I think Reina123 got very good advise. I have different issue. My daughter doesn't take a nap, usually sleeps well. But once a week minimum she gets up at 3 or 4 am and play for a hour and half. The sleeps again at 5:30. She is 5 and it is disturbing her classroom behavior. Please advice.
I KNOW EVERY CHILD IS DIFFERENT, BUT I STOPPED GIVING MY SON A NAP AT 2 1/2 BECAUSE HE ONLY WOULD NAP LATE AND NOT SLEEP UNTIL 1 OR 2 AM. ONCE HE STARTED A REAL ROUTINE AND SLEEP PATTERN WITH PLENTY OF EXERCISE HE WOULD SLEEP 11 OR MORE HRS A NIGHT. MELATONIN DOES HELP HIM WHEN HE HAS A RESTLESS NIGHT, YOU COULD START AT 1MG AND WORK YOUR WAY UP. ALSO HIS EATING PATTERNS SHOULD BE CHANGED, HE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE ALLERGIES, HAVE YOU TRIED THE GLUTEN FREE CASEIN FREE DIET? MY SON HAS BEEN ON FOR 2 YRS AND I HAVE SEEN MANY IMPROVEMENTS. THE FACT THAT HE ONLY WANTS MILK AND BISCUITS IS A REAL SIGN THAT IS THE REAL CAUSE OF HIS PROBLEMS. HE WILL HATE IT AT FIRST AND BECOME A REAL MONSTER BUT YOU MAY SEE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT IN SLEEP AND POSSIBLY OTHER BEHAVIORS. I HOPE THIS HELPS AND WISH YOU WELL
It sounds like his nap is way too long. When children get a nap that is too long they have trouble sleeping at night. If you give him a nap have it be earlier in the day, around noon. Don't let him nap so late in the day anymore. 3 year olds need more than 9 hours of sleep a day. It is very important to their development. I am sure he will sleep much better when you get rid of those late naps.
If you want to get him to eat better, ask your pediatrician about a feeding clinic. The therapist can help you incorporate more foods into his diet.
i've to add to my above query that he has eating disorder. he is never full. this could be a reason for his sleeplessness. he accepts only milk and biscuits. rarely he accepts something else (like rice, veg, fruit juice, bread, cake etc). he likes soft sweets and soft chocolate, but we allow him to have those very rarely. i'm not able to make him eat better and not able to make him sleep better. please advice.