It's all about perspective - you are so right!

My DD still wakes up every night, but we have a set-up so that I hardly ever know. She toddles into our bedroom as she has done for over 12 mths and settles in to sleep between us until 5:30-6am when she wakes me up for a bf. Then she goes back to sleep for another hour, which suits me fine. I am so used to it that I don't usually realise she's come into our bed!

Try and find a way that makes it easiest for you. Not what is right, what everyone else does, etc, etc. Personally, I object to getting out of bed before 7am, so the odd time when DD wakes up b4 then she goes back into her room and I shut the door (she plays with her toys). When she was little I would get up to her if she didn't settle herself and bring her into bed to cuddle. If she slept, I'd leave her there unless I was awake enough to pop her back in her cot.

Now if she won't settle during the night with us I put her back in her bed with our little dog and she's perfectly content! I hated getting up in the middle of winter last year, so took the sides off her cot and left all the doors open so she finds her own way to us. I have heard of families where kids sleep together, 'cause that works for them. I actually hate sleeping alone, so I'm not going to stop DD wanting company in the night. I very much doubt I would have read any of the things that work for us and many others in any book!

It's trial and error, just like everything else!