Autism and Sleep Struggles

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The number one question I am most commonly asked is…does your son with autism sleep? And if he does, give us your secrets.

The answer is yes. He sleeps now. But he didn’t for nearly six years.

Cooper did not sleep through the night until he was 4.5 years old. As a newborn he slept 6-8 hours in a 24 hour period and never slept longer than a 45 minute period. The sleep deprivation was torture. Around age 4.5 Cooper started sleeping but woke up before 4 am for a year. Honestly, that was harder than the multiple wake ups.

Let’s just say, I’ve tried everything to get my son to sleep. We tried black out curtains, sound machines, night lights, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, music, essential oils, etc. We tried it all. And nothing worked. That is until I figured out that Cooper was waking up from either pain or anxiety. Or both. I turned my energy to fixing his his constipation and ear infections. I modified his diet to reduce inflammation. We reduced his stress and anxiety by giving him a way to communicate. None of it was easy. In fact it felt like an impossible uphill mountain at times. But we did it. And once we did, my kid began to sleep.

I refused to accept the answer…Your son isn’t sleeping because he is autistic. I began looking for answers instead of excuses.

Today, at age seven, my son sleeps from 9:30 pm to 7 am. It was a long road to get here. But we did it.

Now, I firmly believe that sleep issues are directly correlated to pain. I am not a doctor nor am I an expert. I just like to share the little nuggets of wisdom that I have learned. Maybe they won’t help you or your child. But, maybe they will!

Take a listen to our journey with sleep.

Blog Post: Autism and Supplements
Blog Post: Gut Health and Autism

Two products that we use to help Cooper sleep. The Snuggle Sheet and Weighted Comforter both provide compression and reduce Cooper’s anxiety while sleeping. I recommend them both!

Snuggle Sheet (Love this thing!)
Weighted Comforter


You can follow Kate and Cooper’s journey at www.findingcoopersvoice.com. Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because you’re never alone in the struggles you face. And once you find your people, your allies, your village….all the challenges and struggles will seem just a little bit easier. Welcome to our journey. You can also follow us on Facebook at Finding Cooper’s Voice.

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Kate Swenson

Kate Swenson lives in Minnesota with her husband Jamie, and four children, Cooper, Sawyer, Harbor and Wynnie. Kate launched Finding Cooper's Voice from her couch while her now 11-year-old son Cooper was being diagnosed with autism. Back then it was a place to write. Today it is a living, thriving community of people who want to not only advocate for autism, but also make the world a better place for individuals with disabilities and their families. Her first book, Forever Boy, will be released, April 5, 2022.

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1 Comment

  1. Diana Fitts on December 10, 2017 at 10:09 am

    Yes! Compression and deep pressure make a HUGE difference in sleep. This component often goes unrecognized, yet the reduction in anxiety it causes can result in a good night’s rest!
    Best,
    Diana
    http://www.thesensorytoolbox.com