Help! my son doesnt want to sleep anymore!

Unfortunately I don't have any ideas for helping to end this problem. What I do have is my little guy who has done the same thing since he was about the same age. He is now five years old. Suddenly, at approx. age 3, he just decided that he would no longer take naps and that he was getting up every single day at about 4:30AM. We had a horrible time getting him to go to bed for a long time too and sometimes we still do. At one point one of us had to sit on the floor in his bedroom and keep on telling him gently to close his eyes, that is was sleeping time. I did this one night for three hours until he finally fell asleep! It usually didn't take that long thank goodness! Well, finally for bedtime, we took some advice from a couple of parenting magazines and articles and started an evening ritual. We were trying for structure and it seemed to help. We now do the same thing every single night, no exceptions. Teeth brushing, pajamas, story time, put up the sheets around his bottom bunk so that he has a tent all the way around his bed, pillows fluffed, comfy cute comforter or sheet [depending on the weather], hugs and kisses goodnight, and a night light. It doesn't always work of course, sometimes he still is awake in bed for an hour but it works more often than not after two years of it. But we did have to have one of us get up with him in the morning every day and we still do. He's just an early riser. We are experimenting with trying to put him to bed at a later time so that he sleeps a little later and some days it works. We are still in the trial stages of it though. I have lost a lot of sleep because of my little Seth but I love him and that usually is enough but I have to tell you, I have to take naps during the day cuz I am so tired from getting up so early!

this worked for me afew weeks ago but it's gone a bit twrong at the moment aas Roo feels poorly and has slept most of the day, lol. Bath, story, story with eyes closed, it the eyes open the story stops, thay soon nod off, withing a week I could do story with me sat in the chair , I just read until Roo fell asleep, I have a discussion about the big boys room somewhere here it's my best response, I tried it and it worked, give it a go.

There is only one thing you can do. Turn off all distractions and lay down with your son. We have had the exact same problem for the last three years, and this really works well. Good luck and God Bless

wow that's really tough! I know my boys did the same thing around 3 years of age. I think it's a phase all kids seem to go through. I'd try setting the bedtime and sticking to it. Even if you can't hang curtains you could tape up some cloth or blinds; anything might help. I see you are already doing many things to help get him to sleep. I would cut out any naptimes or at least no naps after say 1 or 2. I had some friends who child would not go to sleep at night with even 1/2 hour nap! Reading and storytelling helps. Maybe leave little soft books in his bed for the morning so he'll read alittle before waking you up? Good luck! Hang in there -- it will pass!