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





24/03/2026

I want to share something with you that might completely change how you look at your child’s sleep…?
It might not actually be about the bedtime routine at all!

A lot of autistic children have differences in their circadian rhythm (their body clock)… which basically means their internal “clock” isn’t lined up with the outside world.

So you can end up with a child who is:

✅ Wide awake at night.
✅Struggling to fall asleep even when they’re exhausted.
✅Finding mornings really tough. And everything just feels… out of sync.

But here’s the bit that often gets missed…

Our body clock needs light to know what time it is!

When your child gets natural light first thing in the morning, it helps trigger the release of cortisol (which is what helps us wake up and feel alert).

That then helps set things up for later in the day, including the release of melatonin at night… which is what helps with sleep.

So something as simple as opening the curtains, getting outside, or letting that morning light in can gently start to support your child’s sleep from the very beginning of the day.

It’s not about doing everything perfectly… but these small things can make a really big difference over time.

Because sleep isn’t just about bedtime… it’s about the whole 24 hours and this is exactly the kind of thing I’ll be talking through inside my Autism Sleep Foundations Workshop on April 1st (not an April fools I promise!)

If you’re ready to start understanding what’s really going on with your child’s sleep (and how to support it in a way that actually works for them) just pop “SLEEP” below or send me a message and I’ll share the details with you

Mother’s Day can feel complicated when you’re parenting an autistic child.Because while everyone else is talking about l...
15/03/2026

Mother’s Day can feel complicated when you’re parenting an autistic child.

Because while everyone else is talking about lie-ins, breakfast in bed and a day off…many of us are still doing the routines, the planning, and the emotional heavy lifting that our children rely on every day.

With today being Mother’s Day, I obviously want to wish every mum out there a lovely day but I also want to acknowledge something that doesn’t get talked about enough. For many mums of autistic children, myself included, today will probably look… pretty much like any other day.

The routines still need to happen, the structure still needs to be there, the sensory needs, the planning, the emotional load; non of it pauses just because the calendar says Mother’s Day.

My son has still kept his routine today and gone out with his PAs, and that’s totally fine because what our children need most is for things to stay predictable.

If you are a fellow mum of an autistic child, I want you to know this - you are doing an incredible job. Even on the days when you feel completely overwhelmed, even when you are utterly exhausted, even when the systems that are supposed to support our families feel confusing, frustrating and beyond broken at times.

The love, advocacy, patience and strength you show every single day is extraordinary even if it rarely gets recognised.

Now while I can’t give you breakfast in bed today or a day of rest and relaxation, I can give you the gift of sleep, both for you and your autistic child with my Autism Sleep Foundation Workshop - and it’a at the one time offer of just £19

We start on April 1st (not an April Fool’s, I promise) and inside the workshop we’ll:

✅ Deep dive into why autistic children struggle to settle to sleep
✅ Look at why night wakings happen
✅ And work together to create a personalised sleep plan that actually works for your child and your family

If you’d like the full details, comment below and I’ll send them over to you.

And however today needs to look in your home, whether it’s calm, chaotic, quiet, routine-filled, or somewhere in between I hope you manage to find a small moment for yourself today because you truly deserve it.

Happy Mother’s Day x

It’s one thing knowing you can do a good job, but it makes all the difference when others experience that first hand 🥰
14/03/2026

It’s one thing knowing you can do a good job, but it makes all the difference when others experience that first hand 🥰

14/03/2026

What is a good night’s sleep worth to you?

If you want to work with me for a month, to get your autistic child sleeping better - for less than a pub meal out, comment ME and I’ll send you how you can get those valued nights back 👌🏻

Today is World Sleep Day… something that as a autism and anxiety sleep specialist I love the focus of, but if you’re par...
13/03/2026

Today is World Sleep Day… something that as a autism and anxiety sleep specialist I love the focus of, but if you’re parenting an autistic child who struggles with sleep you’ll know that sleep is never just about bedtime.

When sleep is difficult, it affects everything. Your child’s regulation, anxiety levels, focus, and emotional wellbeing… and not to mention your own energy, patience, and ability to get through the day.

Many families I speak to are running on empty, trying everything they can, and wondering why sleep still feels so hard but autistic sleep isn’t about doing bedtime ‘better’, it’s about understanding your child’s nervous system and supporting sleep in a way that actually works for them.

