3 Year Old NOT Sleeping

At that age, their imaginations are running wild, so while the dark and shadows etc weren't scary before (they didn't notice them) now they imagine monsters etc. Also, they sometimes see movies or shows they aren't ready for that scare them. My daughter had been going to sleep on her own, but now wants someone in the room until she goes to sleep. If it helps her get the sleep she needs it will be worth it.

She might be having security issues, we are battleing this as well. We have given in and sit in his room until he falls asleep. Every few days he sleeps through the night, other wise he is up 1-3 times a night crying climbing out. We too had a good night time routine, we would put him in his bed and he would go right to sleep. Now that is not the case. My sons issue stemmed around his friend going up to the next room at daycare while my son was still in the old younger room. I finally called daycare and had them move him up so he would be back with his friends. It is too soon to tell if it will help, I think a week or two with them might prove better.

Maybe have your husband have some solo daddy daughter time. As she is probably missing this time that he was off and she got the whole day with her. Yes she loves daycare, but she still misses the time she had with daddy alone and why can't she have that now.

Since she is not napping she is overly tired, and that is why she can not shut off. Also with the excitement of friends and new experiences. Maybe try family tv show/movie time where you all sit down for 30-45 mins to settle down, and then try putting her down. It might help her unwind some.

We are also getting a cot to put in our room, so if he wakes at night he can come in and lay down. It is a fine line between not letting them sleep with you and security for them. Right now he needs us for some reason, and that is what we are there for. We are the protectors.

You can also try a new bed friend. We tried to take my son to Build a bear to get a new "sleeping pal" but he told us no. We just gave up. But everyone needs their sleep and she sounds scared and it is our job to comfort them.
Good luck

I've been having the same issue with my 3 yo. son. He had a nightmare about a zombie about 2 months ago and since then will not go to sleep on his own, even with his big brother in the bed next to him. I just stay with him in his room for 10-20 mins. and he is asleep. We also let him come in to our bed in the middle of the night if he is scared. We did the same things with our 6 yo. and he outgrew it by the age of 4. I know all the parenting book say this is a no-no but I think if your child is scared and needs you to comfort them, then you should. They really are little for such a short time. At the age of 3, kids really can't distinguish between fantasy and reality. When they have scary dreams they tend to think they are real. For my son, he really thinks there was a zombie in his room. Who would want to go to sleep knowing that a zombie might wake you up again?

I would sleep with her. This isn't a kid that cannot put her self to sleep, you has been doing that. This is a child who is feeling insecure or unsure because of all the changes and she needs a little extra support.

My kids have done this off and on for awhile. I will let them sleep with me in my bed, or my husband sleeps with them in their room. (I am a really bad sleeper, if I am not in my bed, I don't sleep. Sleepless mommy isn't good for anyone, so this is how it works in our house.) A week or two of sleeping together, less as they get older, and then they go back to their routine.

My 10 year old just slept with me the night before she had surgery for the first time. Nothing serious but she was nervious so she went to bed in my bed with me. When my husband came up to bed we moved her to her room, and that was the end of it. She sleeps real well so moving her isn't a problem. My son who is five cannot be moved or he wakes up.

Anyway, I would give the little girl the comfort she needs and let her sleep with me for awhile. That's me. There are lot of people who don't like this idea, but it works for my family.

You may also want to take her to the pediatrician to see if there is anything wrong.

Lastly, you might want to talk to her about what the problem is, Is she scared? Did someone a daycare tell her something scaring?

That might help too. Good Luck.

I'm sorry to hear that! Our daughter has never been a good sleeper, but is about to turn three next week and is having an exceptionally difficult time falling asleep lately. It's the same thing - she just can't turn off. She go-go-goes all day and when it's time for bed, she starts thinking about all the stuff she didn't have time to ponder during the day. Our usual bedtime routine involves reading two stories, then turning on soft music (Enya) and snuggling for two songs then saying goodnight. The last couple of days I've started staying with her longer while she talks through her thoughts, and it seems to help her settle down. I don't stay til she falls asleep, just until she's super drowsy. Unfortunately, that means she's still going to bed later, but at least it's eliminated the horrendous fits that stress us both out. Hoping it's a phase that will pass soon.

I don't know if this will help or if you have already tried this, but earlier this summer we took the pacifier away from our 2 1/2 year old. He was super easy to put down for naps and at bedtime until we did this. At first he was the same way and I started to lay down or sit beside him and have him close his eyes (which I had to remind him to do REPEATEDLY :) and I would lightly rub his arms, back/ belly, legs and face. After having his eyes closed for so long he was out. It is much easier now and tantrums at sleep times are no where near as bad when they happen. Our Daughter is now 6 and she never wanted to sleep, I still sometimes have to trick her into thinking it is a good idea. Sometimes the same thing above that I did for our son would work, other times I would tell her she had to have quiet time, she didn't have to fall asleep but I would let her lay on couch and watch movie for her quiet time and she would 90% of the time be sleeping before the end of the movie. She was also a very good car sleeper so I would also at times tell her she just had to close her eyes while we drove home instead of taking a nap (then I would take the scenic route until she fell asleep) and she was also very easy to transfer. She usually would stay sleeping.

I hope some of this helps or might work for you, if not I wish you luck! :)

Melatonin... our son could never shut his brain off at night. He is 8 years old now. I mentioned it to my doctor and she told me about melatonin. You can buy it at whole foods.. we buy the orange flavored liquid. It naturally helps reset there sleep and wake cycles. Hope it helps.. it changed our lives. (especially once he got into school).

Have you try giving her a nice warm bath and bed time story. You could make a list that she can help check off. Then she will have felt that she is doping something speical. Try reading her books about getting ready for bedtime.

I am replying because I'm having the same problem. My son turned 3 at the end of April and we recently transitioned him into a "big boy" bed. I also got married a couple of months ago and he started pre-school almost 2 months ago. A lot going on in his life. What is weird is that he slept in his bed a few times but lately he wants to sleep on the floor. He also fights us every night not wanting to go to bed and he only sleeps about an hour at school. At home on the weekends he sleep 2-3, sometimes 4 hours so I know he's gotta be behind in his sleep. I'm going to try to put the mattress down on the floor and see if he sleeps on that. I hate to think of him sleeping on the hard floor. Maybe the bed isn't comfortable...I don't know. Good luck and God Bless :)