bedtime screaming

For the past week and a half to two weeks our daughter(20months) will not take naps or go to bed w/o screaming for at least an hour.  We took her out of her crib at around 17months and she has been fine up until now.  Why would she want us to be in the room with her to fall asleep.  She has been ok in the daytime, but as soon as it's night time she makes excuses not to go to bed.  What can we do to help this along.  Her bedtime is at 9pm every night, but we don't get her to sleep until 10-10:30pm.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

While this does not occur with all children, it is regarded as within the normal spectrum and you need to stick to your guns about the bedtime routine, regardless of her reaction to it. Now, part of the problem is that you took her out of the crib way too early. Many parents do this. Children at this age do not have the impulse control to do well being in regular beds. I usually advise the parents of my young patients to keep them in their cribs even until the age of four or so, if the child is still feeling comfortable and protected by this. There's really no need to be having kids out of cribs at such young ages. The problem with your daughter is probably exacerbated by the fact that she's not in a crib.