Hello,
1-Exercise daily and avoid trigger foods.
Exercise will help keep them physically fit, it will also help them sleep better at night. In addition, make healthy eating habits by avoiding caffeine and artificial ingredients that may promote hyperactivity. Consider nutritional testing to determine if your child has dietary or digestion issues like food sensitivities or vitamin, mineral, and
amino acid deficiencies that can exacerbate
anxiety and sleep problems.
2-Stick to a schedule.
Decide ahead of time with your child what the night time routine will be, and include when to bathe, brush teeth, read, etc. Remember, child with ADHD need routine and predictability even more than other kids. Make sure the hour before bedtime is calm and quiet and that lights are kept low so the body can produce enough
melatonin, the body's natural sleep hormone.
3-Set a bedtime alarm.
Just as you set an alarm for waking, consider setting a bedtime alarm so child associate their bedtime with a clock or timer instead of feeling like sleep is a parental demand. Make sure the sound of the alarm is quiet and not intrusive. Eventually, your child will naturally associate the sound of the bedtime alarm with sleepiness.
4-Use white noise and
blackout curtains.
In addition, use blackout curtains to eliminate light in the room. Too much light at bedtime can interfere with the body's melatonin production, so avoid screen time an hour before going to bed as well.
5-Try aroma therapy.
Essential oils like lavender, chamomile, sandalwood, or vanilla can be calming for many people who experience
sleeplessness. Let your child choose a calming scent that appeals to him or her, and then dab a little oil on a cotton ball and place it in his or her pillowcase.
6-Reduce anxiety.
Anxious kids, like anxious adults, often have too much on their minds to fall asleep at night. Use these strategies to calm an anxious child so he or she has a better chance of falling asleep naturally.
7-Sleep with a weighted blanket.
Child with ADHD often crave deep pressure and have poor
proprioception, which means they have trouble understanding where their bodies are in space. A heavy, weighted blanket can apply deep pressure to muscles and joints throughout the night, which helps regulate a disorganized sense of self and calm an overactive
central nervous system. Organizing and calming the senses can support the body's natural ability to fall asleep.
8-Consider melatonin.
If you've tried all of the above sleep suggestions, and your child with a neuro-developmental disorder still isn't getting enough sleep, ask your health care provider about supplemental melatonin. It could be that your child isn't producing enough melatonin naturally to fall asleep and stay asleep. Melatonin dosing varies by age and size, so be sure to check with your healthcare provider about whether supplemental melatonin is right for your child.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.