My 12 month old son has always had a lot of trouble falling asleep, to the point where the last few months we have had to drive him around the block for naps and bedtime. I have been periodically trying to lie down with him until he falls asleep. This has work a few times, but taken an hour or more, and usually involves some tears. Many times when I try he gets so upset he is screaming and whaling and we eventually give up and go for a drive. Seeing as winter is coming and we wont be able to drive around the block in a blizzard, I would really like to change our routine. If I continue to lie down with him until he falls asleep and he is crying and screaming, will this have the same damaging effects that the CIO method has? Should I be persistant with this even if it takes hours? Should I try for 15 minutes, then stop an try again in an hour etc, until he is exhausted and collapses? (I've tried this and he finally collapses with exhaustion around 12, 4.5 hours AFTER his usual bedtime- then is tired and grumpy the next day). Any other suggestions??

Background: we are co sleeping, breast feeding, I stay home in the day with him. He has one nap a day for 1.5-2 hours.

He will not fall asleep during breastfeeding, rocking, or any other method besides the car.

Any advice would be apprieciated!