Re-establishing day sleeps for a 3yr old

[Enchanted]

DS turned 3 in July, he hasn't had a day sleep since he was roughly 2.5ish. We struggled to get him down for a sleep and didn't seem to need it, so we didn't push it. Currently with daylight savings etc we are struggling with him and his betime as we fell into the "you go to bed when it's dark trap" So now he is staying up later but needs more sleep. He is quite grumpy and irritable most of the day now and it's driving me bonkers! He thinks he doesn't need to sleep during the day as it is still light outside. However, if we get in the car to go somewhere he is usually out like a light.

So my question is..... HOW ON EARTH DO I TRY AND DO THIS?!?!!? ANY suggestions will be welcomed, I need all the help and info I can get!

[trishalishous]

Gee this is a hard one!
Would he fall asleep if you started with 'quiet time' ie reading or just laying down together?
How about block out blinds, so his room is dark?

Will he sleep in the pusher? maybe take a walk every arvo?

Otherwise, Id personally jump in the car every arvo and Find a nice quiet place to park, then have a coffee (travel mug( and read a book for and hour, then drive home

[Enchanted]

It sure is a hard one isn't it!

I LOVE the drive idea!! Will give that a go when we have some time. He has full blockout drapes in his room and we have just purchased venetians as well to block out more light. It helps but he still knows it's light outside. I have tried the quiet time etc but he ends up jumping up and off doing other things. Would be such a dream if I could get him and DD to snooze at the same time.... I am sure I am dreaming though!!

[Ozziehoffy]

Otherwise, Id personally jump in the car every arvo and Find a nice quiet place to park, then have a coffee (travel mug( and read a book for and hour, then drive home

If this is a pretty much guaranteed way for him to have a nap... that's what I'd do too!!! 3yr olds think they know everything lol. Oskar is the same, can have his eyes hanging out of his head but still tell me he doesn't need a nap! Yet, at kindy (he goes one day a week) for the past month he's had a nap 3 out of the 4 weeks! Go figure!

[Arimeh]

DS hasn't had a proper day nap since he was 2. But he is the same, if we go anywhere in the car, he'll be out like a light.

But I don't take car trips just for that reason - can't afford the petrol.. LOL

[HotI]

Would you prefer him to go to bed earlier (when it's still light) or to have an arvo sleep? Maybe one of those day/night alarm clocks might help. They are used mainly to tell kids when its ok to get out of bed, but you could also use it at night to tell him when bedtime was (even if it doesn't look like it outside). You could slowly adjust it each day until he is going to bed at the time you want

[*Efjay*]

I would probably just try & stick it out until he adjusts to DLS. This is why DLS SUCKS! But if you can just stick it out then you should find that int he next 2 weeks or so he will fix himself up & sleep better.