The Good Sleep Guide for Neurodivergent Kids - by Melisa Moore (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A compassionate, science-backed guide to improving sleep in children and teens with neurodiversities -- written by a renowned pediatric sleep expert who is also the parent of a neurodivergent child.

When Dr. Melisa Moore realized her son had autism and ADHD, she already had a decade of experience helping families navigate sleep issues, but nothing had prepared her for the reality of managing sleep in her own household. The advice she had learned felt too rigid, unrealistic, or simply ineffective for kids like hers. What she needed was a different kind of guide -- so she set out to create one.

With humor, validation, and true empathy, Moore offers a multifaceted framework that blends evidence-based science with real-life parenting wisdom. She breaks down the myths of sleep training, redefines "healthy sleep" for neurodiverse families, and provides a toolkit for finding what works -- for your child, in your life, right now, even if it doesn't look the way anyone told you it should. As Moore shows, consistently better sleep is possible, and The Good Sleep Guide for Neurodivergent Kids will get your family there.

Review Quotes

"At long last, here is the comprehensive sleep guide parents of neurodivergent children have been waiting for. With the perfect blend of science, professional expertise, and heart, Dr. Moore helps families understand both what's at the root of their child's sleep challenges and the steps they can take to help the whole family get the rest they need. We have referred countless parents and children to Dr. Moore over the years, and we have seen firsthand how effective her methods are."
-- Jennifer Waldburger, MSW, and Jill Spivack, LCSW, coauthors of The Sleepeasy Solution and cofounders of Sleepy Planet Parenting

"Dr. Moore brings her mom experience to this gem of a book. It's easy to digest and chock-full of stories, Tuck-In Tips, and Pillow Points. I would recommend this quick read to all sleepy and stressed parents of neurodivergent kids."
-- Beth Ann Malow, MD, MS, Burry Chair in Cognitive Childhood Development and professor of neurology and pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center

"This is the book I wish I could hand to every family who sits in my office exhausted and unsure of what to do next. Sleep is hard for so many neurodiverse kids, and parents are often left piecing together advice from a dozen places. This book finally brings it all together. It is practical, clear, and incredibly reassuring. Honestly, it feels like having a sleep psychologist in your pocket. I will be recommending it to the families I work with and encouraging them to order it, because it truly covers everything."
-- Willough Jenkins, MD, child psychiatrist, associate professor, medical director, psychiatric emergency and consultation service, Rady Children's Hospital, University of California at San Diego

"Dr. Melisa Moore is one of the world's foremost experts on sleep health in pediatric populations. Her command of the scientific literature provides the critical integrity, and her writing is accessible and practical. The Good Sleep Guide for Neurodivergent Kids should be on the bookshelf of every parent (and clinician) who is seeking solutions for the sleep problems families experience."
-- Michael A. Grandner, PhD, director, Sleep and Health Research Program, associate professor of psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine

"Melisa Moore has written a user-friendly, parent-reassuring, comprehensive, practical guide for parents of children with chronic sleep problems. Her calm, low-key style guides parents to help their children develop healthy, consistent sleep routines. Very importantly, she focuses on the special challenges of sleep for neurodiverse children. Every child psychiatrist and child specialist should keep a copy of this book in their office for ready reference and for recommendation to parents."
-- Kathleen Nadeau, PhD, founder and director of The Chesapeake Center for ADHD, Learning and Behavioral Health; recipient of the 2025 CHADD Lifetime Achievement Award; and author of more than a dozen books related to ADHD, including Still Distracted After All These Years: Help and Support for Older Adults with ADHD

"Dr. Melisa Moore has created the definitive guide every parent and clinician of neurodivergent kids has been waiting for. The Good Sleep Guide for Neurodivergent Kids brings together rigorous science, empathy, and lived experience in a way that feels both practical and profoundly human. As a sleep physician, I see families every day who are exhausted and searching for real-world solutions that actually work. This book delivers them with warmth, clarity, and compassion. Whether you're a parent, provider, or advocate, this is the resource that will finally help you understand your child's sleep and restore peace to the entire family."
-- Christopher J. Allen, MD, "Sleep Dr. Chris," CEO and lead physician of Quality Sleep & Neurology PC

"Melisa Moore has written the book that so many parents and professionals have been waiting for -- a definitive guide to improving sleep in neurodiverse children. Comprehensive, informed by research, and refreshingly accessible, it distills complex science into practical, easy-to-implement strategies. Most importantly, Dr. Moore's voice comes through with warmth and reassurance, making you feel as though she's right there beside you as you navigate your child's sleep challenges. This isn't just a helpful resource; it's a genuine lifeline (or at least a sleep-line) for exhausted, overwhelmed families searching for real solutions."
-- Christopher Willard, PsyD, Harvard Medical School faculty member and author of more than twenty books, including Feelings Are Like Farts and Growing Up Mindful

"As a pediatric sleep medicine specialist, I am delighted to endorse this wonderful book for parents. Dr. Moore, an experienced sleep psychologist, writes with both deep expertise and genuine heart, offering families guidance that is compassionate, practical, and grounded in real experience. Her ability to translate complex sleep science into clear, relatable advice makes this book an invaluable companion for any parent seeking to better understand and support their child's sleep."
-- Ignacio E. Tapia, MD, MS, chief, division of pediatric pulmonology, Batchelor Professor of Cystic Fibrosis and Pediatric Pulmonology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

About the Author

Clinical psychologist Melisa Moore, PHD, is board certified in behavioral sleep medicine and works for the Sleep Center at Rady Children's Hospital San Diego. She also has a practice in the Los Angeles area working with children, teens, and young adults across the country for a variety of sleep and mood issues, specializing in neurodiversity.

DrMelisaMoore.com