My three year old won't nap!?

Question

My three your old son refuses to take naps during the day. He needs them still. If he doesn't get them, then he falls asleep at about five or six o'clock and then wants to stay awake until midnight. Is there anything I can do to get him to sleep earlier in the day?

If I take him anywhere in the middle of the day, he will fall asleep in the car, but I can't afford to take him for a ride everyday. (Gas prices are just too high.)

Answer 1

Maybe you start a nap time ritual. Have lunch, take a bath, read a book, then lay him down. If he doesnt go to sleep than you cant really force him to... You just need to find ways of calming him down right before you plan on laying him down for a nap. When you find something that works then do it at the same time everyday. Dont schedule outings around that time. I hope this helps some. Good Luck!

Answer 2

I babysit a 2 year old 24/5 and hes the same way. After lunch I let him play a little and then i warm him some milk in a sippy cup, dim the lights and turn on the wiggles. But, I can't play a movie he hasnt seen before or he'll stay awake to watch it, so i play the one he's seen 50 times and he gets bored and falls asleep. However, when he's watching it i have to take his sister into another room or she'll talk to him and keep him awake.
Hope this helps!

Answer 3

My 3 year old was trying the same thing last week and then he would be up all night and then up bright and early! He does have a TV in his room and I told him that he could watch 30 minutes of TV if he went to bed and stayed in bed. This works sometimes. Other times the TV distracts him too much and he gives us a hard time when the show is over. I put a CD player in his room and play music for him to fall asleep to. Sometimes nothing seems to work and I will just rub his back or his face (around his eyes so he will close them) until he gets tired. You will have to see what motivates your child (depending on the day and his mood).

Answer 4

Put him to bed, in the evening, around 8 pm and do not allow daytime naps.
Not ALL children require naps. My oldest stopped as soon as I put him in a toddler bed. The two youngest kept taking naps up until right before the started kindergarten.

Answer 5

No sugar products. He maybe sugar intolerate which means he really can't tolerate large doses of sugar or refined sugar and the sugar becomes a temporary energy which his body has to use up so he remains unable to rest fully and comfortably.
Try subbing for fruit or a frozen fruit smoothie w/ milk in the blender. He'll get a natural sugar from it and its more nutritonal and it'll keep any weight down as well. Mozart would also be soothing and inspirational for him.

Answer 6

particular, many 3 year olds nevertheless take naps. My 3 year previous nevertheless desires her naps and from time to time takes 2 hour naps. i does not enable him nap previous due interior the day, yet mid day is the ideal time for a three year previous to nap.

Answer 7

Try renting childrens videos that play bed time songs. I think you can get them online if your local video rental store does not have them. Maybe try a warm bath before nap time and a small snack. They tend to rest better when relaxed and have a full tummy. Best wishes!

Answer 8

many kids stop taking naps by the time they are three. Why does he get sleepy so early? are you waking him up in the morning? Try lettinghim sleep in until he's ready to get up, he may regulate his sleep on his own

Answer 9

well honey...im sorry to tell you thins...but it doent get any easier (at least for me) so all i could do is drink lots of coffee and cry as much as he did...but then my wonderful grandmother bought some calming tablets from walgreens and so i gave him 2 b4 his nap time..(12) and they really did work!!! it was awesome!! i finally got some much needed sleep!! now we have settled into a routine and things are much better!

Answer 10

Give him a good spanking. He'll cry, wear himself out, and go to sleep.