From sleepless nights to calmer bedtimes with autistic kids

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 GuestKelly 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 [email protected] Timestamps0:02 – Meet Kelly Ann Riley Smith and why sleep matters so much2:11 – Lived experience vs. professional training8:43 – What “my autistic child doesn’t sleep” looks like in real life10:10 – Falling asleep, staying asleep… or both?12:06 – The bedtime routine myth many parents follow13:15 – The most misunderstood part: sleep starts long before bedtime14:37 – Autism and anxiety: how closely they connect at night20:16 – What bedtime anxiety can look like21:23 – The nervous system on high alert and why sleep won’t come24:34 – Light, sound, temperature: what matters more than you think33:21 – Room color and visual “noise” that keep brains alert35:08 – 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 symptoms41:27 – If you feel like you’re failing, hear this51:35 – A message for the 2 a.m. listener52:29 – Where to find Kelly and get supportIf 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 #SensoryProcessingHosted by Reid Miles.Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller📩 Guest inquiries & media: [email protected] on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.