Thanks everyone for your replies and especially Rachael - I couldn't have said that any better. There is such a bad stigma with Control Comforting/Crying. (Perhaps it is my fault if I have called it the wrong thing).

I have NEVER let my son cry himself to sleep, (each to their own) but I couldn't personally leave him as distressed as he has been - to cry himself to sleep. I have tried letting him settle a little bit longer each time, and that just doesn't seem to ever get him closer to sleep. Funny how it works for some babies and not for others - just show what little individuals they are already.

It's strange because last night after writing this, he went to sleep in his cot as soon as his head hit the mattress, but this morning, again, he will scream and scream when I have tried putting him down for his morning sleep, so I am dumbfounded...they just seem to be extreme. Like a month ago, he would take maybe 10 minutes in his cot to settle, now it is either one way or the other.