Safety + Sensory Canopy
Have confidence that your loved one is safe with the mesh and fabric canopy. Each door has a safety pocket + clasp that hide and secure the interior zipper to prevent wandering or falls and ensure a safe sleep.The breathable canopy blocks light, muffles sound and creates a soothing cocoon, free from distraction.The walls are tensioned and separated from the frame to provide padded protection while stimming or having a meltdown.
Naturepedic Verse Best For Children
I have chosen the Naturepedic Verse as the best mattress for autistic children because its made from organic materials to help eliminate toxins and reduce smells, whilst the individually encased coils minimize sounds, and the upper comfort layer is able to reduce irritating pressure points plus the cover is waterproof to help guard against spills.
This means that your more sensitive autistic child will be better protected from the stimuli that can often trigger meltdowns and cause sensory irritation that could interfere with their sleep.
The Naturepedic Verse is suitable for both younger and older children, whilst the MADE SAFE®, GreenGuard, and GOTS certifications add external reassurance that the mattress is indeed safe and free from toxins.
If youre also looking for a strong foundation then the Naturepedic Organic Deluxe Foundation is compatible to see the specifications and learn more.
Alternatively, you can click the button below to see the specs, warranty, and shipping information for the Verse Kids Mattress and get 10% off your entire order .
Consider Your Specific Needs
When choosing a mattress and bed frame for an autistic adult or child, here are the specific qualities that you should look out for.
The Mattress
In order to combat the most common traits of autism that are likely to interfere with you or your childs sleep, you should look for a mattress with the following qualities:
- Quiet hypersensitivity to sounds is a common trait associated with autistic adults and children . In such a case, it might be best for you to avoid mattresses with springs. All-foam mattresses made from memory foam, latex foam, and/or polyfoam may be more suitable because they are typically silent due to their absence of springs. However, take note that you should NOT allow a baby/very young child to sleep on a regular memory foam mattress or overly soft mattress because this could cause suffocation according to the Official Journal of the American Pediatrics .
- Motion isolation if you and/or your partner have ASD then you may find that the feeling of the other person shuffling around at night disturbs you. In which case you should again consider an all-foam mattress because, in addition to the absence of noisy springs, foam is excellent at absorbing the feelings of movement. Hybrid spring mattresses with individually wrapped pocket coils are typically much quieter and better at absorbing movements than regular Bonnell coiled mattresses.
The Bed Frame
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What Is A Sensory Room
A sensory room or sensory integration room is designed to provide calm, focus, and comfort to people with sensory processing problems, which often includes people with autism spectrum disorder .
The American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, known as DSM-5, mentions the atypical response to specific stimuli in people on the spectrum. This is described as hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment.
More specifically, kids on the spectrum may be hyper-sensitive to harsh lighting, strong odors, and loud music. While sensory issues can vary, there are general aspects that apply to most kids..
Sensory Room Ideas For Children With Autism
Your child has needs and wants that can be unique and interesting! One of the best ways to accommodate a child with autisms need for non-overwhelming stimulation is to create a space for them to explore their senses in the comfort and safety of home.
A sensory bedroom can be monumentally advantageous to your childs development and is a great way to keep them happy and relaxed. A sensory bedroom combines the effectiveness of sensory rooms that one might find in a traditional autism specialists office or at an autism learning center with the safety, comfort, and convenience of home. Of course, your childs specific needs and desires for what their cool new room will look like is going to be unique. You know your child better than anyone, so ultimately, only you know whats best when it comes to outfitting their sensory bedroom.
Lets walk through a few sensory room ideas when it comes to furniture best suited for autism and amenities available for their new room.
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Neat And Accessible Storage Bins
children with autism can experience sensory overload, even with their toys and gadgets. Having storage bins that are organized, labeled, and easily accessible can help a child clear his/her space and avoid getting overwhelmed with too much stuff.
These storage bins are perfect for children to slide open and close while keeping the contents out of sight, preventing them from getting distracted when they should be doing something else. These ones from Fun and Function are meant for classrooms but would work great in the bedroom too.
Safespace In Millwood School Bury
Jill Tierney, Head of Behaviours at Millwood Primary Special School, School for the Future, talks about how the five Safespaces they have, help meet a wide range of needs of pupils at the school. These include, sensory needs, communication, intensive interaction, behaviour self management, and reducing the incidence of crises. She describes how Safespaces help children to prepare for learning.
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Using Your Sensory Space
Once you’ve set up your sensory space, you’ll find numerous ways to use it. For example:
- Join your child in the space and play together as a way to build your relationship with one another while enhancing your child’s social-communication skills.
- Teach your child to use the space as a sanctuary where he can calm down if he is feeling agitated or anxious.
- Offer time in the space as a reward for doing a good job on a less-preferred activity such as trying new foods.
