I've decided I hate definitions too! LOL!

I sort of do what you do.

I believe there are times when sometimes you can't help it if they cry, like I'm in the shower and he starts to cry on the floor and I've got shampoo in my hair I can't exactly get out with shampoo in my hair. Luckily I'll have Paris try to distract him but sometimes it doesn't work till I get out.

With Seth, I don't think we CC, but I'm sure in some circles they would say we do. I don't care. Its worked with two kids, my children sleep wonderfully. Paris has always been a secure sleeper and still is and as I'm sure personality comes into play I also think I've listened to "their cues" as much as possible which I think is the best any parent can do. Both of my kids like their beds, we figured this out pretty early with Paris although with Seth because of everything I've read and learnt I doubted myself (silly huh!) and thought maybe we did CC Paris so I thought I would try the AP approach to sleep. Well, that lasted 2 weeks (and 2 weeks of taking 3-4 hours to get to sleep each night I might add) and I thought... Hmm maybe what we did with Paris wasn't such a bad thing. So I put him down in his cot, (he squawked initially) then I spoke and patted etc till he calmed down, then when he was calm we left and haven't looked back since. Our sleep routine goes like this... Wrap, plug, music ... then I'll talk and stroke till he calms down, then I'll leave the room. If he gets upset I'll come back straight away (I guess this is why I don't really see it as "controlled" as I'm not timing it I just go to him) and I'll talk and stroke and replug to calm down (we don't pick him up unless he's distressed or won't resettle) and if he doesn't calm down its usually because he's not tired, or he's hungry or dirty etc. But I swear if someone heard the way he first objects when you put him down you'd think I was murdering him LOL but then after about 30 secs he stops. Whereas if you try and settle him in your arms, that 30 secs might be 15-30 mins so that to me is evidence enough that he wants to be in his bed. And the reason I don't pick him up every time he cries is because this can often wake him up fully and then he'll get even more upset because he has to get back to where he started. Its like when you need to get up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night and you get out of a nice warm bed and that "comfy" position etc I think the same would be for them too... So I look at it this way my reasons for doing what I do other than "it works" is because to me it is gentle, and my son gets as much rest as he needs as a result.

Definitions I think are starting to be the bane of our parenting generation... don't put yourself in a box, parent by heart its the best you can do.

*hugs*
Cailin