18 month sleep regression???

[mummy3334]

My 18 month old has always been put down around 7pm awake and quickly falls asleep herself. Until 2 weeks ago… every night she screams and shakes the minute I put her down, screams the place down and the only way she stops is by picking her up. Even if I settle her as soon as she’s put down again she’s hysterical, does anyone have any tips on how to help this?
she normally eventually gets off to sleep around 9.30 now

You might need to tweak her naps or her bedtime. She's maybe not tired enough to fall asleep quickly.

This sounds really tough - the sudden change at this age can feel so intense.

Around 18 months, there’s often a mix of separation anxiety & developmental changes, and it can show up exactly like this: protesting at bedtime, crying when put down, and suddenly needing a lot more reassurance. It’s very normal, but very draining.

A few things that can really help:
• Extra connection before bed - a slightly longer cuddle, a repeated phrase or song, something that signals safety.
• Review daytime sleep - at this age, even small shifts in nap length or timing can impact bedtime. Sometimes toddlers start needing slightly less day sleep or a change in nap, which can cause this sudden bedtime resistance.
• Plenty of active play and outdoor time during the day also helps regulate their sleep pressure and overall sleep rhythm.

You are not doing anything wrong. 💛
If you want to share what her nap looks like right now (length/timing), happy to help you work out whether that could be contributing too.