3 year old seems constantly tired...

[Jodes112]

Hi!

My son is 3 in a month.

He sleeps from 7.30pm until 6.30am and still naps for a out an hour and half in the day.

I thought we were ready to drop the day nap around 2 months ago but gave up after a few days as he seemed to still need it.

Or the last mobth though he has totally changed. For some reason he just seems tired all the time. He wakes up looking tired, yawning, saying he is tired, whining, and his whole attitude has changed he is just so grumpy. He even says hos legs are tired. He naps usually about 12.30-2 but over the past few weeks he sometimes has been asking to go to bed around 11/11.30.

After his nap give him an hour and he is tired again. Wants to sit down, lay on the settee. By 5.30 he is so grumpy and tired and totally ready for bed at 7.

He eats pretty good, a little picky but we vary what he eats and gets plenty of fruit, veg being peas and carrots.

Has anyone else experienced this with there lo? Im trying to avoid taking him to the docs as i kbow they will want blood which im scared to put him through if i dont need to.

Any help or advice would be great!

[barbaraz78]

Usually for us developmental leaps meant increasing sleep needs and bad ot-like behavior. The last and worst developmetal leap ever was around 3 yo and lasted 2 months (thought the increasing sleep needs only lasted one month or so). In that period we often had 11.5-12 h nights (usually they were 10.5-11) and sometimes even a 2 h nap (at the time the usual nap length was 1-1.5 h). The behavior was IMPOSSIBLE, despite more sleep. It was just the 3 yo transition, and after that he increased his cognitive skills a lot. So, it can be the same for you. How the previous developmental leaps were?
Do you cap the nap or night? If yes, I would try a non capped night and, if he's still tired, a longer nap until the phase is passed.

[Jodes112]

I was hoping it could be due to development and im glad you say you went through something similar. To e honest i have never noticed before any developmental stages he is just generally such a good, easy going little lad so its totally out of character.

I dont cap his nights or naps ever, so will continue to just let him sleep. Poor lad is worn out.

I will leave it another few weeks and if it carries on the sam may visit the doctor. I am hoping it is just a stage tht we will soon get through

Thank you x

[barbaraz78]

Yes, get an opinion from a doctor if you are concerned.
My ds is spirited, so we had MANY developmental leaps with behavioral changes before this, but no one was like the 3 yo one.

[cath~]

My DD is the same age and is also more tired the last few weeks (and difficult behaviour). I know from this forum that others (like Barbara!) have also gone through this at about this age.  I think it is developmental and she also seems to be on a growth spurt. 
We always have behaviour and sometimes sleep problems at dev leaps but she never before seems more tired (usually less). I think perhaps this dev leap is also combined with a growth spurt which makes it harder
L isn't napping any more so we are doing EBT when necessary to ensure she doesn't get too tired and cranky. 
I've heard it can last a couple of months so I think we have about a month more (or maybe touch more) to go.
Hugs - it's a tricky patch isn't it!

[Jodes112]

Aww im glad to hear its common and normal. Well... Yeaterday and today he has been back to his old self really happy and cheery and not shattered!! So fingers crossed were through it. I forgot how nice he really is!! Xx

[cath~]

pleased things are getting better again!

[TishBKs mom]

Hello I have a son who will be 4 next month. He sleeps 10-12 hours a night (he sleeps 10 whe. I'm up early, otherwise he'll sleep longer) he still naps up to 3 hours a day. I tried stopping naps because he doesn't want to nap but he's so cranky at the end of the night or falls asleep at the dinner table so we went back to naps. He says he hates naps but I feel he needs them with how the end of the night goes... I even went a month but same results... He has such a better attitude once he naps

[Jodes112]

Totally agree if they still need their nap it doesnt matter about their age u gotta go with your child if tgere groggy and sleepy u need to give them a nap!!

My son was definatley going through a growth spurt/development stage, as he is back to him self now! Still needs his day nap tho but by far not as tired and grumpy. It lasted about 5 weeks alltogether!!