I had a very similar experience. Various people suggested leaving him to settle but he isn't one for lying quietly while I pat him or rub him, never mind leaving the room and I just never felt comfortable with it. He is more about crawling up and down, standing up, lying down, standing up, lying down, giggling...... I persevered with the feeding, cuddling, whatever he needed to make him comfortable enough to get him to sleep. I went through a phase about the same point as you as thinking that I was being soft and doing it all wrong and feeling guilty that he wouldn't learn to do it himself and that I had missed the opportunity to ever instill "good sleeping practices", but am now glad that I just went with it as he is now (at 10 months) sleeping through most of the time (unless he is about to master a new trick or has a tooth coming through) and mostly just needs a quick rub on the back to send him off if he wakes and doesn't settle himself (boy have I jixed my sleep for this weekend!!). I think we are approaching "the other side" and I think that my sanity is (almost) "intact"!! Good luck xx