He won't sleep EVER, day or night. It is a battle to get him to stay in bed. It is a battle to get him to sleep. And then when he does he will wake up screaming and wakes the whole house up and refuses to go back to sleep, wants attention off one of us (usually Daddy) but will crack it for any reason whatsoever or no reason at all (generally doesn't really seem to know what he wants). He will do this several times a night for hours at a time. After he wakes up he is horrible to be around and extremely wingy and clingy often for hours afterwards. And because he is not getting much sleep and it is such poor quality he is often not a very happy little boy during the daytime.

{He is NOT having sleep terrors, so please don't suggest that might be the reason - that's all anyone seems to be able to suggest and doesn't help us at all.} He has always been a bad sleeper, but it is getting to the point where I just cannot cope anymore. He has gotten worse in part because he has repeatedly been sick with ear infections, which obviously interfer with any routine. And in part because my DH is so freaking inconsistant - he will inevitably end up laying on the couch sleeping while DS plays in the loungroom (because it is easier for him, but then he doesn't have to stay home with the overtired 2yr old and 2 other children): until I wake up and realise and go and kick them both back in bed.

Because of DS NOONE is getting any sleep. He wakes the baby and his sister, he keeps me and DH awake. Last night he woke up at 11.30pm (after finally getting him to sleep at 9pm) and then spent the next 4.5hrs screaming the house down, climbing out of bed, banging on walls. DH and I both had to get up at 6am (he had to go off for army stuff and I had to get up for the baby). It is the same thing every night! I don't know what to do!!!

Last night I was just so tempted to drive him up to the hospital and dump him there so someone else could look after him for a change. He was up agaiin this morning at 7am. And now he is sooky and causing fights and hurting his sister. He won't stay in bed unless I physically hold him down - I cann't do that for 4hrs while he wears himself out.

I have tried EVERYTHING! I am tired and upset, and cann't think straight and am starting to really resent my child because of it. I am shortchanging my other two children because of it and I am fighting with DH about it because I KNOW the way he deals with it (by not dealing with it) is wrong and is just making things worse for ME! BUT I don't know what will work to fix this BECAUSE NOTHING DOES!!!!

So if anyone has any suggestions, please I am all ears... although I am not sure if there is anything I haven't tried. I have considered sleep school, but it really isn't possible logistically or financially.

I am just so tired.