I have a sleep fighter! Is this normal? What can I do

[NHorner]

DD has become a sleep fighter and im not sure what to do!

Im a first time mum and I know I'm quite lucky that my DD is a very chilled out, happy and content baby who has been sleeping through the night for a number of weeks now. She normally would drift off at about 9ish, I would dream feed her at between 11-11:30 and then she would be fast asleep until I wake her in the morning between 7:30/08:00.

However recently she has started to really fight going to sleep. On some occasions she would only nap during the day for an hour max and then still be awake until 11:30 at night. On other occasions she will nap well during the day but still wants to fight going to sleep at night.

We haven't implemented an actual "night time" routine yet as I thought she might be too young but im wondering if I should? I also have no idea where to start here.
I see the cues that she is tired (yawning, rubbing eyes, pulling hair) and I try and act as soon as I see this but to no avail.

Has anyone else had experience of sleep fighters?

How old is lo?

If lo is rubbing eyes etc it's said there already overtired so will fight sleep.

Implement a routine. However be warned some always fight sleep, my DD aged 9 years old has always been awful, her brother has always been an angel when it comes to sleep.

DD1 was a sleep fighter from the get go. We had to put her ‘to bed’ in our room (with one of us) at 6pm from five weeks old because she barely napped in the day and was hysterically overtired by the evening but just couldn’t settle with any kind of stimulation. We found movement to be the key for her - for ages she could only switch off with loud white noise and being rocked vigorously in her buggy or crib. She did eventually learn to self settle at around six months, but needed to throw herself around A LOT before she could drop off. She also only ever took 28 minute naps until she was 18 months, when she started dropping the nap entirely.

She’s now just 3, and it’s clear that it’s just her personality. She’s highly curious, sociable and her brain seemingly operates at a million miles per hour. She cannot get to sleep if either of us are in the room with her, and demands that we leave after we comfort her during nightmares! Has never ever co slept, despite us trying numerous times when she’s been unsettled.

It was hard work in the first year and I was sad not to get cuddly sofa naps, but I honestly now wouldn’t change her for the world. She’s such a force of nature that we’re convinced she’s going to do great things.

And, on the plus side, DD2 seems (TOUCH WOOD) a lot more chilled. Still needs to be put down to nap as finds people distracting, but does a lot less shouting about it!

How old is your LO, OP?

I'd imagine an earlier bedtime will help.
Hard to say without knowing age.
Sleep breeds sleep so the more she has, the more she will need if you know what I mean.