OT: (photos too) How Can I get my baby to stay up later

Hi All,

Just wondered if any of you have dealt with this issue and could possible offer ideas.

My hubby started working 4-10 hour days a week so he could have a full day with Lorelai on Mondays and it also saves a day of paying for daycare. It's woking out great except my hubby gets off of work at 6 and Lorelai goes to bed at 6. I have tried to keep her up later, but she is just ready for bed at that time. My hubby really misses seeing her on the days that he comes home late. Just wondering if any of you have had to work to get your kids to change their schedules to stay up a little later. We were hoping it might change with springing forward, but no luck.

Lorelai is 7 months old and most nights she sleeps all the way through the night until 5 or 6 am. We're not willing to mess that up (all that sleep is good for her), but if there's anything we could do to possibly get her to stay up until even 630 for a good night kiss from dada (without making her cranky or overtired), that would be our goal. We know it might not be possible, but we thought we'd ask just in case.

Oh also, here's a couple new pics of our angel. She is AMAZING! 

ya... dont know about the time shift for you.  but OMG is she cute!  LOVE that 1st pic.

We had a similar issue with my twins. Hubby was moved to a different dept that worked 9-6pm and he was missing the girls' bedtime.
To give hubby some snuggle time with the girls, we moved their bed time back by 10 minutes each night over the course of ~2 weeks until their bed time was 7:30pm. They still woke up at 7am even though we tried to get them to sleep later, but it didn't seem to bother them.


good luck.

No suggestions about keeping Lorelai up just wanted to say that she is super cute!

No suggestions, I'm not a mommy and I can't see your pics but I'm sure your little girl is gorgeous...What I did want to say is I have the same birthday as Lorelai, except I was born in 1986 and not 2010. Aww I'll think of her this year when she turns one!

She is so adorable!!! I am so envious she sits up all on her own Aiden doesn't sit up on his own yet. He sits up assisted and pushes to sit up.

I would start her bath a few minutes later. In her bath, she will be engaged and be wide awake. Aiden gets up early (we leave at 6am) so he goes to bed early. He is playing in the bath then crashes after it!

I'm guessing she naps during the day - maybe push back her naps a little bit? That might help with the crankiness closer towards 6:00.

Thanks everyone! It's funny cause she doesn't get cranky around bedtime usually, you can just tell she's ready. I put her to bed at 620 last night and she woke up in the middle of the night, which she doesn't usually do. I think I might try the 10 minute thing. Hubby was so happy last night that he go to see her that it's worth the effort of pushing back the time if we can get it to work.

Tina

 My suggestion is to not mess with her sleep cycle, especially if she is sleeping though the night for you! Trying to disrupt it will only mean problems for you and a cranky baby. She will eventually push bed time back on her own or show you signs that she is ready for a slightly later bedtime, but for now I say stick with what works. She is just beautiful. 

I'm with Courtney on this one.  I would not mess with her sleep schedule.  It sounds like she's a wonderful sleeper and you're able to read her needs very well.  I think if you try to mess with her schedule, you'll be dealing with a baby who's waking up during the night, not napping well, etc.

It's great that your husband is able to change his schedule, though.  My husband and I both work 4/10 hour days at opposite ends of the week so we only have Ruby in daycare for two days.  I'm off Fri-Sun and he's off Sun-Tues.  We both get the same amount of time with Ruby and we love it!

That's my .02!

PS...she's so beautiful!