Fantastic Parenting Tip

This is not a Mommy Blog and I don't intend to make it one, but when you get a good tip that really works, you gotta pass that along and this is one. Awhile ago I wrote this about how I was still rocking my son to sleep, ignoring all the "experts" who said you should put babies to bed drowsy but awake, blah blah blah. . When I posted that, Andrew commented about the Five Minute Drill that had worked for him and his wife. Just over a week ago, Eddie started fighting bedtime like a demon, screaming as soon as we got anywhere near the rocking chair or crib. After a few nights of that, I realized that the fighting defeated the whole purpose of the rocking to sleep, so I thought I'd give the Five Minute Drill a try. Basically, you go through your bedtime routine, put the baby in the crib and say "You're safe, you're okay, you're not alone. Mommy (and/or Daddy) loves you and I'll be right across the hall (or wherever you'll be). I (we) will be back to check on you in five minutes." Then you walk out. In five minutes, no matter what, you go back in and check. Don't pick him up, just pat him and say the same thing. This sounded like the most reasonable approach I've heard. The Ferber method (increasingly longer times between returning), the cry-it-out method and the soothe him verbally only from the doorway method all seem too harsh, and frankly, after 15 minutes of him sobbing, I'm ready to sleep in his crib with him if I have to. I like the predictable rhythm of this one, even if a child can't tell when the "five minutes" are up, they can sense the rhythm of it, and begin to learn that when you say that, you're coming back. You go back in every 5 minutes, even if he's quiet, until you're sure he's asleep. The first night, I actually explained the whole thing to Eddie ahead of time (yes, he's 13-months, but we don't really know what they understand). We brushed his teeth, feed the fish, read a book, said goodnight to the fish, turned out the light, said our prayers and I put him in his crib. As you would expect, he stood bolt upright and screamed his tiny little head off. For the first several times I came back in (I used the kitchen timer and was in there at 5 minutes on the dot each time!) he was still standing, still hollering. Then, I came in and he was sitting. Still screaming, but on his butt. At about 35 minutes, I wondered if I was doing it wrong. I checked the post again, Andrew said it took more than an hour the first time, so I figured I had another 1/2 hour at least. The next time I went in - he was lying down. Crying, but horizontal. We were making progress!! The next time, no crying, but this angry "huff-huff-huff" sound. When I returned - sound asleep! Success! After only 50-55 minutes (which felt like, I don't know, three or four years). Nights 2 and 3, my first return found him standing, second and third sitting, fourth - lying and huffing, out cold by the fifth visit. Nights 4 and 5 where "one awake visit" nights, in which he fell asleep in less than 10 minutes, and the last three nights, he's gone right into his crib with NO tears or fussing and been asleep by the first time I come back. I can't say this will work with every baby; all children are different, but I heartily endorse giving this one a try when you're ready to get your child to sleep by himself.