Which is best?

[cherryjam]

For many months I have put my DS (18mo) down to bed in his cot after story, bath and milk etc and he either falls straight to sleep or rolls around for a while and falls asleep.

It is really rare but sometimes he cries a little so I go back in straight away and rub his forehead and he settles very quickly.

This is how we have always put him to bed since he was very tiny as I started to get into the habit of him having to fall alseep in my arms as a newborn which was taking hours.
A relative of mine has indicated that my DS must get lonely and that he shouldn't be alone - I have been adament that my way works but now have a small feeling of doubt? Is it cruel to leave a baby to fall alseep alone?

of course it's not cruel. I never stayed with mine when they went to sleep as they would then need you with them to go back to sleep in the middle of the night. I went to them if they cried in the night but once they were calm I would leave them to go back to sleep by themselves again.

absolutely not. I do exactly the same as you at BT, put my also 18mo DS in bed awake & leave the room & he chatters for a bit & goes off to sleep. Also for the same reasons as you, b/c when he was tiny I let him sleep in my arms & then he would scream whenever I tried to lay him down. We used sssh/pat to help him learn to settle independently & would put a hand on his tummy/stroke his forehead & sssh until he went to sleep. Its very rare for him to wake at night so when he does I know he really needs me & I would always go to him. I think it sounds like you're doing a great job

Many thanks for the replies - I really thought it was OK but just got a little doubt when my relative said otherwise. Going with gut feelings works! Now I just need to get him to sleep through the whole night! Thanks again

No, not cruel and I really think it helps them develop good sleeping habits for life. We all need to switch off before we go to sleep and it's much easier to do this if you don't have someone there with you.