I don't know what to do

I just don't. My almost three year old does not sleep. Ever since he was a newborn, we've had this problem. He will not. I've tried every sort of routine, he has quiet time before going to bed, I've tried waking him up early so he'll go to bed earlier, I've tried time out, taking toys/TV away, leaving him in the room alone, ignoring him, and even spanking. Nothing works.
I can't take it anymore. I can't smurfing do this every smurfing night. No matter when he gets up, what he does or what he eats, or what time we try to put him to bed it's a two-five hour smurfing ordeal. He won't sleep.
And I get so awful. I get really mad and get to the point where it's so hard not to just scream and call him names. I hate doing this. I love him but I can't stand him at night.

Sounds like my son, well it doesnt quite take 5 hours usually about 1 or 2 but its a chore. I usually give up and let DH take over. If its taking that long have you talked to the doc about it?

You spanked him because he won't sleep seriously   . Maybe talk to his pedi about his sleep issue. Hitting them at bed time is not going to make them want to sleep

How much sleep does he actually get then? Have you talked to his doctor about it? Like maybe using melatonin or something. Have you laid down with him?

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Quoting Δ ☮ ∂:" How much sleep does he actually get then? Have you talked to his doctor about it? Like maybe using melatonin or something. Have you laid down with him?"

If he is under ten 98% of the time doctors will not prescribe to kids younger then that due to side affects. And IMHO kids shouldn't be put on pills to make them sleep causes more problems in the long run.

Quoting Arianna's Mama =]:" I If he is under ten 98% of the time doctors will not prescribe to kids younger then that due to side ... [snip!] ... then that due to side affects. And IMHO kids shouldn't be put on pills to make them sleep causes more problems in the long run."

98% of the time? lol. That's cool, you can have your opinion. Sleeping habits like that don't sound normal to me which is why I suggested talking to her doctor about her options, I'm sure the doctor would know more about it.

Quoting Δ ☮ ∂:" 98% of the time? lol. That's cool, you can have your opinion. Sleeping habits like that don't sound normal ... [snip!] ... normal to me which is why I suggested talking to her doctor about her options, I'm sure the doctor would know more about it."

I know I can. There are other ways to help with the sleeping issue which is like we both stated talking to the pedi. Not showing your getting frustrated because they pick up on that and use it against you. A small snack before bed time , read to him , or just lay with him until he falls asleep. I have dealt with this with my DD and after a week she started going to sleep on her own.

Quoting Δ ☮ ∂:" 98% of the time? lol. That's cool, you can have your opinion. Sleeping habits like that don't sound normal ... [snip!] ... normal to me which is why I suggested talking to her doctor about her options, I'm sure the doctor would know more about it."

!

Plus, melatonin is natural so I'm sure a doctor wouldn't mind putting a child on that. Our bodies make it naturally anyway.

Quoting Arianna's Mama =]:" I know I can. There are other ways to help with the sleeping issue which is like we both stated talking ... [snip!] ... lay with him until he falls asleep. I have dealt with this with my DD and after a week she started going to sleep on her own."

I bet!    

Cool.

Quoting Δ ☮ ∂:" How much sleep does he actually get then? Have you talked to his doctor about it? Like maybe using melatonin or something. Have you laid down with him?"

He'll sleep generally eight-nine hours once he falls asleep, it's just getting him to sleep that's the problem. I've been bringing it up several times and with three different pedis (we go to a practice) and each one has said he's young and once he starts school he'll stop if he doesn't before then.

Quoting Arianna's Mama =]:" You spanked him because he won't sleep seriously   . Maybe talk to his pedi about his sleep issue. Hitting them at bed time is not going to make them want to sleep"

No. He's been spanked for kicking, throwing things and other activities that could hurt him or someone else that he does while fighting going to bed.

I know it can get frustrating sometimes, My 3 year old is like this at times too. Does he take naps during the day? Or does he sleep at all during the day? My DS will not go to sleep until almost 12am if we give him a nap during the day even if he falls asleep for 5 minutes in his carseat while i'm driving to the store it's the same thing. Very frustrating.

Quoting Bob Wehadababyitsaboy:" I know it can get frustrating sometimes, My 3 year old is like this at times too. Does he take naps during ... [snip!] ... day even if he falls asleep for 5 minute in his carseat while i'm driving to the store it's the same thing. Very frustrating. "

No, he doesn't nap. It's awful when he does fall asleep in the car or something, though, because that's when he does end up fighting it for hours and hours.

Quoting Mom2William&Michael:" He'll sleep generally eight-nine hours once he falls asleep, it's just getting him to sleep that's the ... [snip!] ... pedis (we go to a practice) and each one has said he's young and once he starts school he'll stop if he doesn't before then."

Dude my son cries every time I put him to bed... he's 5 almost 6 now. And I have gotten to the point where I don't get mad... frustrated or anything like it. I put him to bed and he cries himself to sleep. That's his routine. I just accepted that that's his way... of what? ... idk lol Not sure why he gets so upset. But he told me that he wishes he was a bat so that he wouldn't have to sleep at night. Kids are frustrating... get used to it OP.

Quoting Arianna's Mama =]:" I know I can. There are other ways to help with the sleeping issue which is like we both stated talking ... [snip!] ... lay with him until he falls asleep. I have dealt with this with my DD and after a week she started going to sleep on her own."

We've tried reading before bed, having a snack, taking a bath, lotion, soothing music, rewarding him, lying down with him, all sorts of things. Nothing works. He's been this way since he was born. Like, from day one. In the hospital after he was born he wouldn't sleep for more than 10 minutes at a time and nothing I or the doctors did would do anything for him other than letting him sleep on me. It's been more of the same since then.