an other approach

Have you tried music? Our 3 year old son had the same problem , so I purchased some tapes of natural sounds.Like a waterfall and a rainforest. I would put them on and lay down with him until he seemed relaxed and quiet. I then would kiss him good night, close the door and leave him. If he would get really distressed I would go in, give him a cuddle without talking , kiss him goodnight and close the door. We did this at the same time every night for about 2 weeks and he soon learnt that that was bed time and he had to go to sleep.It was quite distressing for us all but we got great results. It took a lot of patience and tolerance but within 2 months he would walk into his room, get into bed and fall asleep . I also made sure his room was very dark. He now sleeps through the night and is very easily put to sleep. Although I did have to cut out his day sleep. Be persistant and keep it to a routine.
This worked for us and I hope it can help you too.
Goodluck
Natalie

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Subject: Re: Re: Sleeping problems

Comments:: : Our doughter, age 33 months, diagnosed to be within the autistic spectrum, has practically all her life : : very big problems falling asleep. Also the quality of her sleep is low, daytime sleep being much better : : then her night sleep which is short and light. We are improvising a Son-Rise program now for 8 weeks : : prior to our going to the start-up in the Netherlands in January 2000. We can only get our doughter to : : sleep when we give her something warm and liquid and hold her tight, ofcourse she tries to escape : : and screams and cries. It takes us each time from half an hour to an hour to get her to sleep and in : : that process we cannot avoid to force her by holding etc. Does that harm our program? Will she not trust : : us because of that? Does anyone have suggestions for an other approach : Have you tried music? Our 3 year old son had the same problem , so I purchased some tapes of natural sounds.Like a waterfall and a rainforest. I would put them on and lay down with him until he seemed relaxed and quiet. I then would kiss him good night, close the door and leave him. If he would get really distressed I would go in, give him a cuddle without talking , kiss him goodnight and close the door. We did this at the same time every night for about 2 weeks and he soon learnt that that was bed time and he had to go to sleep.It was quite distressing for us all but we got great results. It took a lot of patience and tolerance but within 2 months he would walk into his room, get into bed and fall asleep . I also made sure his room was very dark. He now sleeps through the night and is very easily put to sleep. Although I did have to cut out his day sleep. Be persistant and keep it to a routine. : This worked for us and I hope it can help you too. : Goodluck : Natalie