17 month old - advise on gradual withdrawal

[DKM]

Hi, I'm hoping someone might give me some guidance with my 17month old. I'd really like to get this sorted before baby nr.2 arrives at the end of the year.
He goes down for his nap no problem and goes to sleep by himself within 15mins, at night time when I know he's tired we'll complete this long wind-down routine and he'll go into the cot with his last bottle. He'll chatter away by himself and after this he'll cry for me. When I go into the room I simply sit on chair beside him, don't look at him, don't speak to him (unless upset) just gently lie him back down if he gets up to a full stance position. This work v.well and he's asleep within 20 mins generally.
The problem is that he wakes at least once every night and will want me to go into him. If its mantra crying then i'll leave him to it for 5-10 mins but when it picks up I'll go into him. I could be with him up to 1.5hrs until he settles again. He's not upset when I'm there just a lot of tossing and turning. Its its past 4am then i'll give him some milk. I'd really like to know if anyone has successfully done the gradual withdrawal technique where the chair is slowly moved out of the room?
His daily routine:
7am wake-up
8am breakfast/bottle
11:30 nap for 1.5-2.5 hours
7pm bedtime and generally asleep by half past.

[Miraclelim]

I totally understand u. My LO was a really good night sleeper until she turned 14mths then it was teething molars then sickness. She is now 18mths And night has been so much better after sickness n teething also I stop putting her to bed n let daddy do it. And guess what she sleeps through the night after 6 weeks of waking up every nights. So now daddy puts her to bed. Initially she looks for me but then she stopped. Because she knows I m not going in. U might want to try it. But u have to rule out teething. Teething molars is the worse.
I was sitting at the doors for hours because she won't let me leave the room😰. So I know how u feel. Hug hug.

[DKM]

Hey thanks for reply, always nice when someone can feel your pain. Dad is home too late from work weekdays to do the put-downs. LB screams when he attempts to at the weekends but we do persevere a lot of the time. It seems to make matters worse for us at weekends when he does do the put-downs as he'll wake very soon after going asleep, and of course looking for mama. I'm going to attempt the gradual withdrawal but am wondering how often to I move the chair further out of the room. Am I giving it a week in one position. Should I avoid touching him if he reaches out his hand and am I OK to put him back down gently when he stands. I'd like to get off on the right foot before I begin. God, I've tried so much and have failed so I'm hoping this might do something.