We are at a younger age, so i dont know if this will help at all.
MJ went into a toddler bed really early and was fine, but it was taking longer and longer for her to go to sleep, i had to sit with her, she had to play with my hair, she would tell me where to pat her, it went on and on and in the end it was just crazy that i was effectivly playing with her for an hour to get her to sleep.

So now we do things differently.
We do the normal wind down routine, then PJ's on and story time (this can be anywhere between 5 mins to 30 mins depending on her mood), then she goes for a wee and then her night nappy goes on.
Then into bed, and i ask her if she wants some milk (she still has her BF before story time, but recently she has decided that she wants milk too) then i get her the milk, i give it to her cold then ask her if she would like it warmed up (i figure that she is demanding as she is at the age where she wants some control, so I decide what she can have the choices over).
Then i give her the milk, tell her that i love her and give her kisses (again she gets to choose where i kiss, usually its every body part - but thats ok) then i tell her that she needs some quiet time and that i will be back when she has had a rest and drunk all her milk.
I tell her i love her and ask her if she wants her door open or closed.
i walk out... sometimes i have to go back in as she is upset, other times she gets out.
I just remind her that she needs to be in bed and have her milk BEFORE Mummy comes back in and that if she is silly it takes longer. If she gets up, i put her back and then walk out and say the same things over.

You wouldnt believe what a change this has made to my life (and DH as i am not irritable when i have finished putting her down)... sometimes it can be more drawn out, but from having to spend 60minutes sitting next to her (not including story time) to this, its been amazing.

She has NEVER finished the bottle of milk, always alseep half way though!

Dont know id this is helpful at all, but thought i would share