Falling asleep unassisted

Does anyone have any tips for having baby (12 months old) fall asleep on her own in the beginning of the night?

I have rocked my baby to sleep every night for a year and I'm noticing that she is waking up in the middle of the night and not able to sooth herself back to sleep. I've gotten the feedback that it's important to have her fall asleep unassisted in the beginning of the night. She typically sleeps 8:45/9pm to 8/8:30am,