2.7 year old can't get to sleep

[diplodocus]

My DD is 2.7 and has always been a good sleeper. Goes down about 7.30, and wakes about 8am. For the last few weeks she just doesn't seem to be able to go to sleep though. I don't think she's deliberately playing up or pushing the boundaries - she just seems to be unable to do it, although she's clearly tired. She usually finally goes to sleep about 9.30 - 10.00, but is also waking at least once in the night, which is unusual for her. So far we've tried:

Making her room darker
Getting her to have a short nap during the day (in case she's overtired)
No nap during the day
Earlier bedtime (again, in case she's overtired)
Slightly later bedtime
Lying down with her, cuddles etc.
Putting her to bed in our bed
Getting her up earlier (7.30, although actually a lot of mornings she's waking earlier anyway)

She gets plenty of fresh air and exercise during the day, and we have a bedtime routine with stories etc.. I don't think it's the heat, because it's been happening even when it's cooler. If she comes out of her room, we just take her straight back, which seems to work in terms of her staying in her room, but not in helping her go to sleep. She's getting very tired and grouchy, and it's difficult to get her up in the morning.
Any ideas?

Bump anyone?

Is she showing any signs of being poorly? or maybe having bad dreams?

She was unwell before it started happening (just a cold and cough) but fine now. Have wondered about dreams - she wakes up quite distressed (but then she's always upset if she wakes) but doesn't say she is (her speech is quite good).

Sorry diplo, had to go back to rl. Bumping for you.
Could she be in any kind of discomfort at all?

prob just another inexplicable phase. is she hungry? anything else changed in her life? she might just be needing to find a new way to settle herself to sleep and currently it is taking her a little while. i think when they are more aware of what is going on around them they do have to adjust their little patterns. Give it a month or two you will prob find she doesnt do it any more. Could you just leave her to her own devices even if getting out of bed etc so she doent do it for attention after you ahve said goodnight?

just remembered when it was happening to my dd1 at around this age she had just gone into a bed and out of a sleeping bag and my friend just asked if she was cold. i put an extra layer on her for the times in the night when she didnt hav her covers on and it stopped the nighttime wakings and helped her settle more quickly....

DD started to suddenly wake at night after being such a good sleeper from 14wks, now 3 1/2. She would be distressed and kept on saying dark. In the end we got a night light from mothercare the type you plug into the socket. Not a peep out of her since!

Thanks for the messages. May try a nightlight, though don't think she's fringhtened. No real changes in her life - thing you're right nowwearefour, but will check out whether she is cold.
Thanks