Charlotte went through phases...
she was fed to sleep for almost the first year, but if I was not around, she would drop off with out it.

There were tears, and a whole heap of different techniques from CC to rocking to get her to sleep from awake in her cot, but had results in a very short time.

Now she goes to bed awake, we read a story and she goes to sleep. She knows not to get out of her bed, and only will to go to the toilet or in the morning.

Consistency and routine definitely helped - in fact routine is essential I think. Charlotte was always dinner bath feed story bed.