Hi there,
I am emphatically against leaving bubs to cry for reasons that most people have mentioned on BB (eg the article ' the con of controlled crying').
I won't say my DS is the best sleeper because he isn't. Usually at 14 months he wakes at least once during the night. But I know that whether he wakes or not has nothing to do with my sleep tactics for him. Sometimes he is teething, sometimes he is hot or cold or wet, sometimes he seems to have bad dreams etc. Sometimes he sleeps straight through for weeks.
I know I am doing the right thing by responding to him because sleep wise he is easier to settle again at night and he has dropped night feeds by himself. But more importantly during the day he is such a confident, well adjusted little boy who is happy to meet lots of new people, try new things, loves giving hugs and kisses and cuddles, and chats (gibberish) to everyone that he meets. He goes to daycare one day a week and started at a new centre last week. The carers were amazed at how easy going and happy he was. He also goes up to other crying babies and hugs or pats them, or puts his head on them.
So I really feel that we have done the right thing.
The sleep thing will pass. But your bubs development now will determine a lot in the future. I know it is so hard because I have been there, but it gets easier as they get older.
Big hugs! HTH