Hi shellbell, I'm another with a similar prob .. DD used to go to sleep quickly and quietly (well... quietly for a baby ) in the cot, but now takes up to 3 hours in her bed and is up as soon as it's daylight. The only reason she's not in the cot now is that she's a climber - both out of and INTO the cot!

Sorry, I don't have any advice for you, but I'm also thinking black-out blinds. And I like Nelle's safety gate idea!