how to get my 3yo to go to sleep.

Natalie - posted on 04/23/2010

skylar hasnt has a nap since she was about 2 now and i thought that would help with the nights but it didnt. she doesnt actually get out of bed to come out to me she just bangs around.she knows she is giving me the willys because when i go into her room she already has her ears covered.
even when she spends a full day at child care she still cant/wont go to sleep easier.
Latoya, ive searched for a no leg grow suit but here in australia they dont seem to make them over the size of one and the all in one with legs for winter go bigger but shes a hot body kid and she gets so hot in them even when she was a baby.
i think i will just try and satisfy all the wants and needs in that time before i leave her room. i will go bacck in one more time after i leave and then the next time i go in i will turn off her mp3 and eggy night light. they say you have to be consistant so will try that tactict and see how i go.
its just lovely to have help from people from all over the world and know that bacsically all mums are the same!!! xxx

K.C. - posted on 04/23/2010

I am in the same boat exactly. My 3 1/2 yr old cut her naps out at 1 1/2. She is on the go all day long. I have tried days where I have worn her out all day. Park, lake, trampoline, chasey etc all in one day and it doesn't work. I have tried ignoring her, shutting her door, turning her music off, yelling, smacking, black-mail, rewards, getting Nanna to ring and tell her to go to sleep....EVERYTHING!! She has a bath at the same time each night, dinner at the same time. I read to her for half an hour every night, kiss and hugs and everything routine to no avail. There's always SOMETHING! I'm hungry, I need a wee, I'm thirsty, I need a cuddle and the list goes on. Her reasons for not wanting to sleep are either 'it's not her favourite thing to do' or 'I close my eyes but my brain won't go to sleep'. So, being a very smart little girl, I searched the web for Genius kids sleeping problems. No, I'm not saying she is a genius, only that she is very bright. The site said that smart kids can't sleep because their brains need to wind down longer and very smart kids need very little sleep compared to the average Joe. SO as for the brain not winding down, they suggested to do everything as normal then when you tuck them in, leave a light on and let then 'read' for a further half hour. Well, I tried that too and she would 'read' all night if given the chance. SO, I had a friend suggest to give up basically and put a movie on and let her fall asleep to that. Tried that! The movie finished and she wanted another one. At midnight she still wanted to watch more so I never tried that again! Super Nanny recommends ignoring them. If they get out of their bed pick them up, don't sy a single word and put them back to bed. Do this all night and they soon get used to it. That didn't work for me either! So, all in all, I don't have any real advice for you if you are in the same boat as I am. Now I am on to threats. It works ok some nights but I hate threatening her and make sure I always tell her I love her afterwards. I stay calmer now, as I have pretty much given up, I give in a little, I threat a little and it works a little. I would love for her to go to sleep normally so I can then unwind after MY day, but I don't think that's going to happen any time soon. Goodluck to you! If you find something that works, please let me know!!! :)

Latoya - posted on 04/21/2010

Find a way to make them go non stop(take her to the park,let herplay and go crazy as much as possible and I think if the problem is mostly at nite, you should not let her nap during the day no matter what, even if you want a break during the day dont let her, I would say too put a pull up on her at nite so she doesnt wet her clothes and feel uncomfortable to have to get up, and for a lot of us moms its hard to say no but you have to start enforcing the word NO more often, do all the activies with her during the day make sure shes is full, make sure she has her bath, tuck her in, read the stories and kiss her good nite and thats it cause now you know she doesnt need nothing for the nite she has everthing she needs and do not answer her for the nite even if she kicks and screams until shes blue in the face, let her cry, because if you dont let cry it out in her mind she can always get away with it and the and she will never stop, when she gets out of bed you put her little butt rite back in the bed and if she continues to get out the bed after you said stay in bed I would take hand and give her a little wack to let her know im not playing with a very stern face, because children can tell what you gonna do by your facial expression and the moment you let things go they pick on it and take advantage of it and all they got to do is give the baby face and they got you doing cartwheels, so get stern and stick to your word dont threaten her to scare her and turn around and dont do it because she gonna think and know that your not gonna back up ur words, Well thats the main way to stop it! I know I have a six year old boy!!