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A client asked me to write this blog and share with you the top 5 products I would recommend to the parents of a neurodivergent child (individuals with autism, ADD/ ADHD, OCD, or otherwise) to pave the way for their child's good night's sleep.
A known fact is that sleep is an important factor in overall wellness. Not getting enough quality sleep can impact one's mood and ability to perform day-to-day tasks. If not addressed, this could lead to meltdowns at school or work and even poor behavior. It is important as a parent to ensure your child is sleeping well every night so that they have a bright and productive day ahead of them!
The intention of this blog is to help make a neurodivergent child's life easier by offering them the best sleep products. I'll be discussing some of the top recommended sleep products. Having a neurodivergent child can be stressful for you, but it doesn't need to be. I'll go in-depth with some great tips so that you can raise your neurodivergent child with confidence.
All products featured here are independently selected by our The Slumber Academy. If you buy something through links on our site, The Slumber Academy may earn an affiliate commission.
Weighted blanket
Weighted blankets are designed to relieve stress by providing pressure on the body. This sense of weight releases the important serotonin chemical in the brain, creating calmness.
Weighted blankets are not new and that is because occupational therapists have been using them for a long time. In fact, these blankets work in a similar way to the deep touch pressure therapy technique.
Using a weighted blanket is just another children and adults with ADHD can self-regulate and feel more relaxed.
This compact blanket won't take up your whole bed, but it can improve your relaxation and even help manage some symptoms.
Harkla Weighted Blanket which has 4 weight options and is about 36x48 inches. It’s best for 20-40 pounds children. It comes in a minkey dot fabric and will definitely make your kids that gentle feeling of being hugged. It’s also kid-safe as it is made of breathable fabric! The best feature of this blanket is the duvet cover, which makes it easily washable.
Hatch Restore
It’s a baby sound machine, night light, and time-to-rise sleep trainer, with white noise soother, alarm clock, and nightlight. It’s cooler as it can be controlled remotely via a mobile app.
One of the coolest features of the Hatch Restore is its Restore Sunrise Alarm which gently wakes your child up with light instead of sound. This gradual exposure to light at dawn helps your body to produce cortisol, the hormone that wakes you up naturally and gently. Exposure to light plays a major role in regulating your circadian rhythm, which is key for maintaining a steady sleeping pattern. Waking up with a gradual increase in the brightness of your alarm clock leaves you feeling more refreshed and renewed.
We have previously discussed in another blog entitled “How Light Therapy Helps Your Neurodiverse Child to Have Better Sleep” how this could be a treatment that is worth considering if your child is struggling with mood, sleep, or energy issues.
The Hatch Restore contains a rich library of sounds, 22 different lighting color options, as well as a fully customizable bedtime and mood lighting.
The Hatch Restore Light is compatible with a companion app that helps you track your sleep and make adjustments accordingly.
You can also personalize your sleep routine on the app to match your specific needs.
The Hatch Restore is backed by a 60-night sleep trial and a 1-year warranty.
Sleep Out Curtains
Grab your 10% discount [Code for 10% off - SLUMBER]
When you are traveling with your child, this one is a must in your travel bags. It's best to recreate the sleep habits and sleep environment for your neurodivergent child even when traveling.
Here are some details on the Sleepout Portable Blackout Curtain 2.0:
It can be installed on any window.
It’s made of Certified thermal-insulating 100% blackout fabric. Sterling grey with ecru cotton flocking and soft microfiber finish. It’s certified for it’s quality and free from harmful substances.
It has 2 BPA-free industrial-strength suction cups with strong reliable fastener strips.
Each travel curtain measures 52” x 76" (about 4.5 x 6.5 feet) and weighs 1.95 lbs. (0.88 kg)
You can install this temporary blackout curtain either vertically or horizontally. Plus its Modular design adjusts to fit different window sizes.
It comes with a durable carrying bag with duffel straps and a reinforced zipper.
One of the most important features of a portable blackout blind is that it creates darkness, and I can say after testing this travel blackout curtain that this is true for it.
The blackout fabric has thermal insulation too, meaning the room will remain cool even when the sun is shining bright. The curtain's density also blocks light, which can help you get a good night’s sleep.
The suction cups are industrial strength, which can attach to a window and hold on. Why worry about your portable blackout blinds falling down in the middle of the night?
The carrying bag is really a plus factor for buying this sleep product. If you find yourself short on time, then the bag keeps the worry away when packing for travel.
So keep these important points in mind for considering this sleep product:
💤Increase sleep time and quality
😊 Wake up feeling fully rested
🧪Produce more melatonin
🛡️Thermaguard™ fabric blocks heat and sound
🥇Greenguard® & OEKO® certified
Sleep Bath and Sleep Lotion
By the time you reach the end of an exhausting day, a bath can be easy to skip. Can it actually play a crucial role in your neurodivergent child’s sleep though?
Sitting in a bathtub really does have the effect of lowering blood pressure and heart rate. What’s more, it can also increase pain threshold, decrease muscle tension, improve body awareness and breathing capacity as well as help with balance and focus.
Also due to the high water jets in a bathtub that stimulate sensory receptors around your child’s body, there are some benefits to this too. It's also been found that bathing before bedtime decreases the time it takes to fall asleep by as much as 30 minutes.
Dr. Teals Kids Sleep Bath and Sleep Lotion Bundle is a must in my children’s bath.
This product is safe, hypoallergenic, and gentle. It's formulated with a blend of Melatonin and natural essential oils.
The same is true with Dr. Teal's Kids Sleep Lotion. It is dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic and lightweight to moisturize your child's skin. it contains Melatonin and natural essential oils that help them wind down after a hectic day.
Sensory Compression Sheet
A great alternative to weighted blankets is sensory compression bed sheets.
A snuggle sheet is designed to comfort your child with deep touch pressure, similar to a hug. This great sensory input helps your child feel safe and relaxed.
Loving so much The Slumber Academy's Compression Sheet. Its double-stitched seams make the sheet durable and guess what all Harkla ASD sensory products come with a lifetime guarantee!
For every purchase you make, Harkla gives back. 1% of our total sales goes to the University of Washington Autism Clinic, which then helps provide research for people with an autism spectrum disorder. This funding is for:
Therapy for local autistic children
Funding studies related to autism
Training for caregivers, therapists, and parents
Pushing your body downwards while sleeping (grounding) can help with restful sleep. Grounding during sleep can help reduce cortisol levels which means lower stress and better sleep.
As a sleep consultant, I feel that these products are great when it comes to helping a neurodivergent individual (specifically children) to fall asleep and stay asleep. Each product is designed to help with different needs. Do you have any recommendations that you've found to be helpful? Leave them in the comments below!
Hi, my name is Nakayla Von Raeder and I'm a certified sleep consultant and Neurodivergent sleep specialist who has helped hundreds of families with their different needs when it comes to sleeping.
Our Sleep Restored program will help you understand what to expect and how to help your child get the healthy, restful sleep you need to thrive.
Our program is built on the latest scientific research and offers a range of strategies that can help your child sleep better. We offer a unique approach tailored to your needs and will work with you to find what works best for your family.