For autistic children
A bedtime that always knows what comes next.
Personalised bedtime stories for autistic children, read aloud with a calm, predictable routine — and the same story every night, exactly the same, whenever your child needs it. 🔊 Reading aloud…
Why bedtime is often harder for autistic children
Sleep difficulties are far more common in autistic children. Published research reports that 50–80% of parents of children with autism report sleep problems — and identifies establishing a consistent bedtime routine as one of the most effective, parent-led ways to help.
The reason predictability helps is simple: knowing exactly what comes next is calming. A wind-down that follows the same steps, in the same order, every night helps signal to the brain that it is safe to rest. Bushbaby is built entirely around that principle.
Source: Malow et al. (2014), “Parent-Based Sleep Education for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders,” Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Open-access copy. Bushbaby applies this routine-based principle; it is not itself a clinical treatment.
The same story, every night — exactly the same
🔒 Lock a story
Many autistic children settle best with sameness. When your child finds a story they love, you can lock it — and it plays back word-for-word, in the same calm voice, every single night. No new surprises, no variation, unless you choose to change it. It even works offline once it's saved.
This is the difference between a story app and a bedtime routine. Sameness isn't a limitation here — it's the point.
Calm Support mode: literal, gentle, no surprises
🌙 Built for how your child experiences a story
Calm Support mode uses the same predictable five-part structure every night, with literal language and no metaphors, no scary or startling moments, a slow and soothing pace, and reduced sensory stimulation. Every story ends the same reassuring way: your child, safe in bed, feeling calm and loved.
Helpful for any child who likes knowing what comes next — not only autistic children.
Social stories for the moments that are hard
New or unexpected situations can be genuinely stressful. Bushbaby includes a social story builder that creates short, personalised, reassuring stories to help your child prepare for things like:
🦷 A visit to the dentist · 🏡 Visitors coming to the house · 🚪 Starting somewhere new · 🔄 When plans change unexpectedly · 💭 Big feelings
Each one walks through what will happen, step by step, in calm and literal language — so the moment feels a little more known, and a little less frightening.
Personalised, gentle, and read aloud for you
Every story stars your child by name and weaves in the things that comfort them — a favourite animal, a sibling, a well-loved toy. And Bushbaby reads every word aloud, so you can simply sit close while your child listens. There's nothing to read, nothing scary, and nothing that will jolt them awake.
Start a calmer bedtime tonight
Three personalised stories free. No account needed. Ready in about thirty seconds.
Create your first bedtime story →Private by design
Parents of autistic children are, rightly, careful about their child's data. Bushbaby keeps no database of children. Your child's name, details, and saved stories stay on your own device. No advertising, no tracking, no selling of data.
Bushbaby is a comfort and routine app — not a medical, therapeutic, or educational-intervention tool, and not a substitute for professional care.
Common questions
Why does my autistic child want the same story every night?
Predictability is calming — knowing exactly what comes next helps signal that it's safe to wind down. Research (Malow et al., 2014) links a consistent bedtime routine to better sleep support. Bushbaby's lock feature lets your child hear the exact same story, the same way, every night.
What makes a bedtime story good for an autistic child?
A predictable structure, literal language, no scary or surprising moments, a calm pace, and a reassuring ending. Calm Support mode is built around exactly these.
What are social stories?
Short, personalised narratives that help a child prepare for a new or challenging situation. Bushbaby's builder makes them for dentist visits, new places, visitors, changes of plan, and more.