Sleep Schedule

When your child struggles with sleep, the first thing the doctor is going to ask is whether you have them on a set schedule.  There are a list of things they might refer to as ‘sleep hygiene.’  I share them in the post linked here.

It’s generally agreed that a standard schedule, meaning going to bed around the same time each night and waking at the same time each morning, is very important to encouraging healthy sleep.* As Mikey got older, and we tried to refrain from verbally directing each portion of his day, we started to set an alarm for bedtime. Here’s what my phone screen looks like (although I must have taken this photo over the holidays because all of the alarms are turned off, LOL).

I keep it on my phone for now because occasionally, we need to change bedtime a bit.  That said, we try to stick to 9:45 because then Mikey can wash up and be in bed before 10PM. Over time, my goal will be to transfer it to Mikey’s iPad so he can be completely independent.

Right now, I have a reminder to help him get ready in the morning (he can dress by himself, but needs reminders to make his bed and go into the bathroom for his morning hygiene routine). I have that one set for a minute or two before his bedroom alarm clock goes off – I’m trying to help him learn that when his morning alarm goes off, he should start his morning routine.

I also have an alarm telling him (and me) that it is time to head outside to wait for the school bus in the morning.  The alarms for dismissals (early and regular) are reminders for me to head out to wait for the bus in case I am engrossed in writing a particularly wonderful blog post.  You get the idea.  

Specifics

Each alarm has a different ring tone.  The one for the bus is more energetic and the one for bedtime has a calming tune.  I use emoji’s as well to make sure Mikey is getting the message the alarm is meant to convey.

I let Mikey turn off the alarm when it starts to ring and recently, he has started to turn it off and immediately start the task at hand.  When the bus alarm goes off, he puts on his shoes and gets his backpack.  When the bedtime alarm goes off, he will walk towards the stairs and say, ‘upstairs, bed.’

Mission accomplished.

*A sleep schedule is healthy for all humans, not just our special kiddos. So, try to help your typical kids get on a schedule and do the same for yourself once your kiddos allow…they’ll get there eventually.