mamapaige We have noticed something similar with our 14 month old son. He starts screaming with his eyes still closed after about 40 mins to 1 hour of falling asleep. This usually repeats itself a couple of times until he settles for the night. We co-sleep as well and I use an essential oil diffuser in the bedroom. In my opinion this happens when he is over-tired and over-stimulated. So I agree with
Lila the best thing to do is to experiment with their sleep schedule.
I don't have my son on a schedule, nor have I sleep trained him. I've always followed his lead and let the natural routine set in. Nevertheless I notice that he can sometimes loose track of this routine, especially when he is going through a leap or growth spurt or when he is teething. Honestly it feels like there is always something going on! But in these times I try to put him to bed earlier.
In my desperate moments I've done quite a bit of thinking and reading. Am now making a dream catcher for my son, incorporating some stones that are soothing, calming and can help with night terrors etc. For example, Charoite aids with insomnia and difficulty settling into sleep, and Chrysoprase protects children suffering from frequent nightmares. Moreover, Prehnite alleviates nightmares, phobias and deep fears...
Am not sure how old your child is but if s/he is old enough you could incorporate a bedtime ritual with some crystals. Here is an example by one mama (full article:
http://naturealmom.com/crystals-for-kids-energy-muse-giveaway/):
"I started using this kit with the boys as part of their bedtime routine or when I would like them to be calm and relaxed. I begin by laying the boys down comfortably and waving a
Selenite cleansing crystal about a foot over their bodies from head to toe a few times before performing the circling to cleanse their energy fields. Then I place the Fluorite point on their third eye, in between the eyebrows, with the point facing upwards towards the top of their head. Next, I have them hold the Fuchsite stones in their hands. Lastly, I take the Quartz point and draws three circles around their bodies to connect and unite the energy of the crystals on their bodies. They are mesmerized by these crystals and the sense of peacefulness that they bring!"
I hope this helps! X