Thanks for all the useful information. I will never stop trying to help my grandson or my other 5 grandchildren. That's what grandmas do! That is what family does! I will leave no stone unturned! :)

Melatonin is wonderful. I would mainly concentrate on routine. If you keep your grandchild on a regular basis, I would have Mom talking with him before coming. I would also try to use a visual "Things to do at Grandma's chart" this way he will know what he is going to do everytime he comes and will be excited to get to mark off the chart. Also, this visual will help calm him when he is away from home because he will be able to see and know what he is going to do next at grandma's. I hope this helps. I have a set of twin girls with Autism and this is how we cope :)

If needed you can have him looked at by a pediatric sleep therapist. They gave my son some medication to help sleep. Melatonin would be a good start. Depending how big your grandson is you could try 1mg and if needed you can work your way up to 3mg. I found that the tablets you can get at a health food store that dissolve worked the best.

Would you be able to go to their home to watch him? If he has comfortable surroundings it may help him to calm when he realizes that you are not who he is used to in the evenings, but at least he has a familiar bed.

If not, detail a list of the night time routines, if there are books have them bring some with them, if he showers or bathes, do that, if he finds a movie or special toys comforting, have them bring those. Maybe a picture of his Mom so he knows she will return, make counting down the hours something new to obsess over. By sleeping, the hours fly by faster - maybe that would get him to bed. Sometimes I tell my son I will "race him to sleep" and that helps him dig in faster. But my son won't sleep without all facets of the night time routine done and if I am awake, he will be awake. If I don't sing his song or lay next to him for a little bit so he feels more comfortable, he will not sleep. Ensure you turn off your lights or go to bed around the same time or he will be tempted to get up to see what you are doing which means the night time routine must start over again.

I use 1 mg of Melatonin for my son and myself to help get to sleep on many nights due to his medication not helping him to rest and my worry to make sure he is getting rest - it is a way to help you both. Melatonin dosage is person-specific from what my Dr. said. I had started with 3 mg and when I did not like how he drifted off I tried it myself, I felt very uncomfortable drunk like feeling as I drifted to sleep, so the lower 1 mg dose is enough to relax without the odd feelings and it tones him/me down without knocking us out. Okay Melatonin with his Mom, she may have some for him already or a "trick" that helps him relax. I bought ours at WalMart no prescription needed.

Keep asking to take him overnight! I am sure his Mom really really really appreciates the help and the offers. If it weren't for my Mother In Law offering to take our son overnight, my hubby and I would not have had our first night to ourselves in six years - your help is appreciated I am certain of it! Good on you!

Has she tried a weighted blanket with him. We use melatonin too but if she's skeptical about medicines, a weighted blanket may help.