How to encourage older children to fall asleep independently?

[wysiwyg]

We had a good night on Monday - first night have not had to sit with DS - he didn't go to sleep for ages but no later than usual and only had to retrieve him from annoying DD on top bunk once. Would have been good to keep trying just leaving him in there, but Tuesday he had no day nap so fell asleep while I was feeding him, and then last night and tonight is just too hot so they are both sleeping in the lounge room. Hope on Sat night when cooler again can try him on his own again - not sure if was bribery helped because he seems to have forgotten he was promised anything :-)

[squeezles]

We sat in the room but didn't pat/sing/rock/hold until they eventually went to sleep (started off taking 2 hours to get her to lie down and sleep) and then we progressed to slowly moving away from the cot to out the room (I had a towel on the floor and moved it a few inches each day after she got used to lying down and sleeping). it took a month, but eventually we could put her down and walk out and she would be asleep in minutes