5 month old baby wants to be held all the time - day and night

[theresa123]

I have a 5 month old son and a nearly 3 year old boy. The baby is making life so, so difficult! He has been difficult to settle from the moment he was born. I was really soft with my first child and held him all the time and allowed him to sleep in our bed. However, he is still in our bed today and I can see it going the same way with my baby! My poor husband sleeps in the other room most nights. The thing is, I don't understand where I'm going wrong this time? I've tried to be firm but it's just impossible! He cries and fusses when he is tired. Nothing works other than rocking or feeding and eventually he'll cry himself to sleep. Once he's asleep if I try to put him down he wakes up again unless he's on me. He ends up sleeping on me every night because I'm just so exhausted. He wakes up most mornings at 5am and feeds loads throughout the night. He hates the push chair and the car. If he's had a decent sleep then he'll be in quite a good mood for about 15 minutes and I can put him down but that's not very often. I tried to let him cry it out but after 40 minutes his screams were just getting louder and he was covered in sweat! I don't really like that approach to be honest but felt so desperate!
I'm now reading the No Cry Sleep Solution and am trying a few of the techniques but not having any luck so far!
If anyone can offer any advice I would really appreciate it as I really do feel like I'm at my wits end!

[skybluepearl]

sling or ergo back pack during the day? my second was like that. not sure what to advise about the night time.