How to get an 18 month old to go to sleep in his cot?

[Dimosaur]

Feel like the worst mum atm... Listening to my DS so upset because I'm trying hard to get him to sleep from the off in his cot.
I'm going in every 2 to 3 mins, laying him down and shushing him.
It's taken 40 mins so far and he's finally quietened down!

My own fault, he was BF til 14 months, so has always gone to sleep in our bed then transferred when he was asleep.
Lately he's been waking at midnight and screams blue murder to come into our bed, I cant be dealing with that at midnight so I've started the battle from bedtime tonight!

Fingers crossed it works now!
Any magic tips?

Ok haven’t had exact experience as my LO has been in her own room since c. 8months.
I will say that with any change consistency is key, you don’t want to send the message that if they wake at midnight you take them into your bed. When they wake go in settle them, give some warm milk if they like that. Leave, perhaps go in every few mins if unsettled but keep leaving.
My LO although 2.5 sleeps with a nightlight and a mobile that projects an image on the ceiling and plays a nice melody. Does your LO have something soothing like that?

I've left the nightlight on, and started to introduce a teddy, as he's never had a comforter, so thought maybe that'll help him.
Just perseverance I guess.
It's for the greater good, when he will settle in his own cot on his own!

It's honestly just sticking by what you're doing and being consistent. The worst thing you could do would be tomorrow or the next day go back to what you did before because then this horrible upset tonight would be for nothing.

Even as adults we find change hard! Your little one doesn't want to change what they were doing before they liked it... But give it a week and this will be the new normal.

We had a sleep consultant and she advised only.lie them down the first time. As long as they are physically able to do so themselves let them do this. When you go in stroke them and be comforting but only for 30 secs then leave again. Keep doing this. It will work.

It's really hard 💐

Update... Took 40 mins, and he slept Through. 9.30 to 9.15!!
Let's see how tonight goes!

Have you tried the sneak out approach. The lie them down, you stay with them then gradually sneak out. It takes a while but works.

And sleeping 9.30-9.15 wow.

Yes, tried the sneak out approach, tried just sitting by his cot, until I think he asleep, he knows as soon as you're out the room and kicks off again, so thought I better try the going in and out.

Just thinking about second baby that may come, he can't be in our bed then so better to nip it in the bud now, as much as I hate letting him cry!