Most nights we try to begin the bed routine around 7.30pm (my 10month old starts his routine at 7pm- so should be asleep by the time my 2.5 year old's routine begins). We do toilet (cause we are toilet training now too), nappy, clean teeth, get into bed and read. Then we kiss him goodnight and walk out. Most of the time he seems to go off to sleep ok- but sometimes he challenges us. Especially if DH has just got home from work just before bed time- so we tend to delay bed by 30mins or so, so that he can spend time with his daddy.

But DS1 has been in his own bed for 12months now and always been in his own room, though he occasionally comes in to our room early morning- which i don't mind...its nice to snuggle, especially if DH has already gone to work (he gets up 3am'ish).

We use to up until a couple of months ago, lay with him til he fell asleep- which sometimes took 30-45minutes, but it was getting to hard as i like to finish cleaning up so i can relax or go to bed and DH has to go to bed early too.

It took a few nights of sticking to the new routine. We just had to keep going in, putting him back into bed and walk out- which took the old 30-45mins, but eventually he understood and now most nights it takes 15mins from start to finish. Day sleep are similar, but i find i struggle a little more as i'm on my own and now have an active, on the move 10month old- who has opposite sleep times. But we get there- i think its a matter of being consistant- what ever your new routine is to be.

Goodluck with it all.