To feel guilty as hell

[Pudding43]

First time posting so please bear with me.
So I have just done a fitness class where you take baby with you and they play/watch while mummy's exercise. My 5 month old lasted all of 5 mins before having a meltdown. I picked him up and calmed him down then the instructor took him and I carried on. He was ok for another 5 minutes then got himself in a right state and all I wanted to do was take him and comfort him but the instructor was bouncing with him and talking to him so I thought he'd be ok. I calmed him again when we had a break then let the instructor take him and I carried on. Eventually after 10 mins of crying he went to sleep. Aibu to feel so guilty that I didn't stop exercising and tend to him, I was beating myself up the entire time but kept telling myself he was ok and being cared for just not by me for once. I try to not let my baby cry for long periods of time as I believe it could be damaging, so I am just looking for a bit of reassurance that what I did won't have caused any lasting damage. We've had lots of cuddles and he hasn't been away from the breast since we got home over 2 hours ago!
Please no harsh comments I already feel bad as it is but I am hoping you lovely mumsnetter's can give me some reassurance.

No idea wh you feel bad. It does them now harm to cry for a bit. He's fine.

It won't have caused lasting damage and I would have felt just as guilty as you.
Be kind to yourself!

No need to feel guilty he was being looked after and held just not by you. If he was really distraught rather than being a bit overtired he wouldn’t have slept.

I probably wouldn't have let him cry under those circumstances - if I could comfort my baby, I would want to. But you were in a new situation and understandably, you weren't sure what the right thing to do was.

However, I very, very much doubt you've done him any lasting damage!!

He knew you were there and he had attention. It’s fine.

I couldn’t have done it tbh, but considering they were being held i really don’t think it matters

Don’t feel guilty but if it made you feel bad, next time do what feels right to you. If I can comfort mine, I do and you probably felt the same.

Saying this In the kindest way, if this non incident gives you this much anxiety and overthinking you may consider getting some help with this before he goes to nursery etc otherwise you will be a nervous wreck. Babies suffer long term damage from bring abused or neglected not from being jiggled by someone else for 10 mins.

Babies cry when they’re tired. He could have been in anybody’s arms and probably still would have cried. The fact he went straight to sleep just shows that’s all that was wrong.

Please don’t feel guilty.

He’ll get over it op, don’t feel guilty.

There was nothing to “get over”, Luxury, so I hope that was just sarcasm.

Thank you so much for your replies. I think next time I will try and comfort him more, as much for my peace of mind as for him, it was all I wanted to do but wanted to join in too and not be disrespectful I suppose. Had he have been left unattended I would have definitely stopped and settled him. Hopefully next time he'll be a bit better!

Aw don't worry OP. You'll get used to it. Enjoy your exercise class - I love my postnatal pilates! - it's part of self-care, which should also be a priority for you right now.