So to mark World Sleep Day I’m sharing something special today 👇🏻

My video: 5 Ways to Help Your Autistic Child Get Better Sleep

Inside, I walk through 5 simple steps you can take that can make a real difference for your autistic child and ultimately your family too.

The video is only available inside my new Calmer Sleep Support Circle WhatsApp channel, where I’ll also be sharing:

✅ Practical sleep tips

✅ Helpful resources

✅ Expert guidance

✅ Extra bonuses and offers

If sleep has been a struggle in your home, this is a space you’ll definitely want to be part of and
you can join and access everything with the link in the comments 👍🏻

What parts of sleep are the hardest for your child?

11/03/2026

What does sleep have to do with dentist appointments?
Quite a lot actually.

When autistic children are tired, their nervous system has less capacity to cope with new environments, unfamiliar people and sensory input.

Sleep supports regulation, resilience and emotional capacity.

What does your child struggle with most when they’re tired?

03/03/2026

Reframing pain as communication not punishment…

28/02/2026

Do you dread the thought of bedtime hours before it happens?

If you feel you have tried everything to help your autistic child sleep, but nothing seems to make any difference then comment NEED SLEEP and I’ll send you my autism and sleep guide which contains 5 proven strategies to help your autistic child sleep better 👍🏻

If bedtime in your house feels like a battle ground… if you’re running on empty… if you’ve googled everything and still ...
27/02/2026

If bedtime in your house feels like a battle ground… if you’re running on empty… if you’ve googled everything and still nothing seems to help your autistic child sleep, I see you.

I know how exhausting it is when your child can’t fall asleep, wakes through the night, or just can’t settle no matter what you try and I also know how lonely it can feel.

That’s exactly why I created my Calm & Confident Sleep Transformation Programme - my 12-week personalised 1:1 support programme just for families of autistic children.

This isn’t a generic sleep plan pulled from a book. This is gentle, realistic, tailored support built around your child and your family.

Here’s what it looks like:

✅We start with a deep-dive assessment and a 90-minute Zoom where we really unpack what’s going on.
✅I create a step-by-step personalised plan that actually feels manageable.
✅We meet every two weeks to track progress, adjust the plan as needed and tackle any challenges.
✅And you have WhatsApp support from me Monday–Friday, because I know the hard moments don’t just happen on call days.

By the end of 12 weeks, my goal is simple:
Calmer bedtimes. Better sleep. A home that feels lighter.

Right now, I’m offering this full programme for £800 (usually £1500) as an introductory offer, with payment plan options available. Spaces are limited because I want to give each family the attention they deserve.

But honestly? The best next step isn’t jumping straight in.

If you’re even a little bit curious, book a free Sleep Discovery Call with me. No pressure. Just a friendly chat about what’s going on for your child and whether I can help.

You don’t have to figure this out on your own, and your child can sleep better you just need the right support.

If this feels like the nudge you’ve been waiting for, send me a message or book your free call (link in comments) I’d love to chat.

23/02/2026

School can be a massive source of anxiety that impacts on our children’s sleep...so having the necessary support in place is imperative for all aspects of our children’s wellbeing
BUT how will today’s news potentially impact that for your child?

21/02/2026

You don’t need another generic sleep routine.
You need someone who understands your child!

I’m not your average sleep consultant, I’m an Autism & Anxiety Sleep Specialist who looks at the whole child, across the full 24 hours not just what happens from 7pm.

You know how it is, the support you ‘should’ be able to access just isn’t there in reality.

You’ve had the referrals. You’ve endured the waiting lists. You’ve trialled the medication. You’ve filled in the endless sleep diaries.

You are exhausted and don’t want yet another chart to fill in, you want something that is actually going to make a difference.

I’m definitely not a professional in a suit who gaslights you into thinking you know nothing.
YOU are the expert in your child and we always work collaboratively, with me bringing the professional knowledge and personal experience and you bringing the insight only a parent can have.

Ready for real change, even if it looks a little different to the “norm”? 👇🏻

Book your FREE Sleep Support Call with me and let’s start doing this properly.

🔗 in comments

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Cornwall

Telephone

+447310720883

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