Toddler is up from 730am to 930pm EVERYDAY. No naps.

[sleepyhammie]

My daughter is 2 years and 4 months. She is generally a good natured, bright and happy child. Eats and drinks fine. However, almost every night we struggle to put her to bed. She would claim to be tired at around 8 and requests for milk, but then spends the next hour or so singing/rolling/jumping around the bed. Me (the mom) still co-sleep with her and my husband sleeps in the other room as he's a light sleeper. Her days are filled with baby groups/park time/day nursery and she has completely stopped napping so I really have no idea what to do next. That 1 to 1.5 every night sitting by the bed in the dark (cant use mobile as it distracts her) is really taking a toll on me.

Is she generally happy and alert during the day on that amount of sleep, or does she seem tired? (Both of mine are low sleep needs, and that would about right for them.) If it's the right amount of sleep for her and just the drawn out bedtime that's the problem, there are a couple of things you can try.

If you want her to go to bed at 8pm (and accept that means she'll get up at 6am), you could try waking her earlier to help bring bedtime forward. I'd probably do it gradually, half an hour at a time. Some children have strong internal clocks, though, and won't easily change their natural sleep/wake time.

If you're okay with a relatively bedtime, you could try building in some wind down time between 8 and 9 or 9.30 that isn't 'going to bed' (and also allows you to share this with your husband more). Would she have her milk downstairs listening to stories? Perhaps also some quiet play with dolls or colouring or whatever she likes? Then go upstairs for a final story/song/whatever your routine is later when she's more tired.

Another option is to work with her on what acceptable 'falling asleep' behaviour is so she doesn't keep herself up (and you trapped in a dark room) longer than necessary. I have on occasion told mine that I won't stay in the room if they are jumping about, talking with each other, etc. (Quietly singing/chatting to themselves/their cuddly toys is allowed, though, as is looking at books.) I follow through, but will come back if they then get upset (but leave again if they don't settle down).

My son is 2 years 4 months and similar low sleep needs. He only needs 10-10.5 hours within a 24 hour period. He does still sometimes have a nap but not every day. When he does have a nap he takes 1-1.5 hours to go to sleep and that isn't until 9:30. Without a nap he will be asleep more like 8. Every day is up about 6. I don't have any advice other than that I listen to an audiobook or podcast with one earphone in during that time so phone screen isn't on and I have at least something to entertain myself.