Help me get my 3 year old to sleep PLEASE

[SamCamphotography]

My 3 year old does not sleep! We put him to bed at 6pm and he is a constan nightmare getting out of his room, making noise, waking his older brothers, knocking child gate down, finding trouble and more until about 11pm! He then wakes at about 3AM to come into our bed at which point we let him as we are so tired. between 5AM and 7AM he awakes and is full steam unil 11pm he next night! I have a 5 and 6 year old that he is keeping awake ontop of my hubby and I who are at loss on what to do. We have done super Nanny trick of just putting them back in no eye contact but that is a game to him, We tried closing the door and holding it until he falls asleep but he simply doesn't, we have had him share a room, a room alone, lights on lights off We do a great bedtime routine with warm bath , massage, story in a dim lit room an hour before bed but NOTHIGN is working please help me before I sink into total insanity...

[margypops]

Does he go to day care as they usually have a daytime nap, it could be that he is not tired enough, and going to bed at 6om is early. How about trying later, and I agree children do better with exercise... so walks to the park and play is a good thing .

[tiredbuthappy]

sounds like he may be overtired. Is he still taking a nap? Most 3 year olds still need one. I know it may sound counter intuitive, but children who have difficulty sleeping often sleep BETTER if they nap during the day. I have seen this time and again, both in the children I work with and my own. I can say confidently that my own children definitely fall asleep faster and sleep sounder when they are not overtired. If things get messed up and the fatigue builds, they actually stay awake in bed at night much longer and wake less frequently.

Also, 6 PM is a bit early for a bedtime. Are you allowing for enough transition time between dinner and bed? If it is still light out, it can be hard for them to go to sleep. If you are doing an hour long routine before a 6 bedtime, you may be doing things too early.

You should also make sure you are getting him plenty of exercise during the day. My kids always sleep better after playing in a park or hiking in the woods. Doing these things in the morning makes for easier naptimes too.

[teddybears4ever2]

Maybe you need to see if there is some reason why he won't go to sleep.  It could be that he has a problem that prevents him from sleeping.  Try asking his doctor for advice.  Do you ever play soft music for him at night.  You could make him a bedtime mix full of calming down songs.  Maybe you could try taking him for a walk or a drive to see if the motion will put him to sleep.