3 Year Old and Sleep Disturbances

Have you tried Calms Forte for Kids? It's a homeopathic for sleep that you can get at the health food store or online. It is very natural and totally safe and in a sugar base, so I call it "candy". I like the melatonin idea too.

I have no idea if this applies to you, but my 18 mos old wasn't sleeping well and it turns out he is allergic to the fibers in this stuffed animal he can't live without and this one natural doc helped me with that and now he is sleeping great. Or she could have a food sensitivity that a naturopath could diagnose. Just ideas... Good luck.

I have a son who has slept terrible since birth also. We finally got to our wits end and the doctor prescribed some medication. It is amazing how much he has grown since he started sleeping. Also, have you tried melantonin? It is a natural remedy and it may help her. Good luck!

If your pediatrician can't recommend something, try a naturopathic one. They might have some insight into diet, vitamins, etc that can help.

OMG - you have just described what's happening with our 3yr old every night. I thought it was just him! He's up with the lights on 2-3x/night, saying he doesn't want to sleep anymore. Some nights he's just up crying at his door. Tuesday night it was 4 times.
On the rare occasions where we can get him to nap, he sleeps through the night. So lack of sleep is definintely causing lack of more sleep (and tyrant behavior)...I just have no idea what to do about it. Not like you can leave them to cry at this age!

We have no idea how to fix this, so I'll be watching this thread closely to see what others suggest. I'm going to start looking into the natrupath stuff right now.

My almost 3 yr old son (turns three the first week of March) was the same way. He has Gone down to one 1 hour nap a day. I make sure he is always busy, and schedule lots of daily activities to get that energy out.

He used to be up ten times during the night, now he goes to bed at 8:30 pm and gets up at 7:30 am. His previous normal bedtime was anywhere between 9:30-11:30 pm and he was always up by six am.

About three months ago, I realized he cut four molars all at once, so I am pretty sure that was the issue all the way around. After that was over, it was just a matter of getting him on a new schedule. It took about a month to get him sleeping through the night but now he is a dream to put to bed!

I hope you are able to get it figured out soon for your own sanity! Try putting her to bed later and see if that helps at all. Worth a shot!

I've been through this with my older 2 kids (now 3 1/2 and 6 1/2) and currently am waking hourly with my crying 23 month old who appears to be getting his last molar in. I KNOW how tired and frustrating this can be. I encourage you not to use punishment unless it is absolutely certain her behavior is defiance/out right disobedience. It only seems to make it worse. Try to encourage very nutritious meals and snacks. Keep stimulants like chocolate and caffeine to a minimum. Try to get her to nap if that is her usual routine. Consider a good quality vitamin to ensure she is getting enough magnesium (helps with muscle relaxation and sleep). Be very patient (this is the hard part since you are exhausted and stressed). The temptation is to want to push her away when she wants to be with you, but instead, try to bring her closer to you. Give her your attention during the day, minimize absences from her for the next few days, and yes, get up with her at night when appropriate. If she asks you to hold her, do so if possible. Insecure phases pop up throughout childhood, but thankfully they do pass. Do what works to help both of you get the most sleep and least conflict. With our son now 3 1/2 we helped him learn how to lay quietly in bed with his lamp on and look at books until he felt sleepy. He's a much better sleeper now, usually sleeping through the night 10-12 hours. Best wishes that this stage passes quickly.

my four year old was sleeping through the night at 2 weeks old. She sleeps 8 hours or more, unless sick or intentionally woken. As well as my 2 year old. As long as she is allowed to sleep with us, its all night no wake ups. NOW my 1 year old son is a completely different story. Since his birth, sleeping is not his bit. He sleeps in snatches and naps. I have tried everything on the planet for him. Now he is 14 months and still he will have 2 -1 hour naps in the day time, then he goes to sleep about 9 pm, gets up at least 3 times a night, for a bottle or paci. One of those 3 times he gets up and plays for an hour or so. Then its back down and he wakes for the day at about 6 am. I have been to doctors, to chiropractors. No one can find a medical reason for this.
I chalk it up to inheritance. I was a horrible sleeper as well. I also had a phobia at 4 about planes crashing into our home and refused to sleep for 3 days and had to be "put to sleep" with medication. I suppose this is fates way of paying me back for what I did to my parents.

Oh dear. Sleep is CRITICAL to the health of body and brain. The lack can do a number on our entire endocrine system. This happened to my younger daughter ( see http://www.ItsNotMental.com and http://itsnotmental.blogspot.com/2008/07/sleep-critical-y... ). She was a very poor sleeper since birth. If I had a do-over, I would go to the ends of the earth to have helped the situation early on, but her pediatrician kept reassuring us - not to worry, although my parents thought otherwise.

This may have some help for you... http://itsnotmental.blogspot.com/2009/01/sleep-timing-of-...

I would definitely consult with a doctor who specializes in integrative medicine. Homeopathy is a good idea as well. And believe it or not, even a baby can have a neurological sleep problem which can only be determined by a sleep study.

And by the way, my daughter also fell off the growth charts... and probably for the same reason. They are supposed to be making the bulk of their growth hormone at NIGHT, while they sleep. There is then a problem if they have a daytime growth hormone test, it will be "OK" yet they can still have a growth hormone deficiency because kids like this need the over-night growth hormone test.

Both of my kids slept beautifully until they were three. My son is now six and went back to sleeping well when he was around 5. My daughter is currently three and this stuff has just started. It's driving me nuts too! I'm just hoping it's only a phase and she'll eventually stop like my son did. I hope your daughter does the same too. I don't have any advice other than hang in there!

Have any of your doctors suggested melatonin? We see a developmental pediatrician for our three year old daughter. She suggested melatonin, which is a supplement that your body makes naturally, but for some adults and kids, our bodies don't make enough of it. It is recommended for kids with autism and other developmental disorders as their bodies don't make enough melatonin, but our daughter, other than being extremely bright and therefore a bit challenging, is not on the spectrum. It has worked wonders for us!!! The developmental pediatrician suggested a Trader's Joe brand, which is chewable and peppermint flavored. It is 500 mcg, which is much smaller than a typical melatonin dosage. We give it to her a half hour before bed and she snoozes the night away!

I might also skip the afternoon nap and see if that helps. Our daughter doesn't nap in the afternoon, goes to bed now at 8 or 8:30p and sleeps until 7 or 7:30a.

Best of luck. I know lack of sleep must be very difficult for your whole family. I am thinkin' about you!