Hyperactive 3 year old?

[Sallyre]

Don't know if I'm over-reacting - my 3yo DS is really hyper. CAN'T sit still for a moment or stop moving at times. Jittery and manic. Worse when he's tired.

If I make sure he's active a lot in the day it isn't too bad. But if we're indoors a lot due to weather or his brother being poorly or something he gets really hyper - jumping around, not listening, being really naughty (pushing his little brother and throwing things).

I don't know if he's a normal boisterous little boy or something I should be worrying about. DH keeps mentioning hyperactivity as a behavioural disorder......is it even possible to diagnose at 3?

Is he just energetic? Any advice really welcome as I'm starting to worry....we were round at a friend's house (who doesn't have children) and they were commenting on how "energetic" he is in that slightly sarcastic manner that makes you feel crap....

what does he eat/drink does he seem worse after? might be some e numbers???

I think it could well be just normal 3yo activity, but really hard to tell without seeing him. My 7yo still finds it really hard to sit still and fidgets a lot.

I thought it would be hard to describe. I've not been able to see a definite link between a certain food and his behaviour - he eats really well - lots of fresh fruit and veg and the occasional junk but his behaviour after eating scrambled eggs and spinach is sometimes appalling and yet after a happy meal he's lovely.....

I've been looking at some websites and I think it's probably way too early to worry. And one good thing is that he CAN concentrate for quite long periods of time - especially when playing with toys. He just gets bonkers sometimes - no other way to describe it - and has SO much energy......

Thanks for your input- just writing it down gives me a bit of perspective - been a tough day today which is why I posted originally.....think I should have an early night and plan to physically exhaust him tomorrow in the park!

I remember that sarcastic thing- "Ooh he'll sleep well tonight!" they'd say. "Oh really, you think?" I'd say.

Sounds normal to me but then I seem to have ended with a 14 yr old who can walk for 24 hours without tiring (and incidentally could walk 6-7 miles at 3 or 4). I think you may just have a very energetic boy, which is a good, but then I am not really particularly convinced by the existence of ADHD. Maybe your DH needs to take him out for a run in the evenings as well...

As for the naughtiness, sounds like normal 3 yr old behaviour to me.

He sleeps brilliantly - goes to bed at 7.30 and sleeps till 7am - only wakes up if he has a bad dream or something. Thank you for the reassurance dash and duch!

sounds like my ds when he was that age absolutely manic and hard work in the day (not boisterous or agressive, just very very energetic)
brilliant at night conk out by 7 and not get up til 7 next day.
he's 9 now still has energy but calmed an awful lot
i wouldnt worry just try as far as poss to let him run!

Sally, I think your little one is just an ordinary lively boy. Especially when he is a good sleeper...I don't think you have anything to worry about!
TBH, I find it frightening just how many Kids seem to be diagnosed with ADHD and things like that and I really think there is nothing wrong with them (not that I am an expert, or anything)!
My ms is very lively, always on the go and all that, and people tried to tell me that he "obviously" has behaviour problems when he was a toddler, because at times he would just be naughty (for lack of better word)...it really upset me at the time, because people try to label Kids so easily!
As it turns out, my ds just went through a stage at the time and just generally is a lively soul ( he still is now, lol)....!He is quite intelligent and inquisitive!
Anyway, long ramble...but honest...all quite normal I think!

Thank you thank you - just hearing this makes me feel much better. He was actually really good today! I also hate the speedy diagnosis of ADHD - everyone seems to be desperate to label kids. I was hoping I'd hear words like you've written so thank you - will show this to DH and reassure him too.

I think every parent think their child is hyperactive at some stage. I know I did.

Hi there, it's been years since this post was used. I've got a 3 year old with the same 'lively energy' as OP described. Did yours ever grow out of it?
Did you find any parenting tips helpful for trying to calm them down?

@Cathycat7

How are you getting on, my 3.5 year old is like this too. He’s being put on the neurodev pathway

Hi there, we're still off for the summer so no real update here.
May l ask what a neurodev pathway is and how does it effect your DS's nursery/school routine? I have a feeling when my DS starts school again that will come up for us too

Sorry, I didn't quote you before so I don't know if it pinged a response
Hi there, we're still off for the summer so no real update here.
May l ask what a neurodev pathway is and how does it effect your DS's nursery/school routine? I have a feeling when my DS starts school again that will come up for us too

Neuro dev pathway is a referral made by parents and or GP/school/Nursery….whichever knows your child best. Most often it’s parents and school/nursery. For this year I have decided to keep my son in private nursery as he’s had a big change in a short time. His childminder quit suddenly, then he’s not settled in one nursery so moved to another. We’ve noticed a RAPID decrease in his behaviour since the beginning of may and as yet we aren’t sure if it’s the change or something else.

From the Neurodev referral if it is successful it will then put us on a waiting list for the community paediatrician and we will go from there.

At the moment we are reluctant to put a label on our son, but are open to supporting him any way we can before he does go to school next September.

He struggles with emotional dysregulation sometimes, especially when he’s tired, he’s always on the go and he bites :(

That's where we are l think. He's still so young to officially label imo but at the same time, I don't want to ignore anything and keep DS from getting any additional support he may need.

My DS is always on the go too! He went through a little bit of a biting phase but doesn't anymore. I think what concerns his school is that he makes a face (grit teeth and odd noise) while approaching other children and grabbing their hands or hugging them when clearly they do not want to be hugged. Really bad with reading body language right now (or just doesn't care) I don't know sometimes.
It's so hard to say. I hope your DS has a good experience when school starts in September. 😊 You want what's best for them! I also hope you get to work with a supportive group of people at the school too. It does make a difference.