Phew! I've just (I think) got through the first evening of sleep training with my DS. I feel like a cruel and heartless mother and I'm worried he'll wake up hating me 
He sleeps in a cot in his own room. He usually goes to bed ok, but until tonight that's because I still cuddle him to sleep after milk and a story in the armchair in his room, then transfer him to his cot asleep.
The problem has been that he still wakes 3 or more times most nights and needs cuddling back to sleep, sometimes it can take an hour or more. This has become untenable. DH and I both work and we're broken with the lack of sleep. It's making me a grumpy and resentful mummy in the day time.
So, tonight I decided I'd try to read him a story then lay him in his cot awake and read him the rest. He's usually pretty drowsy so I stupidly thought he might just drop off. No!
He went a bit crazy at first, flipping around like a fish and giggling . I finally managed to soothe him and lay him down quietly. After a few minutes of rubbing his back I left the room and he started to cry. I left him a minute (just long enough to have a wee in the bathroom next door!) then went back in, laid him down, told him I love him and rubbed his back again until he was quiet and relaxed. I did this a total of five times over 40 mins. By the end he laid himself down as soon as I went back in. Finally I sat by his cot while he lay with his back to me drifting off and I left when his breathing got heavy. That was 20 mins ago and so far he seems settled.
Is this ok??? As soon as I tried to get him to sleep without picking him up and cuddling him I realised I had to stick to it otherwise I'd just make things worse. I've been reading up a lot about sleep training but hadn't really decided tonight would be the night. So I've not followed any method by the book and just done what felt best.
He was pretty unhappy but not hysterical. I feel so guilty. He's a very active and capable little boy. Being tired in the day is bad for him too. We'll all be better off in the long run, right? Aside from the lifelong psychological trauma I've caused by making him think I don't love him, obv. 
Ps please be kind, this has been a long time coming and is a last resort. Before he was born I was sure I'd be the breastfeeding co-sleeping earth mother of the year, but that's just not how things turned out.
Thanks for reading this far!