tibsy - thats basically it! you put them in bed and say something, like "its sleep time now", they cry, you pick em up, calm them, put them down, repeat "its sleep time now" etc. i found its best with my lo to wait a bit to make sure he is actually angry/upset, not just giving his sleep cry...i think the babywhisperer calls it a 'mantra cry', so that can be a few seconds, and sometimes i keep it a little longer with my hand on him to see if he settles. if not, i pick up,calm down, put down, and keep repeating this method. i leave the room (and stand outside) if he seems to go to sleep, or if he stops crying, or if he starts just doing the "self soothing' things....in my los case thats sucking his blanket (which he's only started last three days, i kind of started it for him!)
anyhow, its worked very well for us, and has even worked at naps.
night 1 was 40 pupd's: 5 wakings.
night 2 was 17 pupd's: 3 wakings.
just put him down and HE SHUT HIS EYES STRAIGHT AWAY AND WENT TO SLEEP!!! i cant believe that can be it of course, am waiting for him to kick off when he realises his mistake,and the pessimist in me thinks thats a sign he'll be up all night!
anyway, i would check out the website, www.babywhisperer.com, lots of info on the message boards. i dont think its for everyone, but it has been working for us, and its like a magic trick, i never thought he would do it, because we have been rocking him and feeding him to sleep all this time. i try and remember the somewhat cheesy line: " i am your still waters" while i am doing it, and smiling a gentle,slight smile (hopefully calming) to show him i am confident and happy with what we are doing. thats the hippy in me!
i think it might be similar to ncss methods. do let us know if you try it and how it works for you if you do!