Why doesn't my almost 3 year old sleep? I need some parents input!?

AT first I was intrigued by your question and wondering what solution would work and then I read "putting her in her room and letting her fall asleep isnt an option she throws everything off the shelves and pounds on doors and windows and screams LET ME OUT I DONT WANNA GO tO BED" So there lies your key. When she does that, do you allow her out of her room? Does she get her way other times during the day when she throws a tantrum like that? That's all it is, a tantrum. Here's what I would do: Take everything out of her room except perhaps some quiet books or a few stuffed animals. Go through the bedtime routine as usual, say good night, it is time to sleep, everyone sleeps blah blah. Tell her she doesn't have to go right to sleep but she has to stay in her room quietly. Then leave. You could go the route of taking her back to her room every time she comes out and repeating she has to stay in her room or you could gate her in, depends on what you think her reaction will be. You will need to work at this night after night for possibly up to 2 weeks (standard amount of time required to change sleep habits). The other road is a reward system. Sticker or stamp for every night she stays on her bed (again, you cannot require her to sleep as that is not somethign you can force - let her 'win' that choice) and keep a large chart. 5 stickers earns x reward, 10 earns x, etc. AGain, this might require long term commitment and she might not really care about the reward since it is not immediate. Another trick would be to promise a 'surprise' in the morning if she stays in bed from the time you leave the room until morning. The surprise can be a small cookie, a few m&ms, whatever you can sustain for a long time. My guess is that she is attempting to control this situation and by allowing her out of her room or not making a rule that she stays on her bed, she is certainly doing that. Take the control away and you can change that. **EDIT yes, there are sleep disorders in children. You might really have to push a ped to make a referral but stand your ground. In this world of healthcare, the client can get what they want if they are persistent. Don't expect anyone to offer it to you.

go to the park after dinner, give her a bath with lavender soap...Give her benedryl before bed, until she gets a routine, put her back in a crib... seems harsh ...but maybe she does need meds hope eveything fixes itself, good luck

My just turned 3yr old son (2nd child) doesn't have a nap anymore because of how crazy the evenings would become if he did!! Even a 30min nap would result in mayhem that night!! He was literally like a 'Duracell' Bunny - he just kept on going. (and like you it wasn't sugar) partly he is very determine - I think he is scared he is going to miss out on something LOL. The only thing that worked was to literally exhaust him - No day sleep, and RUN+++ park, trampoline, football, tennis, dancing to the Wiggles - whatever it takes from 3pm - dinner at 5.30pm. At 7pm I take him into his room, story and light off - initially I would lie on floor and evertime he got up or talked I'd say "time to sleep...shhh" if he got up I would take him back - once he was quiet, I would leave the room. As long as he is not screaming I leave him, if he is out of bed I gently remind him "it's bed time not play time". If I give an inch he takes a mile - the 'tough' and matter-of-fact I am the less he carries on (mostly LOL) good luck- PS - I no longer "sleep" on his floor only did this for 1st 5 nights so he would get the message!