My 18 month old girl starts crying when she doesn't get her way immediately. She if I don't pick her up. Also when I'm trying to put her to sleep. I think I can get through everything, but the putting her to sleep part is killing me. What can I do?

I watched a study of getting children to sleep, with video cameras set up in dark rooms with nothing but a night light.
It was done very successfully by slowly and systematically no longer responding to crying at night. First come in, pick up the child for just a few seconds, and put her back down and let her cry. Three nights later, come in and stand there, say something soothing, but don't pick her up - and let her cry. Three nights later, don't come in at all.
Do not break the steps at all. Do not peek in, or relent, or say anything from the doorway. Once you have moved on to the next step, stay resolved.

In the day time, practice more serenity and act as though you don't really hear her screaming, and keep busy doing something that will distract her attention, even though it has nothing to do with her, such as moving in and out of the room doing chores or cooking or laundry, maybe singing a song. Getting her way is largely because you are so quick to respond to her. It's going to take time and a lot of practice ignoring her tantrums.

This happened with my little brother as a kid, when he was 19 months old he started the same strange behaviour.. We went to get him looked at . Turns out he had SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) its pretty much like a form of autism . Even if your child does not have this, it would be a good idea to go and purchase some special toys... It worked for us . Hoped this helped:)

Many times children are just spoiled. They cry to get their way, when you give it, they learn that crying makes them win. So it is harder and harder to stop the behavior.

Children often cry and cry when put to sleep, one often has to just let them cry, and after a few days, they will learn, they are not winning