OK, remind what to do with a baby that stays up till 11PM??

[Osmosis Mom]

With six siblings then it is not as if we don't have a lot of noise going on in the house, yet this baby prefers to really wake up around dinner time (5-6 PM) and then take snoozes till falling asleep around 11 PM. Since I am an early sleeper this is *killing me*!! I'd much rather sleep at 9 PM!!! I tried bathing him around 5.20 once and that only made him go to sleep around 10 plus I had to keep the heat on high for hours ($$!)....

[AudreyTN]

OH, you mean a *real* baby :D... I just got it all worked out with my 13 month old and I was all ready to answer :)

Sorry I can't help. I'd love to see the answers though, just in case I ever need it again :)

[Philothea]

I would try adjusting feeding times, especially if you are nursing. Mama's milk is like a sedative for babies, usually they want to sleep right after a big meal. So I would try to feed the baby right before bed eventually.

[Osmosis Mom]

Big meals, small meals, does it matter to this particular baby??

[Tammyla]

Try having those older siblings entertain the little guy to wear him out before 9pm. Take heart they change as soon a you figure out their patterns. Oh, and is it more quite around your house after 5pm or are you turning on the lights? You'll figure it out. Hope the little guy is sleeping on your schedule soon.

[Osmosis Mom]

LOL!!! I have taken the baby to my bedroom sans lights from 7 PM and he still does the same thing (and has been sent down then with his daddy for some entertainement when his exhausted mom got too cranky around 9PM).

I know that this is just a short priod of time and I am *not* that desperate....

[Mx5]

My solution was to stay up with the prince, and co-sleep with him. I have very fond memories of my little guy staying up late with momma & daddy, watching Tom & Jerry (Jahhhweee) and snuggling him. Now he's 8, still a night owl.

Your baby is very young. She may just be trying to figure things out for herself. Good thing she has lots of older sibs to entertain her.

[CalicoKat]

I have only my empathy to offer. Pre-surgery dh would give me a nap in the early evening after dinner so I could handle staying awake a bit longer without being cranky myself.

She's perfectly content to frog around on the floor playing with her toys until 11 pm. Rarely does she need to be held and comforted.

We do have another night owl, 8 yo dd, and sometimes if we're both tired we ask her to watch the little one while we snooze on the couch. :) They enjoy playing together and it's good bonding time.

Hang in there, the days when your little prince wears himself out trying to walk & climb are coming soon. He'll be tired then and go to bed earlier.