Researchers at the Sleep Disorders Center at Vanderbuilt University are working to find a better way for autistic children to get a good night’s sleep. Though the research is ongoing, they have been following a small group of children with autism who struggle to fall asleep after 30 minutes at least three times a week. Together with parent education on good sleep habits, the researchers provided the children with a low dose of the sleep hormone melatonin, which may be deficient in children with autism. The researchers have yet to find any side effects from the supplement.