3.5 yr old fighting naps--but is tired!!

[shells_n_cheese]

My DS is 3.5 yrs old, and has not been as consistent with his naps for a while now. I know lots of kids wean off of naps around 3, so at first I was accepting it.

But, the problem is DS tired. He still needs a nap during the day. Right now, I have him in his room, told him to sleep. He is yawning, and I can just tell he is tired... but is he sleeping?? NO! I hear him jumping up and down instead.

Eventually I will give up, and we will take a ride to get out of the house-- and he SLEEPS within a few minutes in the car. He doesn't need the car to sleep, never has. He used to be a great sleeper. I don't know what the problem is. It's very frustrating.

If he doesn't nap, by the end of the day he is SUPER cranky and will have various meltdowns. I tried putting him down earlier -- didn't work. I tried later -- didn't work. I bring him to the playground to burn off energy, hoping to make him exhausted--doesn't work. I am at my wits end. Why doesn't he just SLEEP!?

And ideas or advice?

[MommyTeesa]

I'm in a similar boat, though DS is 3 yrs 3 months and HAS been a consistent napper (3 hrs a day). He asked to have the railing removed from his crib last week (we tried months ago and he wanted it back up) and has napped only once in the last 5 days. He gets cranky and tantrum-prone and car makes him sleepy. Keep trying? Encourage quiet activity (looking at books, puzzles)? I dread dealing with this longer term if DS doesn't start napping.

[lyterae]

DD is 4.5 now and still naps almost daily.. She needs the sleep.

Are you able to put your DS to bed earlier instead of taking a nap? Or can you encourage "outside" playtime before nap to try and tire him out so he'll lay down?

[JudiAU]

Same thing here. I've resorted to holding his hand and singing him to sleep which I haven't needed to do in a year. But he NEEDS it.

[JamieB]

I really recommend this book. It made our sleep situation 100% better.

http://www.amazon.com/Sleepless-Amer.../dp/0060736011

Good luck!

[tbone_kneegrabber]

when we gave up ds's nap (because I couldn't take nursing for an hour and him still not sleeping some days!) he defintely still "needed" it some days and it took almost a month before it felt like a workable routine. It was hard to adjust, but now he goes to bed earlier and easier and sleeps longer and better so it was worth it in the long run.

and he still naps if we go out in the car or are on long car trips.

[tanyalynn]

DD started napping again at 3.5 yo after not napping for a year (and really, really needing it) when we cut out the foods she was intolerant of, for us gluten and dairy. I saw a lot of subtle stuff, that I didn't realize could be food related, get better at that point, in addition to all the benefits of getting enough sleep.

[beepsandclicks]

I feel like I could have written this question. Fits us exactly. I see many others with 3 year olds are going through the same thing. No suggestions from me--I'll be watching this thread along with you, shells_n_cheese.

I did just read Sleepless in America. Need to read it again. Great book, but now when he is clearly exhausted I feel panic in addition to feeling sorry for him...I guess I underestimated how important sleep is. We put our son to bed at 7"30, he wakes at 6:30, but he still needs a good additional 2 hours, in my opinion.

*sigh*