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Disturbed sleep
Hi doctors
My daughter is 8Months old, she is always having disturbed sleep. Even if the environment is calm, before bed we are changing diapers. For example she is waking up 5-10times, this is continuing from her birth
I'm really worried because i saw that autistic babies will have this issue.
Looking forward to your valuable answers. Thanks
Answers (10)
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Hi.
Sleep problems are reported in autism, but never in isolation. That means to be diagnosed with autism, the child has to meet certain criteria and sleep problems are not one of them.
Sleep difficulties are reported quite commonly in young babies. Often they wake up multiple times at night to demand milk, or to ask for cuddling. Some babies associate certain activities with sleep, and may demand for that.
Next Steps
A consistent sleep schedule is important, and this consistency should be followed by every member of the family.
Donot worry much about sleep disturbances, as long as the baby is getting her quota of sleep. That should be around 12 to 16 hours per day including naps.
If you are concerned about autism, you should see a developmental pediatrician once the baby turns 12 months old. Early signs may be visible by that age group. Otherwise, do not worry about autism now.
Health Tips
See a developmental pediatrician if concerns about development persist. You can ask your pediatrician for an MCHAT at 18 and 24 months.
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Hello, I understand your concern
It is common and usually not due to illness if baby is growing well and active. Sleep patterns mature over time – gradual improvement expected after 9–12 months.
Children with autism can have sleep issues — especially after 18–24 months. But in infancy, isolated night waking is not enough to suspect autism. If baby is socially engaging, babbling, growing well, and meeting milestones – no concern for autism at this stage.
Next Steps
Consistent bedtime routine: Same time daily, include calming activities (bath, book, lullaby)
Put baby down drowsy but awake: Encourages self-soothing skills
Avoid picking up immediately on every wake-up: Try gentle patting or voice reassurance
Limit nighttime feeds gradually: If feeding to sleep is the association, slowly reduce it over days
Health Tips
Red flags:
Poor weight gain
Continuous crying at night
Snoring or gasping during sleep
Daytime sleepiness or lethargy
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Dear Parent,
Thank you for reaching out.
It's completely understandable to be concerned about your child's sleep, especially when the disturbances are frequent. At 8 months of age, it is common for babies to have irregular sleep patterns. Several reasons could contribute to frequent night waking, such as:
Hunger or growth spurts
Teething pain
Separation anxiety
Need for comfort or feeding
Light sleep cycles, which are normal at this age
While it’s true that some children with neurodevelopmental conditions may experience sleep disturbances, sleep issues alone are not a sign of autism. Autism involves a broader set of developmental concerns, such as lack of social engagement, poor eye contact, delayed babbling, and limited response to name – which are usually identified after 12 months of age.
For now, here are some things you can try:
Keep a consistent bedtime routine (bath, feed, lullaby, dim lights)
Ensure the baby is comfortable, not too hot/cold
Avoid overtiredness – follow appropriate wake windows
Try white noise to soothe
Keep stimulation low at night-time waking
If the sleep disturbances persist beyond 12 months, or if you notice any delay in milestones (like not sitting, not responding to name, or poor eye contact), it’s a good idea to consult a pediatrician or developmental specialist for early screening.
You are doing the right thing by being observant and caring. Most babies eventually develop more stable sleep patterns with time.
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Dr. Bhatt Vivek Prafulchandra
Pediatrician
5 yrs exp
Rajkot
Consult with Pediatrician physically for further evaluation and treatment
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Dr. Tangade Vishal Bhanudas
Pediatrician
4 yrs exp
Pune
Visit physically to nearby pediatrician.
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Dr. Sachin Pariskar
Pediatrician
8 yrs exp
Pune
Kindly consult once for discussion
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Dr. Prathibha Reddy
Pediatrician
12 yrs exp
Hyderabad
In autism , other symptoms will b der . Not only sleep disturbance. If baby is active no need to worry . Sleep pattern depends upon genetic also .
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Dr. Anjali Maini
Pediatrician
33 yrs exp
Gurgaon
Hello, this is a common concern, not to be taken as a sign of autism if the baby is achieving developmental milestones appropriate for her age, is having good eye contact, and is interactive.
Take the following measures:
Break the association of feeding/ rocking before sleep - for this Can feed before a bath or before a story telling
Encourage self soothing - put the baby in the crib/ bed while drowsy though still awake, use a transitional object like a toy/ blanket, don’t respond to each night waking or crying
Use behavioural techniques: Gradual fading- slowly reduce time spent in comforting from patting to just presence, Graduated extinction- let baby fuss or cry for increasing intervals before checking in
Next Steps
Stick to above measures for 1-2 weeks to get the best results
Health Tips
Please relax, it’s just a behavioural insomnia of infancy. It’s to be tackled with simple measures
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Dr. Venkatesh Badugu
Pediatrician
9 yrs exp
Hyderabad
This is normal behaviour only
Don't worry this is autistic behaviour
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Dr. Akansha Mittal
Pediatrician
7 yrs exp
New Delhi
No worries. Baby may get disturb sleep due to other reasons like teething, tummy discomfort, separation anxiety and many others.
There is no such thing that autistic babies have disturbed sleep .
No worries.
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