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A simple, printable diary for recording your child's night-time care, wakings and supervision — designed to help you keep a clear record when preparing a Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claim.
Download the free printable (PDF)If you're claiming DLA for a child who needs extra care or supervision overnight, a sleep diary can help you keep a clear record of what happens each night. This free sleep diary for DLA gives you a place to record the times your child wakes, how long they are awake and — most importantly — the care and supervision you provide.
It can be particularly useful for parents of autistic children, as well as children with other disabilities or additional needs where sleep difficulties, night-time care or supervision are an important part of everyday life.
DLA for children looks at the extra care or supervision a child needs compared with a child of the same age who does not have a disability. GOV.UK says the care component can include situations where a child needs frequent help or continual supervision during the day, or supervision at night. citeturn0search0
A sleep diary cannot prove entitlement on its own, but it can provide a clear record of the pattern of night-time care you provide. Recording what actually happens can make it easier to explain the frequency, duration and nature of the support your child needs.
Sleep difficulties can be an important part of a child's overall care needs. If your autistic child wakes repeatedly, stays awake for long periods, needs reassurance or supervision, or cannot safely be left alone at night, record what actually happens rather than simply writing that they have “poor sleep”.
For example, an entry could explain that your child woke at 2:00am, remained awake for 35 minutes, needed repeated reassurance and resettling, and required supervision because they could not safely be left alone. The important point is to record the care and supervision you actually provide.
There is no need to make your diary sound medical. Clear, factual notes about what happened, how often it happened and how long you spent providing care are more useful than trying to use technical language.
Focus on the support your child needed rather than just the fact that they woke. For example, “woke at 3am” gives less information than “woke at 3am, stayed awake for 40 minutes and needed a parent to remain with them and resettle them”.
The current DLA1 child claim form itself asks about help needed to settle in bed and asks how often that help is needed and how many minutes it takes each time. citeturn0search12
There is no particular number of nights on this page that guarantees a useful diary. Recording over one or two weeks can help you identify a pattern, but the most important thing is to keep accurate records of what actually happens rather than trying to create a particular result.
Yes. The free PDF is designed as a printable DLA diary template that you can use to record night-time care and sleep difficulties. You can print additional daily sheets if you need to continue recording for longer.
Yes. The diary can be used for an autistic child or for a child with another disability or additional need. The important thing is to record the child's actual care and supervision needs rather than assuming that a particular diagnosis automatically means they will qualify for DLA.
No. A sleep diary is supporting information, not a guarantee of an award. GOV.UK explains that DLA for children is based on the extra care or supervision a child needs compared with a child of the same age without a disability. citeturn0search0
Yes. The printable PDF is free to download and you can print as many daily sheets as you need.
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Information on this page is intended to help you keep a clear record of care needs. For current DLA eligibility and claiming information, check the official GOV.UK guidance.