Moving from cuddle to sleep to put in bed awake

[binkybonk]

DS is 15months and has recently given up breastfeeding of his own accord. He used to be fed before bed, not quite to sleep but very dozy, and then cuddled and he'd drop right off and get popped in the cot. He's a fast drinker and the whole thing was no more than 10mins. (hence me never bothering to think of an alternative..)
Now not breastfed but same idea but with a bottle, but am panicking about the rotting teeth warnings you get with a bottle before bed and also am quietly concerned that I'll still be cuddling him to sleep in the story chair when he's 16...
Any ideas which worked for you? How do you put them in bed awake? Clearly I should've started 15months ago, but better late than never! Tried it a few times and he either screams blue murder or has a jolly time playing with bunny.
Any help gratefully received :-)

I did the same with DS until he was about 14-15 months. Do you do a story?
We introduced a story with his milk to make the situation different. Made sure it was 'such-and-such goes to bed' story so he got the idea (well, that was our thinking).

The transition was painless and he went to bed awake and dropped off himself.

We do bath, teeth, milk & story, bed. His teeth are fine. Do you use a bottle or beaker? Maybe introduce a beaker or cup for the milk.

Does he have a teddy. We also introduced the idea of a bedtime buddy which he took to well - although we now have about 8 in the bedtime crew.

also, do you use a nightlight so it's not pitch black when he goes down?