Which bad habit to drop first?! Dummy, bottle, cuddle to sleep..?

[binkybonk]

Will try to be succinct...
DS is 22months old and I think he sleeps ok if not compared (endlessly...) to the 7-7 yardstick.
But (all my excuses in brackets!!)- he still has milk in a bottle (he only started a bottle at 15m so it still feels like a novelty!)
He then gets given a dummy once in his room (he only has it in his bedroom to sleep, he's v good at chucking it if he wants to get up)
He gets cuddled to sleep and then popped in his cot (it is the easiest route! It's never taken longer than 15mins max!)
Baby #2 due in 3months and don't have enough arms for the necessary cuddlage.

1. Do I go cold turkey on everything or do a stealth approach?
   
2. If stealth then which gets dropped first?
   

And 3. is there anything between cuddled to sleep and the ever euphemistic 'sleep training'? I've heard of 'gradual retreat' but Dr.Google has failed me when I've tried to find out more. Not doing the crying thing so any other suggestions gratefully received.
:-)
Thanks

[Clearlymisunderstood]

I would say bottle first, that should be the easiest to get rid of, you can just replace with a cup. Then cuddles to sleep, I wouldn't make the dummy thig a big deal if he only has it for bed

[VisualiseAHorse]

I agree with Clearly - bottle first, then cuddles, then dummy.

Will have a think on how to drop cuddles and be back!

[VeryProbablyStupid]

I have a thread going about supernannys put back to bed thing, its working for my 27 month old.

I am mean so I make him do everything at once - drop the bottle, sleep in his own bed and me not be there when he falls asleep. Its going well though and only on night two!

[binkybonk]

Thanks for all top tips. I saw your post VeryProbablyStupid and like the non crying put back in bed idea- but he's still in a cot (and will be FOREVER- or at least until he's too long for the huge cot bed we inherited!) do I just go in and lie him down in his cot? Should I get the supernanny book?!

[VeryProbablyStupid]

Oh, mine is in a bed, so its easier when he gets out to just put him back. I don't know if I would have done it if he was still in a cot coz I also hate the idea of leaving him to cry.

I only finally did something about it coz the health visitor told me (when ds hit bloody 27 months) that they have sleep experts, so she went one round and she comes every week now. Who knew hey! Without the support I probably would have doubted myself and not bothered.