Evening Routine with You Toddler...

I get home anywhere between 4:30pm - 5:30pm. I spend time with my 3 yr old DD while hubby makes dinner (he's a SAHD), we eat around 6pm, then brush teeth and she has a bath from about 6:45 - 7:15. Then we read a couple stories and she's in bed between 7:30pm - 8pm. The next morning, she gets up around 7am.

My kids are 5 and 9.
They are in bed at about 8:00pm.
By the time they actually fall asleep, eyes closed and passed out... it is about 8:30.
But I get them in bed earlier already... because they like to chat and wind-down first, before they actually actually, fall asleep.

3 year olds, need about 12 hours of sleep. Average. Some need more.

I have found, that whatever the night time routine is... sometimes a child just forces themselves not to fall asleep too soon... because they want to be with you and spend time with you. Even if they are, tired.

YES.... I am sure, your daughter IS exerting enough energy during the day. I assume, she is at Daycare or Preschool? Since you work.
So, with a day like that, at Daycare or Preschool... YES, a child gets a FULL day of being active. They get tired, from their long day too.

As a child gets older, they are more able to force themselves awake... even if they are tired. BUT... some kids (like my son), will actually get more "hyper" the more tired or over-tired they are. Because, they are trying to make themselves, stay up. But they are indeed, tired.

7:40 to 8:00 is only 20 minutes, for pj's/books/singing... and then laying down. MAYBE... start the routine... EARLIER, so that, she gets more time to do those things, without 'rushing' through it.
That is what I would do. Kids, don't like to be 'rushed' through the night routine. They savor being with you and doing those things. So perhaps, start the routine earlier... thus you and she has more time to do it without all the rush. At least for my kids, that is what I need to do.
The less time they have and the more "I" rush them through the night routine... the more, restless they become. And irked.

Also, I would not eat/play/watch cartoons for 1 hour. Do something else that is more active. Even if just in the house. Because, to me, that 1 hour of watching cartoons is maybe, her 'downtime'... then by the time it is bedtime... she is getting her 2nd wind.

Our evening routine is usually busy even being a stay at home mom. I have a 13 year old who plays basketball so she gets home anywhere from 2:30 to 5pm, my 6 year old gets out of school at 3:30pm and my 4 year old gets home from his preschool around 4:30. If we have a basketball game and traveling we usually grab something to eat on our way or @ the game, if its not a basketball night I try to have dinner cooking before any of the kids get home. I try to have a sit down dinner with the whole family but rarely works ( their dad works 3rd so he sleeps most of our evenings together). After dinner, my 13 year old will help with dishes while to younger 2 play and read books. Around 7 they get baths, brush teeth, read a book, and get tucked into bed. Ive noticed my 6 year old usually falls right to sleep but my 4 year old not so much. My kids have always had a 8 o'clock bedtime, they seem much happier in the morning! I dont think 8 is too early of a bedtime for a 3 year old. Even if she is taking 45 mins to fall asleep shes having that quiet time to herself which will help with a better nights sleep.

8 is definitely not too late for a 3 year old. unless her nap is super late or she sleeps super late. couldn't you take that hour for playing and watching tv, and make dinner? she could help you. my son (5) is great help in the kitchen and it lets us connect and we're not eating fast food. anyway, you asked for our routines so here's mine....

i get off work normally at 4:30, but sometimes it's 5:30. regardless, i have a very short commute (THANK GOD) so we are home by either 5 or 6. either way i will usually whip something up for dinner, we don't eat out very much at all. you can do hamburger helper or tacos in 30-45 minutes. so we are always done eating by 7:30 at the latest - usually it's more like 6 or 6:30. then is playing/tv/relaxing time, and 7:30 we start bedtime. my son is 5 so i expect him to do some of it himself - so it takes awhile :) we sometimes read a book, sometimes we do a "talking story", sometimes we sing a song. i'm not very consistent with that part unfortunately. then, yes, lights are out at 8. it can take him awhile to wind down sometimes, and other he's out like a light. he gets up at 6 am to start his day.

Home @ 5:15 and then snack and playing. Sometimes playing outside, or sometimes doing coloring, play dough, bingo, arts and crafts, etc.
6:30 - Dinner
7:00-8:00 TV, Bath, Books, Jammies
8:00 - Bed

My children are 3 and 2.

Try cutting back on the tv and/or increasing outside playing (maybe go for a walk, even though its dark?).

But there are plenty of nights my 3 year old is still awake at 9:00.

Sorry no silver bullet - pretty much in the same situation as you.

It must be something about this time of year. My 2 yr old is going to bed about an hour later than normal lately, and a bunch of other mamas I know are saying the same thing. :)

I get off work at 5, get the kids home around 6. We usually manage to eat around 6:30pm. Afterward is "activity" time (art project/reading a book/playing/tv..whatever she's in the mood for). 8pm is the start of our bedtime routine. Bath (and related activities), brush teeth, goodnight hugs to everyone, prayers, and bed. She's usually in bed between 8:30pm and 8:45pm. She gets up anywhere between 6am and 7am.

This past week, she's been staying up until 10pm! She still goes to 'bed' at 8:30/8:45, but she'll stay up "reading" or singing or talking. She usually falls asleep around 10pm and I have to wake her up at 7am to get ready for daycare.

You can try doing more active stuff indoors during playtime and see if that makes a difference....

I am lucky, we get home around 4pm, so we will usually play outside for half an hour while it is still light, then we come in and I turn on the tv while I cook, we eat about 6pm. Then I will read with the kids, or play tickling or something silly. I usually bath them around 7-7.30, and I like to get my 3yo into bed by around 8 - But she fights me all the way, and takes at least an hour to go to sleep. But she is exceptionally hard headed. I am even thinking about letting her stay up a bit later.
My 9 yo is tired by 8.30, he has a busy day at school, and he doesn't fight it.

My schedule is like yours: Kids are picked up at 530 home by 6. I crock pot meals or make dinner the night before so that we are not eating out. I am lucky enough, as well, that I have a sitter who feeds my children right before I pick them up. We do not do any TV in the evening unless it is the weekend but with winter upon us it gets to dark to play outside so we do activities with the kids or have the 3 y/o help with chores while the 2 y/o plays (Less fighting *chuckles*). 730 is bathtime and by 8 we are reading a story. There are occasions where the 3 y/o wants to still stay up but we insist she lay in her bed.
Your routine is fine-If you’re worried, however, you might wanna try going for an evening stroll with flash lights