Kelly-anne Riley-Smith: Autism & Anxiety Sleep Specialist

Kelly-anne Riley-Smith: Autism & Anxiety Sleep Specialist www.facebook.com/groups/sleepsuccessforautisticchildren As amazing as it is, being a parent can be hard! My family life is far from 'normal' - whatever that is?!

Helping parents of autistic children with sleeping difficulties to create calm, confident sleep routines so they can enjoy restful nights without overwhelm or endless battles. But when you are the parent of a neurodivergent child, all those parental challenges along with every-day goals are magnified. I have 4 children, all of whom are neurodivergent - Autism, ADHD, Epilepsy, but with both myself and my husband also being neurodivergent ............lets just say, I don't think our 'days of diagnosis' are over just yet! Over the past 22 years of being a parent I have laughed, loved, cried and felt so much pride to the point of bursting; I have suffered clinical depression, lost friends and family and fought for services until I thought I had nothing left to give. But as the song goes, "I'm still standing"! One thing I have learned along my journey, which is SO easily overlooked, is the importance of self care, because you 'can't pour from an empty cup'! You need to be at your best, so you can give your best to those who really need you. You are the glue that holds everything together, please don't fall apart

To connect with other parents and families with autistic children, gain tips, advice and extremely supportive friends (who genuinely 'get it') alongside advice, hear from guest speakers and make use of our wonderful resources and products that really do help, then come on over and join my parent support group. I'd love to see you over there and really get to know you and your wonderful family x

https://www.facebook.com/groups/autismandparentsupport





Mornings shouldn’t start with stress and rushing! Many autistic children need a little extra time to process the world w...
03/02/2026

Mornings shouldn’t start with stress and rushing!

Many autistic children need a little extra time to process the world when they first wake up.

So jumping straight from sleep to “come on, time to get up” or the dreaded “come on, we’re late!” can feel overwhelming FAST.

Something I often suggest to families is waking their child around 20 minutes earlier than the time they actually need to get up, to allow for the processing time needed.

That extra time can mean gentler transitions, less anxiety, fewer meltdowns and calmer starts for everyone.

Sometimes the smallest changes create the biggest shifts.

Save this to try tomorrow 👍🏻

Kelly-anne x

01/02/2026

Thought this was very apt after the day we had yesterday.

If you want to check out the full episode where I chatted with disabled advocate comment ME below and I’ll send you the link 👍🏻

31/01/2026

Not something I usually would share, but it can be hard sometimes.

Those simple everyday task that people take for granted are really not so straightforward for neurodivergent households … despite all the preparation and planning, things don’t always go well for any of us

Bedtime shouldn’t feel like a battle every night.If sleep feels impossible right now… let’s change that 👇🏻❤️
31/01/2026

Bedtime shouldn’t feel like a battle every night.
If sleep feels impossible right now… let’s change that 👇🏻❤️

28/01/2026

Ditch society’s “shoulds” and parent the child in front of you. When you focus on what helps THEM feel safe, happy, and content, even if it looks different to everyone else, you’re doing it right.

26/01/2026

Travel can wreck sleep, especially for autistic children who rely on predictability to feel safe.

When travelling, the goal isn’t a perfect bedtime routine…it’s consistent anchors that tell their nervous system: we’re okay, we’re safe, we can rest now.

22/01/2026

You need to be doing this if you want to see your child’s sleep improve

Does bedtime feel like a long battle every night, with hours of trying to help your child settle only to see repeated ge...
22/01/2026

Does bedtime feel like a long battle every night, with hours of trying to help your child settle only to see repeated getting out of bed, anxiety and overstimulation which is leaving you emotionally drained before you’ve even had a chance to rest? 😩

Are the constant night wakings leaving you exhausted and running on fumes the next day while trying to cope with your child’s needs, your own responsibilities, and the worry that nothing is improving?😪

With my NEW guide, finally discover how to get your autistic child settling to sleep more easily and staying asleep for longer without hours of bedtime battles, repeated night wakings, or lying awake worrying what the night will bring, so you can all get the rest you need and start feeling like yourself again.

Download my new FREE sleep guide: Let’s Talk About Autism and Sleep: 5 Proven Strategies to Help Your Autistic Child Get a Good Night’s Sleep below 👇🏻

https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/CSYWMd6wfND0ax1cwvKF

It might take time…but it’s worth it (for everyone)!For years our sleep was non existent, we spoke to doctors, specialis...
09/01/2026

It might take time…but it’s worth it (for everyone)!

