Q&A:
Is it OK to put my 4-month-old to bed at 10:30 each night?

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Answered by Loraine Stern M.D.

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"I adore children and being a pediatrician because of all the hugging and laughing that we do," say Loraine Stern, M.D.

Loraine Stern, M.D., clinical professor of pediatrics at U.C.L.A., has been in private pediatric practice for 35 years. Dr. Stern wrote for Woman's Day magazine from 1986 to 2005. She is a former editor of and contributor to Healthy Kids magazine. She has published two books on child care and has edited a book about pediatric nutrition for the American Academy of Pediatrics. A spokesperson for children and families, Dr. Stern has appeared on national networks and programs such as CNN, The Today Show, and Good Morning America.

Dr. Stern has two stepchildren but no animals or even green plants.

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Question

My daughter is now almost 4 months old. Because we have only one car, and I pick up my husband from work after 10 p.m., we put the baby to sleep at 10:30 or 11 p.m. Everyone tells us it's bad for her to go to sleep this late, but we don't have anyone to stay with her while we're gone. Will this hurt her? What is the "right time" to put her down? Please help!

Answer

Of course that is not a problem! In addition, your husband gets to spend some time with her after work, which he would not be able to do otherwise. The baby does not have to go to school in the morning or get up for work, and the hours we put babies to sleep are dictated by our schedules as well as the baby's needs. As long as she gets the right amount of total daily sleep, do not worry about what everyone else says -- they are not on the committee to raise your child.