Is it wrong that my baby puts himself to sleep?

At about 9 months old I got tired of fighting and holding him down to get him to go to sleep when he wouldn't set still, so I began laying him in his crib and going in and soothing him every 5-10 minutes and after about 30 minutes he would put himself to sleep and now when I lay him down and give him his puppy (stuffed animal) and pacifier he lays down and goes to sleep on his own every night at 7:30. Well, is it wrong that I let my baby learn this way because my friends and parents all think that I was wrong and being mean to him. I felt like I had to do something different. Was this mean?