3 yr old that wont go to bed

[ticked]

I am not sure what I am supposed to do.  My child never wants to sleep. I dont blame her for not wanting to nap at school, but they force her to and I dont like that because when she naps there she doesnt sleep until 10:30pm at night.  latley she keeps saying she wants to sleep with me, but I cant have her sleep with me because she doesnt sleep she goofs around and is restlessor hours and I am tired.  How do I get her to sleep???? I have tried everything, i dont even think that the nanny would be able to get her down

[Angel11207]

HELP!!! My daughter just turned 3 and WILL NOT stay in her room at naptime or bedtime...and she DOES need a nap still. I dont know whats worse...the 2hr battle to get her to take a nap or the rest of the day battle with her because she is so cranky & exhausted from not taking a nap. We put her in a toddler bed when she was 2 and havent had a problem with her staying in her bed until a few months ago. I have tried the supernanny technique where I just continue to walk her back to her room with no communication and she literally gets up 75 or more times within 1 1/2 - 2 hrs. It is physically and mentally exhausting and I dont know what else to do. She has had the same bedtime routine her whole life, I dont know what has caused the change in her behavior. PLEASE HELP!!! Also, she will not stay in time out, she gets up over & over & over. Then she will pee while she is in time out...to get attention I'm guessing. I am out of ideas and out of energy. Any suggestions???

[specialmom]

Three and four year olds are tough because they are so willful and yet not able to completely understand what is to their benefit.  I've had issues with this as well.  My oldest son just turned 6 and it was about a year ago that I could say things like----  you need to go to sleep NOW so you can have a good day tomorrow.  

So I'd make those comments to her during the day . . . if she is melting down and crying  ----  say, you are tired.  You didn't go to sleep last night.  We need our sleep.

I swear, after a while that sticks.  Some kids are naturally super energetic----  it sounds like you and your wife work hard to give her outlets for that.  My kids sleep so much better when they've had that physically busy day.  I have one that loves deep pressure too----  it relaxes him.  So we rock and I squeeze him tight.  I even have him lay down and gently press pillows on him (calling it a sandwich).  We keep night time very routine.  

I also talk about how much I need sleep to have a good day.  Keep that dialogue going.  They do grow up----  and our sleep issues we had with my oldest have resolved.  He has a delay of his nervous system . . . so he was particularly tough on that.  But it so much better when they are well rested, isn't it?!!  Good luck

[DAD15]

My 3 year never wants to sleep.  She has a lot of energy and she seems to never get tired or run down.  My Wife and I have tried almost everything and we are getting to a point where we are getting overwhelmed by it all.  We know she needs her sleep and rest, as she has bags under her eyes.  I've read some of the post about other family’s situation but what makes a 3/4 year old understands why it is important for her to get her rest?

[Llinet]

My son is 5 1/2 and we are haveing a problem with putting him to bed at night. When we lay him down we have to accually lay with him or eles he won't go to bed. He usually wants his back rubbed and he will go to sleep. But sometimes he can take up to an hr if not longer. When we did try to put him to bed and leave the room he would scream, not cry or whine but scream that he doesn't want to sleep by himself and won't. Another time he just wouldn't sleep he would stay up and try to play in his room but that was in another house we have moved sence and now he doesn't even do that he just screams. He will accationaly say he is scared of the dark but he has a lava lamp that lights up the room, not to much but just enough. Does anyone have any suggestions ????? Please help....

[SL345]

How long has this been going on? Besides her sleep, how are you doing in the rest of your life? Are you also stressed to a point of being overwhelmed by your husband being in Iraq?

[ArmyWife0507]

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a 3 yr old that fights me every step of the way to sleep. I have tried everything. Her daddy is in Iraq and she just screams when I put her to bed for a nap or anything. She will keep getting up constantly. Tried baby gates they dont work she pushes them over. I will lay her down and she will purposely pee in her diaper just to get up and have an excuse. I am so stressed and need help please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!