Autistic Kids and Sleep: What Parents Often Miss (and What Actually Helps)
Exhausted at 2 a.m.? You’re not alone. In this episode, I sit down with Kelly Ann Riley Smith to talk real-world fixes for autistic sleep struggles.
Kelly’s a neurodivergent former teacher, a mom of four neurodivergent kids, and an autism-and-anxiety sleep specialist. We get honest about what “my child doesn’t sleep” really means, why bedtime isn’t the true starting point, and how anxiety, sensory needs, and the nervous system all tangle together at night.
About the Guest
Kelly Ann Riley Smith is an autism and anxiety sleep specialist supporting parents of autistic children. She’s a former teacher and neurodivergent mom of four, including a son with high support needs. Find Kelly on Instagram, Facebook, her parent group Sleep Success for Autistic Children, or email kellyann@autismsleepsuccess.com.
Key Timestamps
0:02 – Meet Kelly Ann Riley Smith and why sleep matters so much
2:11 – Lived experience vs. professional training
8:43 – What “my autistic child doesn’t sleep” looks like in real life
10:10 – Falling asleep, staying asleep… or both?
12:06 – The bedtime routine myth many parents follow
13:15 – The most misunderstood part: sleep starts long before bedtime
14:37 – Autism and anxiety: how closely they connect at night
20:16 – What bedtime anxiety can look like
21:23 – The nervous system on high alert and why sleep won’t come
24:34 – Light, sound, temperature: what matters more than you think
33:21 – Room color and visual “noise” that keep brains alert
35:08 – Weighted blankets: helpful or harmful?
37:31 – White noise vs. silence (and real-life sleep setups)
39:04 – Is perfect sleep hygiene realistic for neurodivergent families?
40:12 – The toll on parents: from burnout to PTSD-like symptoms
41:27 – If you feel like you’re failing, hear this
51:35 – A message for the 2 a.m. listener
52:29 – Where to find Kelly and get support
If this helped, share it with a parent, educator, or caregiver who needs support. Subscribe for more neurodiversity conversations, practical strategies, and community resources.
#Neurodiversity #AutismParenting #SleepSupport #Anxiety #SensoryProcessing
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