Welcome, friends—I’m so glad you’re here.
I’m just a simple Southern mom with two grown kids, a busy life, and our sweet 5-year-old daughter who keeps us on our toes. I rarely take time for myself, which is part of the reason I finally felt called to start this blog. After four years of walking a road I never expected, I’m ready to share our journey in hopes that it brings encouragement, comfort, and maybe a little courage to someone else.
Our autism journey with our daughter, Adilynn, began four years ago. When I say I was uneducated and unprepared, I mean it in every sense. Adilynn came to us through adoption—quick and slow all at the same time. One phone call, and at nine months old she arrived from the foster care system, tiny and beautiful, with dark hair and bright brown eyes that lit up the whole room. But her face told a quieter story. She rarely smiled, rarely laughed, and often held no expression at all.
That’s where our story began.
As the weeks turned into months, we faced sleepless nights, heartbreaking screams at the thought of being placed in her bed, tears at the feel of lotions on her skin, battles over washing her hair—everything seemed to overwhelm her little senses. She was in sensory overload, though I didn’t yet have the words for it. In my innocent, hopeful mind, I believed that with time she would “adjust” and we would all be “normal” again.
Bedtime used to be the hardest part of our day.
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If you’re parenting a child with sensory sensitivities, you probably understand the knots in your stomach as evening approaches. For us, bedtime meant tears, fear, and complete overwhelm. The bed felt wrong. The sheets felt wrong. Even the quiet felt too loud.
I didn’t know then that our daughter was experiencing sensory overload. I just knew she was hurting—and I was desperate to help her feel safe.
Over time, through trial, error, and prayer, we found a few sensory-friendly tools that gently changed everything for us. I want to share them here in case they help your family too.
A Weighted Blanket That Feels Like a Hug
One of the very first things that helped our daughter feel safe at night was a child-sized weighted blanket.
The deep pressure gives her body calming input and helps her relax enough to settle into sleep. We noticed fewer nighttime wakings and a much smoother transition to bed.
👉 [Our favorite weighted blanket for sensory-sensitive kids MAXTID Weighted Blanket] click here for Amazon link
Why it worked for us:
- Even weight distribution
- Soft, breathable fabric
- Not too heavy for a small child
Sound Machine for Predictable Comfort
Silence can be overwhelming for sensory kids. A sound machine became a game-changer in our home.
We keep the same sound on every night, creating a predictable and comforting routine that signals it’s time to rest.
👉 [Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine, Night Light | 2nd Gen] click here for Amazon Link
What to look for:
- Consistent sound (no looping breaks)
- Adjustable volume
- Simple controls
Sensory-Safe Pajamas (No Tags, No Tears)
Clothing sensitivity is real—and pajamas can make or break bedtime.
Tagless, soft pajamas without seams or stiff fabric helped eliminate one more battle from our routine.
👉 [Tagless pajamas that our child actually tolerates] Click here for Amazon Link
But what is normal, anyway?
Some say it’s following the rules, fitting a mold, being typical. But I quickly learned that wasn’t our path. Our normal became thinking outside the box. Loving differently. Parenting differently. Meeting her where she was, even when it looked nothing like what we had done with our older children.
I learned to give myself Grace- but please know that wasn’t at all my attitude in the beginning. I was quiet hard on myself.
I encourage you if bedtime feels hard right now, please know this: you are not failing.
Sensory-sensitive children experience the world differently, and it takes time to learn what their bodies need. What works for one child may not work for another—and that’s okay.
Please follow our blog as we share our ups and downs and what has helped us and our daughter on our autism journey.If even one of these tools helps bring peace to your home, then sharing our story was worth it.
Life is a journey and we take it one day at a time.
You’re not alone,
Julie