- Consult with your child’s therapists about ideas for sensory experiences or resources that can help your child learn to calm himself.
Establishing Good Sleep Hygiene
Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics Diplomate American Academy of Sleep MedicineDirector Pediatric Sleep Disorders Center Columbia University Medical Center
Sleep problems are very common, reportedly as high as 80% in children with ASD. In typically developing children sleep problems and insufficient sleep can result in daytime sleepiness, learning problems and behavioral issues such as hyperactivity, inattentiveness and aggression. Recent research in children with ASD demonstrates that poor sleepers exhibit more problematic behavior than good sleepers.
Fortunately, there are several ways parents can improve a childs sleep.
Establishing good sleep hygiene by addressing the following domains is a good first step.
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Best Mattresses And Beds For Autism Reviewed
Below are my top 3 picks for the best mattresses for autistic adults and children.
For adults and older teens with autism, the versatility and range of comprehensive features of the Botanical Bliss mattress from PlushBeds should make this the ideal choice for many affected sleepers.
For kids and older children, the Naturepedic Verse may be more suitable, whilst the Naturepedic 2-in-1 mattress might be the best choice for toddlers and young children.
Check out my individual reviews below to learn more, then click the buttons and links to take advantage of some limited-time discounts when you buy today.
Excellent Ways To Create A Peaceful And Calming Bedroom Space
Phones, television, computers, wires galore. Sound effects, flashing lights. Here they come, hit the floor! Sensory Overload Is The Malady Of Modernity. There is no question that the over-stimulation of our senses is out of control and has become a huge cause of stress and anxiety.
Some of us can work around it and others cant possibly begin to filter it. Everyone has been forced to be a multitasker, whether we can handle it or not. This sensory assault creates a vicious cycle of external affecting internal chaos.
Chaos Visual Noise Sensory Overload Stress Anxiety Chaos
The manifestation of Internal Chaos can surface as hyperactivity, anger, depression, lack of sleep, physical pain, and many other symptoms often overlooked or misinterpreted. This article is relevant to all of us ~ children and adults. We are all affected, we are all on the Spectrum
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Insurance & Funding Guidelines
Many families have succeeded in getting the entire bed paid for by insurance, Medicaid, Medicaid Waivers, or charities for Cubby special needs beds. Learn more below.
Have further questions? We love to help! Please reach out using the Contact Us page 🙂
1 – Prescription2 – Connect With A Supplier3 – Create Letters Of Medical Necessity 4 – Follow Up!5 – Get Approved & Enjoy Your Cubby! Have questions? Want more personalized help?Fill out the form below and we’d be happy to guide you! 🙂
Top 10 Special Needs Beds
This post may contain affiliate links please see our terms of use for details.
Finding the right bed for your special needs child can be a difficult task. Each of our kids have their own set of unique needs and challenges, and often those challenges are magnified at night when they may be left alone for long periods of time. Well, hopefully for long periods of time while YOU get to sleep too.
The good news is that there are sleeping solutions available for families with special needs children. The less good news is that itâs complicated to sort through the many options to find the one that is perfect for your child and itâs even more complicated to get the resources together to purchase a bed.
Youâre in luck! We go through the top special needs beds and explore all the features you may be looking for so you can find the bed that meets your requirements. Weâll also go over funding options and how to get a bed covered through insurance.
Looking for a quick rundown of all these beds? Check out our easy-to-read special needs bed features chart!
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What Can The Safespace Hi
A safe bedroom, playroom or chill-out spaceA Safespace can make a huge difference when a person has safety issues, poor sleep patterns or behavioural difficulties. It can provide a safe play space, sleeping space or a calm area. Families often report a big improvement in the life and well-being of the user and a positive impact on the whole family.
SleepA Safespace creates a low stimulation environment which can help with settling at bedtime and improve sleep patterns. It can also provide a safer environment for those who continue to wake at night.Sensory roomWith the option of a white wall and lighting effects, such as our fibre optics kit or special effects projector, the Safespace makes an ideal sensory room. Independence & privacyA separate space to be on your own, to express feelings, especially when upset or agitated, can often be denied to those who need high levels of supervision. A Safespace provides a safe private space, particularly important during the teenage years. This personal space can support the development of behaviour self-management. Family lifeHaving a member of the family with challenging behaviour can be difficult for everyone. Siblings, as well as carers, may have their sleep disturbed or be at risk of injury. The Safespace can enable a family to have a more balanced everyday life. It has been described by parents as bringing peace of mind into the family home.
Do Bed Tents Help With Anxiety
Bed tents or sensory tents were specifically designed to help people manage anxiety while playing, sitting, or lying inside. A number of great brands have focused their product development around autistic children as a key audience as this can seriously reduce anxiety and sensory input.
