2.8 year old always tired

[springchik]

My ds2 always seems to be tired. He complains he is tired as soon as he is up. He is otherwise a happy little boy who at times loves racing about with his 4 year old brother.

He sleeps about 12 hours a night sometimes more. When he is tired he sucks his thhumbs and either pinches my neck (only me!!) or if hes in his pushchair or i'm not available he sucks his thhumb and pinches his own neck.He does this everytime he's in his pushchair even at 9 in the morning. He is always wants to be cuddled/picked up climb on my knee.He wont sleep in the bed in the day anymore but will go to sleep in his pushchair anytime from 11 onwards and sleep for up to 2 hours. Today he slept from 1.30 for about 2 hours. Then when he woke up he complained of being tired for the rest of today. Sucking his thumb in his booster seat at tea time and kept saying mummy I'm tired. Was asleep by 7 as normal often asleep before that.

Is all this normal? He is like this everyday. On friday ds2 was awake when I picked up ds1 from preschool at lunchtime and ds1s keyworker said oh he's awake for once!

Sorry for gramatical errors feeling rather tired myself! LOL!

well it could be just a growth spurt, but I'd mention it to your GP.

Is he pale? He could be a bit anaemic maybe. Worth checking out.

Does he snore?

no not usually belle why?

enlarged adenoids cause sleep apnea and snoring which makes children very tired when they wake up.

Is he a poor sleeper at night? Frequently waking up?

Has he always been like this?

I was also thinking anaemia. Perhaps really look at his diet... oily fish, green veg, red meat etc? Make sure he has vitamin C to absorb the iron. Things like caffenated drinks can affect the uptake of iron. Just a thought.

He sometimes wakes up for a drink. He eats very well but does tend to avoid green veg unfortunately! Likes tinned salmon and sardines and all meat though Doesnt drink caffeinated drinks at all.

I'd pop him to the GP. If he's always been like this then maybe it's normal for him, you should get it checked though.

Yes, he might need some sort of iron supplement.

Not always been like this although has always liked his sleep. Not to this extent with the constant tiredness though.

Anemia is very common in boys of his age group, had the problem with my ds, also had the "I'm tired" morning noon and night, Try spatone, info here

its available from boots and is fantastic stuff much better than the iron you get from the gp.