Welcome back to Autism, ADHD and Us Three. In this episode, Jenny is joined by children's nurse and sleep consultant Michelle Cyril to talk about neuroaffirming sleep and why traditional sleep advice often does not work for neurodivergent children and teenagers.
Michelle shares the moment she realised that the strategies she used professionally were not working with her own neurodivergent children. Together, Jenny and Michelle explore sensory regulation, busy brains and bodies, transitions, PDA and what it really means to work with a child's brain instead of against it.
Michelle also talks about the period she spent working with neurodiversity consultant Madeleine Woolgar, whose approach changed how she supports her own children. Madeleine's work is tailored to the individual family she is working with, so her specific recommendations are not covered here. Her details are in the links below.
Jenny and Michelle discuss why calm and stillness are not always the answer, how movement and sensory activity can help some children settle, and why your child's natural sleep window may look completely different from other children's. Michelle explains why an earlier bedtime does not necessarily mean more sleep and how parents can rethink routines, baths and expectations.
They also talk about the pressure parents put on themselves when sleep is difficult, why bedtime struggles are not a sign of failure, and how looking after your own regulation can make evenings easier for everyone.
Ultimately, neuroaffirming sleep is about understanding the child in front of you and creating routines that support their brain, body and nervous system.
Useful links
Family Sleep Specialist: https://www.familysleepspecialist.co.uk/
Michelle's free parent resource: https://familysleepspecialist.co.uk/Parent
Neurodivergent Sleep Help Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/neurodivergentsleephelp
Madeleine Woolgar, Neuro Embrace: https://www.neuro-embrace.com/
Madeleine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuroembracingmadeleine
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Keywords
Neurodivergent sleep, neuroaffirming sleep, autism sleep, ADHD sleep, AuDHD children, neurodivergent teenagers, PDA, bedtime routines, sensory needs, sensory regulation, busy brain at bedtime, sleep window, low sleep needs, teenage sleep, bedtime battles, neuroaffirming parenting, parenting neurodivergent children, nervous system regulation, neurodiversity consultant, Madeleine Woolgar, Autism ADHD and Us Three, Audhdistically Me, Michelle Cyril.
