DS2 is 7 months. He wakes at very regular intervals throughout the night - longest stint is currently 4 hours but 2 hours is most common, sometimes 1.
He's in a solid daytime routine- albeit not perfect bc of our long school commutes. He was always a short napper, but the longer naps are becoming more regular of late.
He's not fed to sleep apart from a 4/5 am feed, which i am winding down.
He's absolutely cracks it when he wakes up and is inconsolable unless i pick him up.
He's capable of falling asleep by himself. Sometimes he's awake when i put him down, sometimes he's drowsy, sometimes asleep, sometimes he will cry as i close the door but resettle himself.
So assume I've kind of fallen into a pick up put down approach. However, he clearly associates going back to sleep with a cuddle from me. His breathing relaxes as soon as he rests his head on my shoulder. So PUPD doesnt seem to be working very well 
at all.
Anyone had success with PUPD?? If so, any tips to break the association? Gradual retreat would feel a lot like cry it out to me, given he's pretty inconsolable if not picked up. Not sure what to do next.