Seizures, anxiety, depression, dipolar, ADHD, OCD, insomnia, gastrointestinal problems and migraines are all conditions that can commonly be found coinciding with autism. Having autism does not inherently mean that one will have any of these issues, but it is always good to be on the watch. One of the most common of these comorbidities is insomnia.

Tips for Reducing Insomnia

If your child is struggling with insomnia, there are a number of things you can try. One of the first things you can do is stick to a specific nighttime routine. Children with autism thrive under structure, so creating a routine specifically for sleep can help to manually trigger it. It can also be of use to keep a sleep diary. Perhaps after certain daytime activities or foods, your child's sleep is better or worse, but you won't know until you track!

Another thing to try would be increasing the amount of exercise your child gets during the day. Physical movement is a great tool for regulating mood and stress, so that when bed time comes, the brain and body may be in a better position to fall asleep. If your kiddo has sensory sensitivities, try having them sleep with ear plugs or with weighted items. Lastly, a consistent wake-up time is also essential for the brain to know when it is time to get some rest. If your wake up time is inconsistent, so will be your bed time.