I received a sample for this review/feature. Opinions expressed are my own.
The end of April approaches and thus the end of Autism Awareness Month. According the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network about 1 in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism can make normal daily activities challenging and stressful for children and their parents. Some products out there can help provide solutions to common challenges and enhance the lives families living with autism.
Children with autism are particularly prone to sleep problems, which can take its toll on the whole family. The Claessens’ Kids Kid’Sleep Moon?can be used as a night light, sleep trainer and alarm clock. For individuals with special needs or developmental delays, it can be used to help understand time references, when it is time to get out of bed and when it is not to help them self-regulate their sleeping patterns.
All settings are adjustable so you can customize depending on time of day, brightness and alarm sounds. All settings are adjusted on the back of the clock. It also has a holder for the nightlight plate. The nightlight only feature is great for toddlers and babies before they need a sleep trainer.
For the “go to sleep” function you press the GS button and the bunny character switches to the awake position and the moon changes into the sun. The sun in the clock section then goes down slowly and after 10 minutes the moon rises. For the “wake up process” kids get a 10 minute warning for sleep time and get up time. You can also turn on the lullaby anytime for 3 minutes of music.
My 4 year old would constantly get up in the middle of the night and get into my bed. Now when I walk her back to her room I show her that the bunny is still sleeping and she should be too. It took some time and reminding her several times but now she really gets it. She thinks it is cute she gets to sleep when her bunny sleeps. My 7 year old has more than once stated it isn’t fair Lil Sis has such a cute clock and she doesn’t. I may have to get another!
For some kids, including lots of children with Autism, bedtime and staying asleep can be brutal on mom and dad! This Autism Parenting Solution to Sleep Problems is available online at Amazon. It might be just the thing you need to help your child form a sleep schedule so that you can get some sleep too!