Help with self soothing

[jesslambo88]

So our little boy is nearly 22 months and our bedtime routine has always been bottle of whole milk on my lap in his bedroom and then I put him in his cot once he's asleep...he's started pointing and wanting to go into his cot after his milk...so for the last week I've been putting him in but he just won't self settle...I've tried leaving the room and returning after certain amounts of time as he cries for me and gets really upset and starts heaving/coughing...someone advised me to sit in his room by his cot so I've been doing this and he finally settles after an hour...he then sleeps through the night...please advice what should I do?? I no I need to start giving him milk in a cup and maybe downstairs then taking him to bed

Hello!
DS is 18 months and we have just successfully transitioned from co-sleeping and falling asleep in my arms to straight into a big boy bed no cuddles involved.
I found it really useful to implement strong bedtime cues (we play with stickers downstairs for 10 mins, then milk downstairs, come up and brush teeth then read a book in bed)
I have just gradually moved further away from him each night.
The first night took over an hour for him to fall asleep, it now takes between 10-15 mins. Not a single tear was shed