For years our sleep was non existent, we spoke to doctors, specialists, trialed medications but nothing seemed to work 🥴

Our evenings, as a couple, were gone as we played ‘tag team’ with trying to get our son to settle and actually sleep - the waking in the nights with the “it’s your turn” being muttered, whilst one of us would desperately try to get some sleep; knowing all to well we would need to be up first thing in the morning to do the school run with everyone else.

We had OT involvement and ended up with, what I called an ‘adult cot’, which looked like a cage that he was still able to climb out of. No matter what we tried, nothing seemed to work and we just thought - this is it.

At the age of 7yr he started accessing respite provision at the specialist school he attended - what a changing point this was for all of us, not only due to us being able to get some much needed sleep ourselves but also because he seemed to settle and sleep SO much better there than at home 🤷🏼‍♀️

I couldn’t understand why we had so many problems at home and yet at respite he was so different - no ‘specialist’ bed, yes he would still wake early in the mornings but not during the night. I couldn’t comprehend what was so different or what we were doing so wrong - and, being completely honest with you all, I felt bad that he wouldn’t sleep at home.

I visited his respite bedroom on numerous occasions in the hope that something would click, and we’d get same sleeping patterns at home … and eventually it did!

This was the catalyst that made me totally rethink sleep for my son, the routines, the environment and the day to day activities that made (and continue to make) such a difference - and which led me to becoming a certified autism and anxiety sleep specialist too.

My son now sleeps from about 8/9pm to 7am, no stress, no sleep medication, no specialist bed, just rest and relaxation for all the family. And whilst it’s been a long time coming … my god, it’s worth it!

We now have our evenings back, which I can enjoy with all of my children and my husband, and we are all refreshed and ready to take on the day (whatever different battle that might bring 😂).

If you are ready to get your and your child’s sleep back on track, I have some availability for my 1:1 sleep support - pop me a message or drop a comment below and I’ll send you all the details on how we can work together to make a postive change to the sleep in your home too 🥰

Kelly-anne Riley-Smith x

It’s been a lovely down time over the Christmas break but I can’t wait to get back to supporting families of autistic ch...
03/01/2026

It’s been a lovely down time over the Christmas break but I can’t wait to get back to supporting families of autistic children with their sleep!

As we start our 2026 journeys, I’m super excited to be launching my brand new 3 month 1:1 sleep support programme, where I’ll be working closely with families to:

✅ Understand what’s really impacting your child’s sleep

✅ Create a personalised sleep plan that fits your family

✅ Support you step by step as sleep gradually improves

And you won’t be doing this alone, as I’ll be right there with you throughout the journey.

So, if sleep is a struggle in your home and you’d like more details, drop “need sleep” in the comments or drop me a message below and I’ll pop all the information over to you.

AND for the first 10 people … I’ve got a super special offer for you too! ❤️

Here’s to calmer evenings, more rest, and a better night’s sleep for everyone in 2026

Kelly-anne x

Feeling thankful this National Author’s Day 🥰Being part of Parenting on a Different Path has been such a special experie...
01/11/2025

Feeling thankful this National Author’s Day 🥰

Being part of Parenting on a Different Path has been such a special experience - sharing my journey of raising my eldest son, who has complex needs, alongside other incredible families who truly understand what it means to walk this path.

There were so many times I felt alone in those early years, but writing my story reminded me how powerful it is when we share our experiences - the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

If you’ve ever felt unseen or needed a reminder that you’re doing an incredible job (even on the toughest days), this book is for you - and you can get it with the link in the comments 💙

Did you know…If your child is over 14 and is registered on their GP's learning disability register, then they are entitl...
08/10/2025

Did you know…

If your child is over 14 and is registered on their GP's learning disability register, then they are entitled to a free annual health check?

Not only does being on the register tell healthcare staff that they need to adapt their support and care to you and your situation but also the annual health check can help detect any underlying health issues that can easily go unnoticed until they are a real concern.

If your autistic child also has a learning disability, then make sure they are registered with your GP for their annual health check ❤️

Address

Newquay
Cornwall

Telephone

+447310720883

Website

https://www.facebook.com/kellyanne.smith.90/subscribe, https://ca

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