Hi i also struggled with getting my son into his cot we spent hours getting him asleep and then when we put him into his cot he would wake up and cry in the end we gave up and had him in our bed.
In the end we moved his cot from our bedroom to his and put him to bed at a set time 7pm and it sound cruel but left him to cry, within a week he did not cry when we put him in there he went straight to sleep, he is now 2 and a half and goes to bed at 6.30 in a big bed we have never had any bother with his sleeping.
My sister in laws little girl refused to sleep in a cot and as soon as she turned 1 they bought a big bed for her and she slept through for the first time and has done ever since.
I hope this helps, my baby is due in 6 weeks and i know how important it is for the elder child to be settled before hand, hope you sort it out
Good luck
