Understand about the age-gap, Shez. I guess that's why its a tough decision to have to make. Golly, if Natalie were awake for that long she'd go bananas... total meltdown.
Today at my folks place I tried to put her to bed once I'd figured out she was tired and I'd already missed the window - she was inconsolable. Didn't want to be held, didn't want to be put down, didn't want to be wrapped or unwrapped... In the end, I whipped the booby out to calm the situation down. Phew.