Comments on: Ghosts and Monsters! http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/04/ghosts-and-monsters-autism-and-sleep/ Parenting tips for children on the autism spectrum. Is it possible to live with autism without losing your mind, your life savings, or your spouse? Yes! It may be an uphill climb at times, but there are also some surprisingly easy spots. So for those parents who are determined to enjoy life with autism, welcome. Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:05:14 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Eve Burton-Poteet http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/04/ghosts-and-monsters-autism-and-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Eve Burton-Poteet Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:24:48 +0000 /?p=251#comment-45 My Joshie started having nightmares (he's 6). IT is developmentally appropriate for children to have nightmares as they are working through things they don't have the words for, and while you may not be able to rationalize them- you can fight them! Which is what we did :-) Our CPNP advised us that their world is "magical" and to combat the magic with magic! We bought a water gun and filled it with linen spray from Healing Gardens which has Chamomile and Lavender- known to have a calming effect. When he wakes up in the middle of the night he knows that the magic water gun will, as Joshie says, "Take the Monsters OUT!" And they do. I haven't had to sleep in his bed for a week now and will even tell his sister when she tries to nab his gun "No Leah, that's for fighting Monsters". My Joshie started having nightmares (he’s 6). IT is developmentally appropriate for children to have nightmares as they are working through things they don’t have the words for, and while you may not be able to rationalize them- you can fight them! Which is what we did :-) Our CPNP advised us that their world is “magical” and to combat the magic with magic! We bought a water gun and filled it with linen spray from Healing Gardens which has Chamomile and Lavender- known to have a calming effect. When he wakes up in the middle of the night he knows that the magic water gun will, as Joshie says, “Take the Monsters OUT!” And they do. I haven’t had to sleep in his bed for a week now and will even tell his sister when she tries to nab his gun “No Leah, that’s for fighting Monsters”.

]]> By: Susan Giurleo http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/04/ghosts-and-monsters-autism-and-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Susan Giurleo Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:57:10 +0000 /?p=251#comment-39 This perception of "ghosts" or others in the room is a common one for my clients with autism spectrum and/or nonverbal learning disabilities. I am not a neurologist, but it does seem to be related to a perceptual issue. That sense we have of someone near us seems to be over sensitive in some children, or perseverates,as you say. Also, when children fall asleep under one condition (parent lying down with them) and then wake up in another condition (alone in bed) it arouses them out of a deep sleep because their brain is trying to figure out why their sleeping conditions are different. That is why sleep experts recommend children fall asleep on their own so when they cycle into lighter sleep they do not wake up fully to figure out where mom and dad have gone. Sweet Dreams! Susan Giurleo, PhD www.childdevelopment.com This perception of “ghosts” or others in the room is a common one for my clients with autism spectrum and/or nonverbal learning disabilities. I am not a neurologist, but it does seem to be related to a perceptual issue. That sense we have of someone near us seems to be over sensitive in some children, or perseverates,as you say.

Also, when children fall asleep under one condition (parent lying down with them) and then wake up in another condition (alone in bed) it arouses them out of a deep sleep because their brain is trying to figure out why their sleeping conditions are different. That is why sleep experts recommend children fall asleep on their own so when they cycle into lighter sleep they do not wake up fully to figure out where mom and dad have gone.

Sweet Dreams!
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://www.childdevelopment.com

]]> By: Amazing_Grace http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/04/ghosts-and-monsters-autism-and-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Amazing_Grace Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:58:32 +0000 /?p=251#comment-32 Is your child having trouble sleeping? If your child is having trouble sleeping it can be because of several reasons. A lot of kids are scared of the dark and think all kinds of things are out there. So what can a parent do? Here are a few websites that have some ideas: <a href="http://momsofspecialneedschildren1.blogspot.com/2009/04/things-that-go-bump-in-night.html" rel="nofollow">Things That Go Bump in the Night</ Is your child having trouble sleeping? If your child is having trouble sleeping it can be because of several reasons. A lot of kids are scared of the dark and think all kinds of things are out there. So what can a parent do? Here are a few websites that have some ideas:

Things That Go Bump in the Night</

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