I guess every child is different but mine took about a month to completely cure him and he too would cry when put him back and now when I put him in bed I say " no climbing out no crying" everyday .... Now if he wakes up before quiet time is over I go in and say " it's not time yet go back to sleep or lay quietly" and he listens for the most part once in a whole he gives me more grief but not as a rule...... Even today the first day back from two weeks holidays he went to bed at 1230 and got up at 4. I was pretty impressed, now that I have said that I'm sure he will give me problems tomorrow ... Hahaha ...... Good luck ... Once he sees that you are consistent and you really mean it I'm sure it won't take long .... The key for me was to never let him up unless I lifted him out of the playpen .... If he climbed out he had to go back in and wait for me.