Staying awake in the evenings

[CharlotteandCharlie]

I am pretty confused as to dd's sleep patterns.  Truthfully they are all my doing.  She is very compliant but I think I've pushed my luck a bit too long.

7.30 wake (usually alseep when I go in)
1.45/2.00 nap (seems perfectly awake and happy)
3.45/4.00 awake
8.00.8.20 bed

This schedule is SOLEY for my benefit so I can get some down time between naps from dd1 and dd2.  Dd2 naps in the afternoon from about 3.00 to 4/4.30 so I get about 45 mins of me time. 

I know her awake time before nap and after nap are unbalanced but it hasn't caused any problems until recently.  I've noticed she is still awake past 9.00 p.m.  Most times calling for me for potty or I love you'z or I miss you'z.  This is starting to pick up but wasn't really a problem until recently either.

FWIW, she never tells me when she's awake in the a.m. after nap or in the evening (until recently she's calling for potty or whatever).  So she may be have been awake until 9.00 for months without me knowing. 

Anyway do you think I should put her down earlier like 1-2.30 or so and see what that brings or is it normal for them to stay awake for up to an hour in the evenings in their bed.  (her room is completely dark, no light, nothing to play with).  Or is she starting some kind of mommy puppet thing?

I am ready to start going to bed earlier myself and forfeit any needed down time between babes.  I just want to do right by her.

[Layla]

Yes, I think an earlier nap & maybe even cut the nap to 1.5hrs will help her go to sleep for the night sooner.

So I would try
7.30 - awake
1-2.30 - nap
8pm - bedtime (hopefully asleep by 8.30pm)

hth
Layla

[*Natasha*]

Catherine did this for a few days as she was waking at 7.30/8am nap at 12.30pm but not falling asleep till 1pm sometimes later than wake up at 2.30/3pm in bed at 7.30pm asleep 8.30/9pm. So we now do this:

7am - Wake
12.30pm - Sleep till 2pm
7.30/45pm - Bedtime

[Mom to M&M]

I would do exactly what Layla suggested - try for nap at 1 and cut her off at 2:30 and shoot for 8pm bedtime. Maybe you can also move DD2's nap up 30 minutes so you still get a bit of Y time?