I don't think anyone was attacking anyone, or on the verge of it, but it's good to see mods on the ball with these topics
I haven't tried CC and never will, but I have heard variously that staying in the room is the safest way to practice this, because at least the child doesn't feel abandoned - I'm glad you clarified about not doing 'crying to sleep', that practice is a bit scary! From a psychology perspective, or even a scientific one, there is no study available (since I last checked, anyway) that suggests CC (but especially crying to sleep) is safe. There just isn't the research because of the ethics involved, is all I'm saying (ethically, if there is a risk that research could do harm, it won't be passed and can't be funded etc). On the other hand, there are plenty of studies attesting to the benefits to psychological wellbeing in the long run (and short term) for immediate response to a child's cry/discomfort (and to my mind, if you do CC, then patting and being in the room could make it over the line to constitute immediate response). Just to keep that in mind and provide a bit of balance amongst all the 'literature' that says CC doesn't do harm - there is absolutely no proof that this statement is true. That's why, I believe, that at least being present in the room takes the edge off CC (although some children are quite ok with it, if a child is NOT ok with it, it's probably not a good idea to persist with leaving the room). Good luck and I hope he figures himself out soon