Besides the issues of the parents figuring out how to deal with their
frustrations and differences, perhaps, this couple could discontinue trying
to make such an issue of having this child sleep so much.

     I think that 7:30 p.m. as a bed time is waayyy too early to be
expecting what they may consider a full nights sleep (12 hours?). Remember
5-1/2 hours is a normal all night sleep pattern,if this child is also having
several regular naps throughout the day. If they at least want 8 hours
of sleep then 7:30 to sleep means that this little toddler will want to rise
at 3:30 a.m.!  7:30 to 7:30 would probably only be possible if the child had
no naps during the day.  I am assuming that they want their 8 hours plus
several hours alone together and still let mom have several hours to do
'whatever'. without being bothered, periodically, throughout the day.

This assumption could be wrong on my part, but if this is what is going on
they need to work on spending awake time with their toddler and less time
trying to get him to sleep all of the time.  One nap of 1 to 2 hours is
probably all he will need with a later bed time.  If they want periods of
time together at night then assume 7p.m. to 9p.m as the nap and put him to
bed for the night at 10 or 11, skip the daytime naps for now, find ways to
keep him busy during the day and he will relish his sleep at night.
True he may still awaken a couple of times for nursing but probably not 6-8
times each night.

The reality is that many children don't need as much sleep as the parents
want them to need.

Cheryl

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