What works so well with the best bed tents are they provide a cozy, enclosed environment that can block out external stimuli such as noise and light, and as a result, can provide the best setting to reduce anxiety. We often see great anti-anxiety results when coupled with a weighted blanket.
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Awesome Bedroom Ideas For Kids With Autism
by Alescia Ford-Lanza MS OTR/L, ATPJune 06, 2019
It is estimated that over 80% of children with autism experience difficulties with sleep. If youve read our Ultimate Guide to Improving Sleep, youre likely on your way to considering how to best support your childs own sleep habits.
Looking at your childs bedroom environment may offer some insights and potential solutions.
Well-designed bedrooms for children with autism appeal to functionality, meet sensory needs, provide safety reassurance, and promote independence. But just because theres a lot to consider, doesnt mean your childs bedroom cant be cute and fun too!
Sensory Bedrooms For Kids With Autism
Want to create the perfect bedroom for your child with autism? Maximize the therapeutic potential and create a sensory nirvana in bedrooms of every size. Let’s take a look at the options, keeping in mind that your child’s bedroom must also be a place that encourages relaxation and sleep, not simply a sensory room.
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The Best Autism Bed Tents For Kids
An autism bed tent is quite simply a special needs bed enclosure which removes excessive sensory stimuli to help your little one get to sleep quicker and more comfortably. Children with autism become overwhelmed quickly by open spaces, and it does not matter how small or large their bedroom happens to be.
They will not feel secure in an open bed because they are easily overstimulated and will not sleep comfortably or at all if they are not feeling secure and calm in an exposed bed. An autism bed tent is ideal for any parent or carer who might be struggling to get their child who lives with ASD to sleep at night and we all understand how important sleep is for children with autism.
Due to the success autism bed tents have in helping a child sleep, there has been a growing trend in the number of different bed tents available for sale, which means more choice, better value for money, and a better customer experience.
SafeSleepSystems also hit the scene a few years ago with our autism bed tent, the Nickel Bed Tent, which had some great success. Finding the right autism-friendly bed tent is vital for several reasons, to keep your child safe and free from harming themselves during sleep, to remove unwanted stimuli from lights and sounds, and to comfort during sleep so that your loved ones can rest well.
Contents
Reasons to Avoid
- Could be taller in height
Other designs by Pacific Play Tents:
- Limited Colours Available
How To Come Up With Sensory Room Ideas On A Budget
If you are trying to create a sensory room on a budget, its important to note you do not need to spend an arm and a leg for sensory items. Some sensory or calming products can be overpriced, and there are dozens of alternatives that are more economical. You can find many products and materials in craft stores suitable for serving as sensory room supplies for your project.
To discover great calming bedroom ideas, start with assessing your child. What do they like or dislike when it comes to sensory stimuli in their rooms? Do they mind being touched, or does he/she avoid it? Does he/she like the night light turned on or off? Are there specific sights, sounds, and smells he/she cannot tolerate? Knowing these details about their sensory preferences will determine the things you need for a sensory bedroom that works.
In an interview with Autism Parenting Magazine, licensed Interior Designer and founder of Sensory Interior Design Carol Felder said she believes creating a sensory room needs to be holistic.
The biggest mistake parents make when creating a sensory space is thinking it has to be expensive. According to Felder: Parents are overwhelmed with many decisions that revolve around the care of their child. Spending money without a plan and the proper guidance in an attempt to make things better can have undesired results as does thinking the look of a childs bedroom is secondary to more pressing needs.
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The Deep Sensory Massage Technique For The Sensory Sensitive
Fig 6: Deep Sensory Massage for Autism
My favorite therapy for this is deep sensory massage. However difficult this may sound, it is actually quite simple and could be easily practiced at home. Follow these simple steps:
- Find a soft bristled brush.
- Have your child sit in front of you, legs crossed and arms at their side.
- Lift one arm of the child and gently begin to run the brush-up and down along the arm.
- Run the brush over the hand from one extreme to another moving back and forth a few times. Your child may complain initially but will eventually warm up to it.
- When the brush runs over a joint , apply a little more pressure with the brush.
- Have the child lay flat on the floor and rub their tummy with the brush. Note: You will be surprised to find your child relaxed and not giggling at the tummy brushing.
- While they are lying down, go back to the arm and put your hand between the floor and the back of their shoulders
- Give a gentle push making a circle around the shoulder joint
- Repeat this process for the shoulders, knees, ankles, and wrists.
At the end of this exercise, your child should be much more relaxed!
Fig 7: The Child would be Relaxed enough to Sleep
Once this is accomplished have the child move to a comfortable chair or to their bed for some story time. You will find them well on their way to sleep before you even finish reading the first few pages. This in-home therapy for autism is great, particularly for naps and bedtime.