How do I handle a 3 year old boy who has ADHD and will not sleep at night?

He has been diagnosed with ADHD, he is extremely wide open all day long. The doctors put him on some medication that made him worse, and they gave him some medication to help him sleep at night and it did not help one bit. He will only sleep at night for maybe 2 or 3 hours, then he's up all night and all throughout the day. I am completely wore out, and I have two more children. Someone recommended an over the counter pill called melatonin that is supposed to help you sleep, but it does nothing for him. Someone please help!!!!!!

I am a special education teacher (by no means do I have a medical degree) and a mother, I would take your son off the med's if you know right away it is not helping at all. I have found in my experience that if the child is not helped immediately by the medicine and seems to have the reverse reaction to take him off right away. Also, I am shocked your doctor prescribed him medicine at 3, that is very unheard of and surprising. I am assuming he gets lots of physical movement and gets outdoors a lot during the day? Has he always had trouble sleeping or has it only been recently? I know this isn't very helpful but I'm thinking the medicine might be making him more wired at night instead of helping him sleep since ADHD medicine is a stimulant. I have never personally heard of a child at 3 being given sleeping pills.

I don't know all the info. But I know that a lot of mothers out there are changing their childrens diet to help with ADHD instead of medication. Not I'm sure it doesn't always work but it's worth a go. Try searching online regarding diets for children with ADHD. Also try refrain from giving him foods that have any food coloring in it such as kool aid, hot dogs, gatorade, hot rods. Those are just a few that he should stay away from as they have electrolytes and those increase the hyperactivity. Try to keep your son stimulated during the day, see if there is any extra curricular activities for his age group to keep him busy and stimulated.

1st of all dont mix drugs..it could be harmful to him. Take him back to the doctor and let him decide what to do. When do you give him his medicine? I hope not at night. Maybe start winding him down earlier than his bed time

That is a big problem, try not to make him sleep at day, try to change his daily routine. Make him wear Apple Bottoms, to feel him comfortable.

don't let him nap during the day
wind down early that way he will be more tired when going to bed and will hopefully sleep better.

My son had ADHD and did not sleep, either. He did not even nap. He would reluctantly go to bed and then be up, again. He had gotten into that routine I think, due to colic as a baby. I think you may need to look at his diet. If you can eliminate all sugary things this may help. Sometimes a child with ADHD is sensitive to other foods, as well, and they cause this 'alertness' which is beyond the norm. They can be sensitive to dairy, wheat and other foods. Sometimes it causes digestive problems, too, which may also have the possibility of keeping him awake. Doe he need to use the bathroom when he awakens? If he is ingesting something that is causing frequent urination, such as sensitivity to dairy, this may awaken him at night, even if he is still in a diaper, since he may simply feel the urine, feel the need to urinate, or a burning sensation on his skin from a rash or burning from the actual urination. Look up: ADHD and food sensitivities, ADHD and candida, ADHD and leaky gut. Try an elimination diet. In regards to melatonin, if he gets outside to play, he will make it through his skin, and the activity will do him good. Try a trampoline which is great to wear off energy, and kids love them.