1 year old waking endlessly before midnight - why?

[RooTwo]

My 15 month old has been waking many times before around midnight for a couple of months now, on and off. It's very rarely in the latter part of the night, just in the evening (though last night unusually she also was awake at 1). She seems very unsettled and DH and I have to go in and out anything up to 10 times, giving her a pat or a quick cuddle and lying her down again. She goes to sleep around 7pm fine with one of us sitting near the cot (but not with hand on her). I can't think what it is though that is causing her to wake up so much - wondering if it's dreams or something like that?? She's teething on and off but surely that'd make her wake throughout the night ... has anyone experienced similar? I'm weary of having no evening whatsoever ...

She seems to be finding it difficult to go from light sleeping into a deep sleep when she first goes to bed.

Could she be hungry? Maybe try supper. Or thirsty, in need of water? Is she too hot or cold? Maybe there is too much noise around her? Or she needs black out blinds?

How is she generally with separation? It could be separation anxiety.

We had exactly the same issue and solving it recently by leaving music playing in DS room all evening.

Before this the general noises of the house or a passing car would be enough to wake him properly if it happened in a light phase of sleep. Now he may stir a bit, let out a little cry, but then hears the music which is familiar and settled himself quickly with no interference from us.

He has never slept through thr night, but since introducing the continual music playing all night, he now wakes only once for a feed. Previous to this our nights were all over the place.

Ah MoominMama that's very interesting to hear, cos we already do that - DD has the sound of rain going all night in her bedroom and has done since birth! I have been wondering recently whether THAT might be disturbing her though - it worked so well for her when she was a little baby, but I don't know if she really needs it now or indeed if it might be disturbing her sleep. But I am pretty sure it doesn't and am loathe to stop it as it just works so well as a cue for naps etc and seems to keep her sleeping happily all night beyond midnight ish ... and like you said it also drowns out out the racket of the other kids in the house and general noise outside. Tahnk you for replying though with your thoughts ... FATEdestiny I am starting to think it must be a separation anxiety type thing, a developmental phase. I don't think it's to do with not being able to go to sleep on her own (becuase she can, really). Possibly she's struggling with the light into deep sleep but it might be because her brain is fizzing so much at the mo, she's just started walking properly after a couple of months of gentle tottering about. Just don't really know what to do about it, perhaps we just have to ride it out.