Putting 3 mo old down for "bedtime"

[junebug2011]

Hi, dh and I co sleep with our three month old. Lately bedtime has been a trainwreck, with baby staying up, fussing, with us until she falls asleep from sheer exhaustion around 11pm to 1 am. Then she sleeps really well till like 6 in the morning. 

Question, is there any way for me to have a bedtime with her that is earlier than ours? What techniques could I use to put her down? She falls asleep nursing but then when I try to sneak away she always catches on. I have tried room quiet, sneak a binky in after I get her off the boob, fan on. She just wakes up as soon as a human being has left her side. Dh and I go to bed late, I am on a late night schedule because I am a night nurse. Not sure if its good for her to be staying up so late. 

Thanks!

[greenmulberry]

I nurse DD down, when she is asleep I release my nipple, but I don't leave for another ten minutes or so, I sit and watch TV quietly or read until I am sure she is really, really asleep, before slipping away.

Although I never go too far, because DD is a light sleeper and if I come put a hand on her when she starts to rouse, I can get her to sleep quickly, but once she is fully awake and crying it is much harder.