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My Three-Year-Old Son Has Never Slept Through The Night

by Amanda
(Kitchener, Ont.)

My son has always been a light sleeper and has always woken up at least 2-4 times a night. He is three years old. As a result of his lack of sleep he is very hyper, unfocused and causes trouble for attention. Also because he wakes up several times a night and wakes me up each time I am very sleep deprived too. He also will not nap. We are both starting school in Sept (me in college) and I am very concerned.


If I tier him out during the day (which takes a lot) he will fall asleep within minuets but will wake up several times a night and get up at 5am in the morning after only going to bed at 8pm. We both can not live like this. Please can you offer any advice as to what to do to get my son to have healthy sleep patterns. Thank you.

Comments for My Three-Year-Old Son Has Never Slept Through The Night

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Aug 25, 2010
 Perhaps
by: Anonymous

1. see the best sleep specialists you can possibly find to help your child

2. you need to sleep, yourself. Get someone to watch your child during the day so you can take a nap, especially if you are going to school!

3. sleep next to him a few nights: does he have episodes where he stops breathing? Snores? Request a sleep study from your pediatrician.

4. in thinking about your child's behaviors...get your child set up within the school system now (get him qualified for an IEP under Developmental Delay) He will need this if his sleep deprivation continues into kindergarten and beyond. Adults won't understand that his behavior comes from sleep deprivation and you will have to be a loud advocate for his needs (I know, my son has similar hyperactivity, behaviors from sleep deprivation and it is a constant struggle)

5. try to view his hyperactivity and behaviors as a disability (not to feel sorry for him) but to understand what he is going through more readily...poor little guy: he must be so scared and anxious not getting enough sleep...

Pray, do lots of research, ask doctors a million questions, set up consultation times once per month with your pediatrician to see what to do next...I hear your pain, I understand, and you will find the help your little one needs. It's tiring, but you can do it.
Hope this helps.
Sep 02, 2011
 help
by: kristal

Sleep has never came easy for our lil guy, it started at birth! I have two older children & never had any problems with their sleep habits. I have never allowed the children to sleep with us, but when the the lil one started flipping out of his crib at night & waking up the whole house, I was weak and let him sleep with us:/ since then we have got him a toddler bed, witch he also didn't sleep in & now he has a twin bed and won't sleep there either! He doesn't nap unless were in the car! He has tons of tantrums, hits and spits.
It's becoming a big problem!! Can't really go anywhere, he is like a little bomb, never know when he's going blow!! Yes , I took him to a behavior specialist, he said put him on a sleep aid " melatonin" he was 2 at that time....the pills don't work, he still wakes up with night tares, sometimes talking in his sleep....what else can I do for my little guy?
Apr 25, 2012
 Also sleep deprived
by: Anonymous

Hi I just read ur posting. My son will be 3 in July and we r going through the same thing. That sleep aid doesn't work for him either. I'm very sleep deprived also:( and he is exteremly bad with the lack of sleep. Not one night dies he sleep wo coming on my bed or screaming. We can't even get him to sit for a meal. Is ur son any better? I'm getting my son checked for reflux they think that can be the cause. I hope it son is sleeping better for you. I know how it is
May 16, 2012
 MY DAUGHTER WONT SLEEP
by: JENNIFERs

HI READ ALL THIS AND WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THIS SLEEP AID. MY DAUGHTER IS JUST 3 AND HAS ONLY SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT 2 TIMES SINCE BEING BORN. EVERYONE ASKS ME WHAT I DID TO HER AND SOMETIMES I WONDER TOO. SHE HAS HAD A FEW NIGHTS THAT SHE WOKE UP AND CRIED FOR HOURS. SHE SEEMS VERY SMART AND I THINK SHE MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE OCD. I'VE ASKED MY DOCTOR ABOUT IT AND HE HAS TOLD ME I NEED TO CHANGE HER AND NOT TO LABEL HER. SHE WILL BE A SWEET LITTLE GIRL THEN THE NEXT FLIPPING OUT DEMANDING CRAZY THINGS. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE LET ME KNOW
May 11, 2013
 HELP
by: Anonymous

my son is 2 nd a half and my other son is 10 months. they were both amazing sleepers as new borns. only waking once.went to beat 6, woke at 12, then woke at 6am for breakfast. but as soon at they hit the 3 month mark, that was all out the window over night.they both wake at least 3 times a night. so that's 6 times a night. I've tried letting them cry it out. I've had them in my bed, on the lounge. camping in there rooms alternating from room to room.nightlights. u name it I've tried it. the Dr says they will out grow it. i think not. i am that exhausted and stressed that i am now on antidepressents and mild sleeping pills just to help me get to sleep.
my youngest has a nap at 11am but will only sleep half hour and the oldest doesn't have a nap as he won't go to sleep and night and will wake up more at night.my partner works 12 hour shifts so he can't help, and i don't have any family members that can help either. i am at my whitts end. i dent no what to do. PLEASE HELP ME!!!
Aug 19, 2016
 establish a sleep pattern NEW
by: Grandmom

If you have to stop all naps - do so to get a night time sleep pattern started. Create a routine. Bath, bedtime story, song, prayers or whatever.

Also don't know who is into astrology but 12 house rules sleep. Knowing your rising or ascendant sets up the houses to know what's going on there.
Go to www.astro.com to create an astrology chart to work with and go from there. There is also a forum to ask questions. Either way you have to establish a sleep pattern and stick to it as much as entirely possible.
Aug 04, 2017
 Sensory disorders NEW
by: Anonymous

My son has never slept through the night, he is 4 years old. He is now being tested for a sensory disorder that is in the autism spectrum. Sometimes not sleeping at night is just one symptom of multiple that points to this disorder. Do not torture yourself or your child by trying to force sleep or no naps or whatever, sometimes it's not that simple.
Oct 22, 2017
 3 yr old wont sleep NEW
by: Lisa

Been reading the comments as looking for help myself.my 3 year old has only ever slept 1 night from birth.he wakes 4/5 times a night,now he kicks out in his sleep,recalls what hes done in the daytime.think ive hit despair.waiting over a yesr and a half to see a paediatrician which is awful as im so tired.my other 2 children had no problem sleeping,never had this before.as a parent we all no if somethings not right and i can see this in my 3 year old.on the plus sode hes very sensitive and loving.any tips
Feb 02, 2018
 Student NEW
by: Okech Francis

Some one need to get food supplements and I believe it works
Aug 16, 2018
 JESUS FUKING CHR!ST NEW
by: Anonymous

I LOVE THE ABUNDANCE OF ALL CAPS COMMENTS FROM ILLETERATE FCKS ON HERE!
Dec 16, 2020
 Cocaine NEW
by: James Bigam

When our little one was younger my wife would rub a little cocaine under his tongue to help him sleep better.
Jan 16, 2021
 Children burn energy while parents relax NEW
by: Anonymous

Situations where parents can relax while kids burn energy are essential. I took my daughter to the park for a couple hours daily so she could play/socialize in the fresh air while I relax/eat. Then the warm pool every night for her to swim & play while I did therapeutic exercises. It's the only way she can get to sleep.

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