Being a mom is tough work. It is human to feel frustrated when you are tired. I do not think that this is the perfect answer or that their is one "right" way to handle a child's bedtime but if my children couldn't sleep I just went ahead and held them. My mother told me she did the opposite (kept putting me in the crib, wanted me to learn to fall asleep on my own). I had a lazy boy recliner and could put pillows on the sides so that I knew they wouldn't fall out and the recliner didn't allow me to "squish" my child while they slept. So I slept more in that recliner than in my bed when they were very young. I suppose my philosophy was just to respond and comfort the child when they asked. At least I felt no frustration. I enjoyed having them in my arms. I suppose I was lucky, once they turned about 1.5 years old--they mostly slept for long enough at night, they slept longer than I did -- I would read to them and lay next to them till they fell asleep (I did not sleep there). Around that time, instead of a crib we used a Japanese style futon in their bedroom (floor level). Perhaps I did it all wrong but they rarely cried and always seemed happy. I have always assumed that when a child cries it is because they need something. It's not something I read, just what I felt in my heart. Again, I am not saying that my method was "right" just sharing my experience. My children are now in their 20s....