Calling all seasoned moms . . .

All right, I am asking for mom advice, so please share away and be as preachy as you like.

I have a dilemma. I am trying to figure out how to handle Quinn's sleeping habits. He is a very good sleeper and if he's ready, will fall away pretty quickly if we put him on our shoulder and pat his back. Then he sleeps well (a few hours at night and varying lengths for naps) before waking up to eat. He will occasionally fall asleep on his own, but is certainly happier with our help. However, I don't really want him to need us to put him to sleep forever. He is a very calm baby, but I want him to be able to soothe himself for our sanity as well as for future babysitters. Do I let him cry it out until he falls asleep? Today I left him in there for 20 minutes. For 13 of those minutes he was just fussy, then it turned into full blown crying and I finally picked him up, gave him a pacifier, held him for two and a half minutes and he was out. A pacifier will also put him to sleep, but that is another habit I don't want to start. What do I do? Get tough or spoil him? Or is he too young to worry about this? When should I start caring? So many questions!!!