3.5 year old not sleeping at all

[daycare]

I have a dck that has always had sleep issues. The child has been with me since age 18 months and will be 4 in June.

The dck goes to bed on average 11pm or later, wakes up 3+times a night and arrives at dc by 8am. The child used to nap for about 3-4 hours, well now the child is still with the same night time sleep habits (parents claim he won't go to bed at night) and is not napping here.

The behavior is going out the window. Who wouldn't with that little about of sleep.

I have talked to the parents, helped them with a bed time routine. They claim nothing works.

I don't know what is going on with this child, he's extremely smart, but I am starting to get tired of the bad behavior do to the lack of sleep.

What could it be??? ALso, I am going to request that he see his doctor.

[craftymissbeth]

What does he do during nap time? Pitch a fit? Just toss and turn? Is he quiet or keep the others up?

[daycare]

What does he do during nap time? Pitch a fit? Just toss and turn? Is he quiet or keep the others up?

toss and turn, **** thumb, all of the above that you listed.....

BTW I checked to see if anything was bothering him, he says nothing. The bags under this kids eye are so bad that it almost looks like someone hit him. Very dark circles, puffy under the eyes. He spends all day just yawning.

[Leigh]

Have the parents tried using melatonin short term to help them start a bedtime routine? I know that some kids need to stay on it, but it's often used as a short term (2 months or so) to help kids start to sleep at a "normal" time, and then help their bodies produce it at the right time.

Honestly, if the kid is so affected by exhaustion, they should already be talking with their doctor about ways to help the poor kid.

[Angelsj]

Chances are they are waiting way too long. I would aim for a bedtime of 7-7:30 until they find his sweet spot. I have to think that by 10pm or later he is WAY overtired and can't sleep.

[daycare]

Chances are they are waiting way too long. I would aim for a bedtime of 7-7:30 until they find his sweet spot. I have to think that by 10pm or later he is WAY overtired and can't sleep.

I've suggested earlier nap time and I asked mom to talk to the doctor.

I hope they listen to me. Ugh

[daycarediva]

My own ds was like that! Still is, whenever we break routine. His NATURAL sleep needs are much less though, 6-7 hours and he is fine.

Sounds similar to my dcb as well!

I have parents who have the same issue, but blame nap here (even though dcb only sleeps for 30-45 minutes) they 'tried everything'. What they meant is: letting dck sleep with them 1 night, then letting dck watch tv until he passes out the next night. Then putting dck to bed at 8pm and not going back in to put him back in bed even if he is obviously just up playing on the monitor, allowing him to nap on weekends, keeping him up until 10pm, chamomile tea, YOU NAME IT. Weekly Dcm says' So we tried....' and I just laugh. I have told them REPEATEDLY that they need to give it a good two weeks, they have not put in the effort and they do not get the results. The pedi dismissed it COMPLETELY.

dcb sometimes crashes and is OUT for HOURS.

It reminds me of when someone tells me that they eat great but can't lose weight. Yes, there is a chance it's something causing it, but it's more likely still diet.

They may be putting him to bed too early or too late. Too much stimulation, lack of follow through, too much sugar, caffeine, screen time, sooo many factors.