Outcomes of a Behavioral Intervention for Sleep Disturbances in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Five kids with autism, ages 3-7, slept in their parents’ beds every night. Parents also stayed until the child fell asleep.

Ann et al. taught the parents Bedtime Fading plus Response Cost (BFRC). Parents moved bedtime later, then removed attention if the child left the bed. They tracked sleep with simple logs and a Fitbit-like watch.

All five kids stopped co-sleeping within six weeks. Night wakings dropped to zero and bedtime battles ended.

Gains held at three-month follow-up. Parents said they finally got their evenings back.

Kleinert et al. (2007) showed parents can learn DTT with the same teach-model-practice-feedback steps. Ann copied that coaching style, but aimed it at sleep instead of table-top skills.

Hahlweg et al. (2008) got small gains with a booklet plus phone calls. Ann’s in-home coaching produced big, fast sleep changes, suggesting live practice beats light-touch advice.

Dai et al. (2025) cut parent stress by letting families run DTT at home. Ann saw the same side benefit: once kids slept, moms and dads felt less burned out.

You don’t need an overnight clinic. Hand parents a one-page script, watch them rehearse, and send them home. In two weeks you can trade co-sleeping for a quiet couch and a happier family.