Is there any type of over the counter remedies for getting an autistic child to sleep at night?

Question

Presciption drugs are hard to give for this child. Looking for liquid or chewables to give easily. Looking for anything but medicine. This child has a bedtime but lays in bed and mimics everyone til asleep really late. Herbal? No specific Diet. Sugar doesnt play a part in it.

Answer 1

I suggest some chamomile tea before bed, and maybe some lavender essential oil spray/mist/spritz on the bed sheets. Both are very calming and relaxing.....

Answer 2

Perhaps you could try an OTC Melatonin crushed in child's favorite snack like applesauce or other about 1/2 hour before bedtime. If child has a simple prayer, suggest this one: Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray you Lord my soul to keep but should I die before I wake, I pray you Lord my soul to take. Then: God bless Mommy, daddy, etc. The whole litany of people to bless will keep focus and perhaps with practice each night, sleep will come sooner and sooner. The child's prayer might be uttered in a sing-song fashion to get child's cooperation.
Also, herbal: passion flower, hops, and a very fragrant one, valerian. Teas of these are soothing and induce sleep too.
I've often wanted to do some research on the similarities between autistic children from their day, month, year & city/state of birth. I've been doing birth charts for over 45 years now, but autism may find certain markers present in a child's birth chart. Email me at: ripples321-at-yahoo-dot-com. I never a charge for my research.
Good luck

Answer 3

I am with Melaleuca, a company that provides natural-based products. They have one that was a tremendous help to us, and it's basically an antacid with a little chamomile in it to soothe the belly, they say there's not enough in it to help a child sleep. Whether it was the calcium (known to help induce sleep) or the chamomile or a combination, I'm not sure,but it worked. He was three before sleeping through the night for the first time, as sleep disorders and autism usually go together. I gave him two of these tablets, chewables, every night for about six months, and he would go right to sleep and sleep all night. After six months, he started hating the taste (it's mint flavored),and wouldn't take it even in something to drink, so I reluctantly stopped. But I guess after six months of consistently using this, his body must have developed a sleep pattern, because I never had to use it anymore. That was a year ago. I know with the autistic boy I babysit that melatonin works, but you just use a very little bit. That is flavorless, can be mixed into juice or whatever. I use this to help my son with anxieties when we're going to be away from the house for awhile. You can find it in liquid form at health food stores, but I don't know if there's any taste to it or not. Chamomile tea can be added to juice to disguise the flavor, and that might work, but it didn't for the boy I babysit. Maybe we just weren't using enough, I don't know. Good luck to you, I remember very well how rough that is on the whole family. I can tell you that Tim's behavior problems changed quite a bit after getting his sleep straightened out, he quit having night terrors and sleep walking, I could go on and on.

Answer 4

A warm relaxing bath is wonderful...lavender is best, a small warm cup of milk, quiet time for about an hour before bed. Don't forget a good bedtime story read to him. These allow him to wind down from the day.

Nothing to eat after 6:00pm so his digestive system is not running full blast. This depends on his bed time. If it is an early bed time then try 5:00pm.

Lastly, allow him to talk about his day to you as he gets tucked in. This allows him to be more vocal, in touch with his feelings and looking for acceptance/approval from you. This could include any nightly prayers. This helps the child to establish his routine and recognize the end of the day.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

Dear jena,

First, how do you make him fal asleep, austistic and aspergus children need a strict protocol at any stage of their day.... but you know that for sure... Try to introduce herbal tea like lime tree and camomille, sweeten with honey in the bedtime ritual could help... This is just a first step and other médicines are efficient, knowing that touching a child is a better way, but autist often refuse physical contact....

Answer 6

how old is he? There is a new med adults can take if they wake up in the middle of the night...its not supposed to be taken when you took something earlier---unless directed by a doctor. any chance you can get a dog. the dog can be trained to try to keep him in bed, including laying on top of him if he likes it. have you talked to the occupational therapist about this--sometimes a sensory diet helps---before and after bed (such as a soothing sounds CD while he sleeps, weighted blanket, etc) he needs to be taught to go back to bed quietly--by being rewarded....even if he can only stay for a few minutes at 1st--gradually increase the time

Answer 7

Benadryl

Answer 8

For solutions about your question see "google". It is the fastest way to resolve it. You can digit the key word and wait the answer. Bye.

Answer 9

I have an autistic daughter, and found something that has worked for her, not prescription but comes with medical validation

Answer 10

Tylenol 2 [pm] its just a head ache reducer with sleep aid. try one for your self. =]