Why the Sleep Plan Isn’t Working (And What to Do Instead)
It’s one of the most common frustrations I hear from both BCBAs and caregivers:
“We’ve been following the sleep plan for weeks… and it’s just not working.”
Maybe the learner is still resisting bedtime.
Maybe the night wakings haven’t improved.
Maybe the whole family is even more exhausted than when they started.
If this sounds familiar, don’t worry—it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. In fact, it probably means something very normal has happened: the sleep plan skipped ahead of the skills.
Sleep Skills Aren’t Optional. They’re Prerequisite.
Here’s the truth: sleep doesn’t just happen because we want it to. It happens because certain systems are in place—routines, cues, habits, and environmental conditions—that support the body and brain in doing what they’re meant to do.
And like every other behavior we work on in ABA, sleep-related behaviors depend on prerequisite skills.
If a child can’t follow a simple routine, transition away from preferred activities, or separate from their caregiver for short periods of time during the day—expecting them to fall asleep independently at night is a leap they’re not ready to make.
That’s where so many well-meaning sleep plans go off course. They focus on what the child needs to do at bedtime... without first making sure the child has ever done those things before in any other context.
Common Sleep Skills That Need Daytime Practice
Before we ask a learner to:
Follow a 5-step bedtime routine,
Calm their body and mind,
Sleep alone in a dark room, or
Fall asleep without a caregiver present…
We need to assess whether they’ve practiced these abilities during the day, during ABA sessions, and under conditions that allow for learning success.
Here are just a few examples of skills that can (and should) be built long before lights out:
Following a visual or structured routine
Transitioning away from screens or highly preferred activities
Practicing “calm body” cues during downtime or scheduled breaks
Tolerating short caregiver separation intervals during play
Being in their bedroom (lights on) for short periods of time without distress
These are not “sleep skills” in the traditional sense—but they are the foundation for every effective, ethical, and sustainable sleep intervention. And as BCBAs, we’re already equipped to build them.
The Sleep Plan Is Only As Good As the Skills That Support It
If your current sleep programming feels stuck, start by looking beneath the bedtime behaviors.
Are the skills in place?
Has the learner practiced them during the day, under supported conditions?
Is the environment at bedtime reinforcing—or working against—those skills?
Has the family been coached on how to maintain consistency across different settings and caregivers?
When we zoom out and start with strong foundational skill sets, we don’t just make bedtime easier—we make sleep better, more sustainable, and far less likely to fall apart after the next illness, vacation, or routine change.
Ready to Learn How to Do Sleep Differently?
The August cohort of The Sleep Collective is now enrolling!
Inside this BCBA-specific certification, you’ll learn how to:
✔ Build individualized, sustainable sleep support plans rooted in skill-building and behavior analysis
✔ Troubleshoot common breakdowns before they derail progress
✔ Collaborate effectively with caregivers to promote long-term sleep success—without using extinction
✔ Expand your practice by offering an in-demand service that transforms family systems
If your sleep support systems feel fragile—or worse, ineffective—this is your invitation to learn how to build them better.
Sleep doesn’t have to be the most frustrating part of a family’s day. With the right foundation, it can be one of the most rewarding.
Click here to find out more about The Sleep Collective – August Cohort Now Open!
