Transition to toddler bed - Please Help!

We are having # 2 at the end of June so we decided to transition DS into a toddler bed now before the baby comes as we will need the crib.
DS is 23 months and is a pretty good sleeper. We got a firetruck bed which he loves and put it in his room as I didn't want to confuse him even more by changing his room.

1st night we did our usual routine, bottle, 5 min snuggle/rocking and in the new bed he went. No problem slept until 2:00 am woke up got out of the bed and I went in rocked him for a few minutes and put him back. Slept until 6:30.

2nd night Even better slept through the whole night no problems

3rd night: Did our routine but when I went to put him down he started crying and climbed right out. Tried a few times and just kept crying to get out of his room, so I rocked him to sleep and put him in. He woke up once but fell back asleep on his own.

4th night: Nightmare!!! Cried from the minute we went into his room. Kept getting up and screaming to get out. Finally rocked him to sleep. Was up at 12, then again at 2 then at 3. I did bring him into our bed at 2am let him fall asleep and then put him back in his bed.

What am I doing wrong???? How do you get your DC's to stay in bed and how long will this go on. Do I just keep putting him back into bed awake? Any suggestions into making this an easier transition. He was exhausted this morning when I had to wake him and then had a total meltdown on the way to daycare.

Re: Transition to toddler bed - Please Help!

No real BTDT experience - just 2 thoughts. Really play up how big he's getting and can sleep in a big boy bed like mommy and daddy and how he's not a baby anymore.

DS has been giving me a hard time going to bed. Potty charts did well for me so I started one for his bedtime routine. Night 1 - awesome. Night 2 - eh. Night 3 - pretty good.