I have a 2 1/2 yr old son who refuses to sleep at night or take naps during the day. I have tried numerous things to help him sleep better, nothing seems to work. We've tried pushing back his bedtime to 9:30, reading him bedtime stories, no sweets in the evening, no drinks other than water before bedtime, sitting with him until he falls asleep which doesnt last very long, night light, patting him to sleep, a sleep "buddy" (nightlight care bear), im lost on what else to do. He falls asleep usually at 11pm after trying to ease his way out of his room to then awake at around 2 am play until about 5 am to then sleep until about 8 am and remains awake all day only to do it again the next day...... its very frusterating for us. The last couple of days we've woken up at 3 am to find him sitting on the sofa watching tv in the living room we tell him to go back to sleep which he acts as if he is to then find him at 5 am awake in the living room again. He spends his entire day awake and running around with no down time. HELP!

N0help4u

It sounds like he may have some imbalance (not sure if it would be serotonin) that makes him not require much sleep. Ask your pediatrician if s/he can figure it out and what they would suggest. Then ask your pediatrician if it would be possible to refer him to a sleep clinic or something if it is an issue such as an imbalance and the pediatrician doesn't have answers.

He may also be an insomniac
Information on insomnia - symptoms, causes, treatments

I don't know with someone that young what the possibilities may or may not be.

Do not self medicate him with anything to make him sleep. It is important to figure out the cause and deal with it specifically especially because of his young age.

chella169

ive gone numerous times to his ped. they prescribed him some antihistamines to help with his sleeping it worked for the first 2 days then did nothing. i spoke with the doctor about it and he just told me to try a new sleep schedule, which did not work

N0help4u

Ask him to refer you to a specialist or a sleep clinic. Often primary docs will not think or offer that because often they want to exhaust all the possibilities they can come up with first.

mariposa11

What are his activities during the day? What is his diet? Keep seeking the help of medical professionals, even if you have to look beyond his PCP to get the attention you need.

chella169

during the day he is at daycare.... so needless to say they keep him busy very busy.... he comes home a plays all day running around, playing with his little sister and destroying whatever he can get his hands on. we dont give him alot of sweets in fact its close to none.....

shell_josh2008

Try to make him watch a movie that he likes and not let him off of the couch if it is time to take a nap and if it is time to go to sleep just make him lay in his room and not come out without consenquences. Time out works and also taking away something that he really likes for a while. I also have a 2 1/2 year old and it will take some time but give it a shot.

shell_josh2008

try and make him stay in his room until he is willing to go to sleep. It will take some time but it is worth a shot. Maybe if you have an extra tv try putting that in his room and use it only for bedtime. I also have a 2 1/2 year old and it wasn't easy.Give it a try and see how that goes.

alissa19

can a 13 year old stay int the same room as a girl who is 8 in the state of california?

chella169

he'll stay sitting for a while then he gets all squirmy.... weve tried taking away his favorite cars he doesnt care.....we've also done the time out thing he just doesnt care lol nothing phases him