Pregnancy & Baby 
ToddlerSleepAdjusting your child's nap time: Is it possible?
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Adjusting your child's nap time: Is it possible?

by Patti Greenberg Wollman

question
My 20-month-old daughter stays with her aunt during my working week. She naps between 1 and 3pm and we pick her up by 7pm. She seems to go to sleep later each night. Sometimes she doesn't get to sleep until 11pm. Do you think these sleeping problems are related to lack of attention from us?

answer
I do not think your daughter's bedtime problems are due to lack of attention. I feel that she is just adjusting her schedule to match yours. Your daughter wants to make sure that she gets to play with you when you are home. Many children adjust their schedules so that they are awake when their parents are home. They extend their nap in the afternoon so that they feel energetic in the evening.

If bedtime continues to be a problem, try asking that your daughter goes down for her nap an hour or two earlier. That way, she still gets her nap, but she may get tired a little earlier in the evening.

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