DREAMLAND SPOTLIGHT: MEET THE FORD FAMILY

Ariel Ford is a mom of two boys, ages 5 and 3, and a fierce advocate for the autism community. When both of her sons were diagnosed with autism around age 2, she leaned in. She started a resource community, orbitingautism.com, and made it her mission to find what works for sleep, for regulation, for life.

Luca's Sleep Story

"Autism can often accompany sleep struggles. This is my little Luca. It is very hard for him to calm his body and regulate his nervous system on his own. We need tools to help him regulate, especially for sleep.

We were successful with a couple of supplements that helped him fall asleep initially, but he was specifically struggling to stay asleep. He was waking very unregulated in the middle of the night -- that is, until we found the Dreamland Baby Weighted Sleep Sack Walker. He wakes far less at night now, and when he does, he is calm and regulated and can put himself back to sleep.

It has been life-changing for our entire family."

Why Dreamland?

"We had attempted blankets for Luca, but he hates blankets in general -- so we always used a sleep sack. We had moved him into a walker sleep sack as he got older, but due to his autism, he needed more. So many therapists recommended weighted blankets, but he just wouldn't keep one on. As soon as I saw the Weighted Sleep Sack Walker, I knew it was exactly what we needed.

I was watching for this for over a year -- I was so incredibly happy when the team increased sizing."

The Difference It Made

"We went from waking 3 to 4 times in the night, very upset, to barely waking at all. If we do wake, we are calm and can gently fall back asleep.

Autism families struggle a bit more than most with lots of things -- but more so when it comes to sleep. Finding something that truly works and makes a massive impact can be life-changing for both the child with autism and the family."

Why She's a Dreamland Fan

"This is another mom. A champion. She understands me -- she gets the struggle of only ever wanting what is best for your child. Made by a mom, for moms, with their children in mind. It doesn't get any better than that for us.

Not all autism moms or families know these regulation products exist and can help with the struggles they are facing. That's what I want people to know."

About Ariel Ariel Ford is an autism mom, advocate, and founder of orbitingautism.com. She lives in Fairport, NY with her two boys.