Autism, Anxiety & Sleep Support for Children
Specialist, responsive sleep support for autistic, neurodivergent and anxious children, tailored around your child’s individual needs.
Sleep can be particularly complex when autism, ADHD, anxiety, sensory differences or demand avoidance are part of the picture.
Your child may struggle to switch off at bedtime, need you close to fall asleep, wake frequently overnight, become anxious as bedtime approaches or need things to happen in a very particular way before they feel able to sleep.
This doesn’t mean they are being difficult.
And it doesn’t mean you need to force them through a standard sleep-training method that doesn’t feel right for them.
I look beyond the sleep problem itself to understand what may be driving it for your child and create a personalised approach that feels achievable for your family.
Why can sleep be different for autistic and neurodivergent children?
Sleep difficulties are very common in autistic children, but there is rarely one single reason why sleep is difficult.
For some children, sensory differences mean that light, noise, temperature, clothing or bedding can make it harder to settle.
For others, anxiety increases when the world becomes quiet at night.
Some children rely heavily on predictability and can find transitions, including the transition from being awake to going to sleep, particularly difficult.
Others may have differences in their body clock, high levels of activity or alertness in the evening, difficulty recognising internal signals such as tiredness, or a strong need for parental presence to feel safe enough to sleep.
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This is why I don’t start by asking:
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“How do we make your child sleep?”
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I start by asking:
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“What is making sleep difficult for your child?”
Sleep difficulties I can support
Every child is different, but families often come to me for help with:
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Bedtime anxiety
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Your child may become worried, distressed or increasingly dysregulated as bedtime approaches, ask repeated questions or find separating from you particularly difficult.
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Needing a parent to fall asleep
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Your child may need you beside them, in their bed or in their room before they feel safe and regulated enough to sleep.
We do not need to suddenly remove that support.
If changing it is one of your goals, we can work towards this gradually and responsively.
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Long or difficult bedtimes
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Bedtime might take an hour or more, involve repeated requests, leaving the bedroom, difficulty switching off or simply a child who does not appear sleepy when you expect them to be.
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Frequent night waking
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Rather than treating every night wake as a behavioural issue, we look at your child’s entire 24-hour sleep pattern and what may be contributing to the waking.
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Early rising
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If your child is consistently starting their day extremely early, we can explore sleep timing, overall sleep need, body-clock patterns, light exposure and what happens during those early morning wakes.
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Sensory difficulties around sleep
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Lighting, sounds, bedding, clothing, temperature, smells and even the feeling of lying still can influence how comfortable a child feels at bedtime.
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Difficulty with routines and transitions
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Some children thrive on predictability while others experience increased anxiety or demand avoidance when bedtime becomes too rigid.
The aim is to find the right balance for your child.
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Responsive support — not a one-size-fits-all sleep training programme
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My approach is responsive, evidence-based and individual to your child.
I do not use Cry It Out.
Instead, we work out what support your child currently needs and, where appropriate, how we can gradually make changes while continuing to respond to them.
For one child that might mean changing their sleep timing.
For another, it might mean adapting their sensory environment.
Another child may need more connection and regulation before bedtime.
And another may benefit from gradually reducing parental presence using a method adapted specifically around their anxiety and communication needs.
The strategy fits the child. The child does not have to fit the strategy
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What happens when we work together?
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1. We understand your child's sleep
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You’ll complete an in-depth assessment and sleep diary so I can look at your child’s sleep across the whole 24 hours rather than focusing only on bedtime.
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2. We identify what may be keeping sleep stuck
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I analyse sleep timings, routines, night waking, settling, environment, sensory needs, anxiety, regulation and anything else relevant to your individual child.
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3. I create your personalised action plan
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You receive clear, realistic recommendations designed specifically around your child and your family.
This may include changes to sleep timing, routine, environment, sensory support, regulation, parental presence and settling strategies.
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4. I support you while you make the changes
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You are not handed a generic sleep plan and left to work it out alone.
We can adapt your child's plan as we learn more about how they respond and what they need.
My Story
My journey into the world of autism, anxiety, and sleep support began with becoming an auntie to my wonderful nephew William, who is autistic; this created a deep desire to understand and help neurodiverse families. I noticed a significant gap in resources and support for these families, which fueled my passion to learn more. Through completing my training, research, personal experiences, and connecting with others, I gained valuable insights that shaped my approach. Today, I am dedicated to providing the support and information that families need, ensuring they feel understood and empowered on their unique journeys.
Autism, Anxiety & Sleep Package
My specialist Autism, Anxiety & Sleep Package has been created for families who need a more detailed and supported approach.
Included:
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In-depth sleep assessment and sleep analysis
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Personalised family action plan
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60-minute call to talk through your plan
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3 weeks of WhatsApp support
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Weekly support calls
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An additional 3 weeks of email support
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Personalised visuals and supporting resources where appropriate
Specialist sleep support designed around your child
​There is no single sleep approach that works for every autistic, neurodivergent or anxious child. If sleep is affecting your child or your family, we can look at what is happening, understand what may be driving it and create a responsive plan that feels realistic for you.