and a couple of older children -- i just *love* the toddler age -- it is absolutely my favorite . I tend to find it more challenging as they grow older and i expect more, but 17 months is still a baby LOL (really! i swear it!)

it sounds as if she is ready for a change in sleeping patterns. we've never 'forced' sleeping and they just seem to get to a point where they need to fall asleep and then they usually nurse or can be cuddled, driven, rocked, slung, etc to sleep. I do find it challenging when their patterns change though -- just when i thought i had it figured out! a really good book for evening routines and sleep is _the no cry sleep solution_ by elizabeth pantley. there are some excerpts on her site http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth/content/sleepbooksummary.htm

I have also had the same experience w/ night waking being related to teething. I have had good luck w/ the homeopathic remedy chamomilla -- i know others that have really like the Hylands Teething tablets and of course there is always tylenol

anything that i don't want to be gotten into or creates too much of a headache for me if they do get into it (like terribly messy projects) is put away so i rarely find no to be an issue at this age -- since if they don't see it, it doesn't exist. Hmmmm.... some safety things come up -- primarily the car seat -- so finding ways to make that pleasant is an ongoing project. as for handholding all of mine preferred to be slung until 2 or so.

i have found that for me it really is a matter of my expectations and if i don't have any about any certain behaviors than i am free to enjoy whatever comes along.