In my house its the opposite! H2B tells me to leave him to cry a bit and I cant stand it. Im also quite efficient with one hand. I chop veggies, and cook with one hand. Bismarck on the hip and Logan around my leg. I put Bismarck in his walking ring for a little while while I try and get dinner started and Logan plays with him so they entertain themselves most of the time. But sometimes he wants me to hold him and then its back to one hand again.
I hate it when he cries, its just not right. i believe that children cry for a reason and they cant tell you what they want or need so they cry. Even if they do cry just to be picked up, it means they need the attention and love. They just want to know that you are there when they need you.
Charlotte - when i did sleep training with Bismarck, I would go to the room when he cried but not pick him up. I would just pat him and he would stop crying when he saw me. I was just letting him know that I am there for him but Im not picking him up. Now he sleeps through the night and the odd night he will still wake up but not regularly. Try it