Mikaeel Kular was last seen in his Edinburgh home when he was put to bed at 9pm on Wednesday night.
The young boy’s mother is said to be ‘distraught’ after discovering the little boy was not in the family home at around 7.20am this morning.
Mikaeel has 4 siblings, including a twin sister, and is described as 3ft tall and possibly wearing a beige hooded coat and brown shoes with his pyjamas.
Mikaeel lives with his mother and siblings, but his father lives elsewhere and -according to neighbours- regularly visits the family.
Officers are searching the area with sniffer dogs and are attempting to determine if the child was snatched from the home or if he left on his own accord.
Police Scotland superintendent Liz McAinsh said: ‘There is no evidence to suggest criminality at the moment but clearly we are keeping an open mind.’
‘We're a big organisation now with Police Scotland and we are using all of the resources at our disposal to look for this three-year-old boy.’
She appealed to those in the area: ‘think about your own homes. Look everywhere a three-year-old boy may go.’
Superintendent McAinsh spoke about the possibility that Mikaeel had left the house himself.
She said: 'we know that his jacket and shoes are not within the property so we are following up all lines of inquiry in that regard. We don't know if he may have left of his own volition, but obviously that's one line of inquiry we are following up.’
She added: ‘as you can imagine, Mikaeel's mother is distraught. She just wants our help and the public's help in finding her little boy.’
Those with any information regarding Mikaeel’s disappearance are asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.