Thechildsleeptherapist

Many neurodivergent children find hot weather harder to cope with than their peers.

Heat can increase sensory overwhelm, disrupt sleep, reduce tolerance for demands, and make emotional regulation much more difficult.

So if you're seeing more meltdowns, shutdowns, irritability, anxiety, or resistance this week, remember:

They're not giving you a hard time.

They're having a hard time.

Their nervous system is likely working much harder than usual.

💛 Lower expectations.
💛 Prioritise rest and hydration.
💛 Seek shade and cool spaces.
💛 Offer a little extra support and flexibility.

Sometimes surviving the heatwave is enough.

If your child isn’t drinking as much as you would like, don't panic.

Hydration can come from food too, and many children find it easier (and more fun!) to eat their fluids than drink them.

What's your child's favourite hydrating snack? 🍉👇

When parents of autistic and neurodivergent children come to me, they've usually already tried:

✔️ Earlier bedtimes
✔️ Later bedtimes
✔️ Reward charts
✔️ Sleep training
✔️ Co-sleeping
✔️ Staying in the room
✔️ Leaving the room
✔️ White noise
✔️ Blackout blinds
✔️ Every bit of advice Google has to offer

And yet...

Their child is still taking hours to fall asleep.

Still waking multiple times a night.

Still having split nights.

Still needing a parent beside them to sleep.

The problem isn't that parents aren't trying hard enough.

The problem is that neurodivergent children often need a different approach.

Before we can improve sleep, we need to understand the child.

🧩 What sensory needs are they trying to meet?

🧩 How does anxiety show up for them?

🧩 What communication differences do we need to consider?

🧩 How are they processing transitions and change?

🧩 What is their individual sleep need?

Because when we understand the reason behind the sleep difficulty, the path forward becomes much clearer.

That's why I specialised in Autism, Anxiety and Sleep.

Not because autistic children can't sleep well.

But because they deserve support that recognises sleep isn't always as simple as "just be consistent."

Sometimes the missing piece isn't another sleep tip.

It's the right approach 💤

"Never wake a sleeping baby." 😅

Actually sometimes you should! If a nap runs too long and starts to impact bedtime or nighttime sleep, it's okay to gently wake your baby. The same goes for long sleep ins after a rough night; letting them sleep too long can keep the cycle going.

A 7-7 (12 hour overnight sleep) schedule is often seen as the "goal"

But for many babies and toddlers, it’s actually more than they need.

Sleep is about total 24-hour sleep, not just bedtime.

For example:
If your child has had 2 x 1-hour naps in the day, they may only need around 10 hours overnight.

So a 7pm–5am night may not be early waking…

They may simply be done sleeping.

This is where parents often get stuck:

❌ Assume overtiredness
❌ Bring bedtime earlier
❌ Add more naps

and the cycle continues.

Sometimes it’s not a sleep problem…

It’s just the wrong sleep balance across the day.

🎓 Proud to have achieved my Level 6 qualification.

One of the things that's most important to me as a Child Sleep Therapist is ensuring the advice I give families is evidence-based, up-to-date, and grounded in both research and real-life experience.

The world of child sleep is full of myths, outdated advice, and one-size-fits-all approaches. I'm passionate about continually developing my knowledge so I can provide families with support that is informed by the latest evidence and tailored to their individual child.

Learning never stops, and I wouldn't have it any other way 🤍

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Is your baby suddenly fighting naps, taking longer to fall asleep, or waking up overnight?

It might not be a sleep regression... it could be a nap transition.

As babies grow, their sleep needs change. One of the biggest signs they're ready to drop a nap is that they're no longer tired enough for their current routine.

Look out for:
✨ Nap refusal
✨ Longer bedtimes
✨ Early rising
✨ Split nights
✨ Taking ages to fall asleep

Sleep needs don't stay the same forever, and sometimes a simple routine tweak can make all the difference. 💛

Don't take it from me, here's what one mum of a 6 year old had to say 🤍👏

Fill their cup before bed and watch what happens 🤍

"Everyone says it's normal."

"It's normal for toddlers to wake multiple times a night."

"It's normal for children to take hours to fall asleep."

"It's normal to be exhausted when you have children."

And whilst these sleep struggles are certainly common, that doesn't make them normal.

There's an important difference.

When we normalise poor sleep, we often stop looking for solutions.

Parents continue struggling because they assume nothing can be done.

They accept bedtime battles, frequent night wakings, early rising, split nights, or years of sleep deprivation because they've been told it's simply part of parenthood.

But just because something is common doesn't mean it's optimal, healthy, or something you have to live with.

If your child is struggling with sleep, it's worth asking why.

Sleep difficulties can be linked to routines, sleep habits, anxiety, sensory needs, sleep schedules, environment, developmental factors, or underlying sleep disorders.

Sometimes there is a simple explanation. Sometimes there isn't.

But dismissing everything as "normal" can prevent families from getting the support they need.

Parents deserve better than being told to just wait it out.

Children deserve better than struggling if there is support available.

So let's change the conversation.

Poor sleep may be common.

That doesn't mean it should be accepted as normal.

👇 Have you ever been told that your child's sleep struggles were "just normal"?