I think sleep issues are so difficult. I remember when my son (now almost 2) was 6 months old. He would cry every hour to hour and a half all night long. It was to the point where I NEVER got more than 2 hours sleep in a row. I was losing my mind. I too was worried about letting him cry it out. He would get so distressed I could not reasonably believe that it "didn't physically stress him". I had tried it once and he cried for 3-4 hours straight. It was too painful for all of us and I said I would not do it again. On the other hand, my husband and I decided we could not have him in our bed because, even at 6 months, he rolled and hit and kicked and pinched so bad neither of us could sleep at all. I solicited opinions from everyone and read every book I could find. Eventually I found an approach that has worked well for us. We modified the approach from Ferber's Solving your Child's Sleep Problems. It is a great book for helping to understand human sleep (even if you don't agree with "crying it out"). First I weaned my son from nursing every hour. That way I knew he wasn't hungry and I wasn't neglecting him in that way. Then I slowly let him cry before returning to him. For example the first night I went to him after he cried for one minute, then after 2 minutes, then 3 etc. The Ferber book is a little tougher than we were with the timing, but the idea is from him. After a few nights this worked and my son was sleeping for 6-7 hours straight. He still gets up very early and we still periodically have sleep issues with him during the night. That is where I borrow heavily from another book - Raising a Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurchinka. She talks alot about how "spirited" children are different from other kids and the "crying it out" just won't work with them. They get more and more worked up with that approach. My son definitly fits her definition of a spirited child and understanding this has helped me better deal with his night awakenings. I would highly recommend that book as well. Now I use more reason and comfort with him. Often if he wakes in the middle of the night he just wants me to go to him and let him know everything is o.k. Sometimes he needs to be offered the option of sleeping in our room (on a sleeping bag on the floor). I strongly encourage you to keep looking until you find an approach that works for you. If it doesn't feel right to you to let your child cry - don't! If you know in your heart that you are losing yourself and you need to let the baby cry - do. Whatever solution you find don't let anyone else's opinion make you feel bad. Everyone has to do what works for their family in their situation. We are all different. Also, I really think some kids just aren't solid sleepers and they can't be compared to the child that "from birth has slept through the night". Some kids just never will do that. All the parent can do is try to be loving and find a way to get the needed sleep. Good luck. I hope you find a way to get some sleep. I remember those days well and they really are tough. Take care.