So it seems like the dominant/popular parenting advice that is out there (from mchn etc) is that you should try to avoid picking your child up when they wake up in order to re-settle them. I appreciate that the aim of this is to help them to learn to settle themselves. Its a nice theory....

But a nice cuddle is often the only thing that works for my little guy. I have tried patting/ soothing him while he is in his cot but usually he just gets more worked up, or it takes forever to get him to settle again. But if I pick him up and we have a nice cuddle in the rocking chair, he is usually out like a light and I can put him down again. He goes from upset to calm and relaxed super quick, and its sooooo nice. I love cuddling him!

So why is it seen as so bad? Am I "creating a rod for my back"? And what does that mean anyhow- that he will always need to be held to sleep?

Sometimes I just don't get these parenting theories- it seems so instictive to pick up and cuddle my upset child....can he really learn to self settle at 4.5 months old? Or am I just being lazy and taking the easy way out and doing him a disservice by not teaching him another way?!!