After reading Babywise and putting the principles to use, I have tweaked it a bit to better fit Jack. If you do any research on Babywise, you will find many, many criticisms. The principles are similar to those of Dr. Ferber, who also believes in training a child to sleep. Most criticisms are from those who practice Attachment Parenting, or from mothers who have used the principles and wound up with low milk production. I would still recommend reading Babywise as long as you are willing to make adjustments to meet your child's needs. Even though I only have one child, and he is only 10 weeks old, I am still aware enough to know that not every child is the same and every child has different needs. I realize that Babywise (or Ferberization) is not for everyone, and it will all depend on your style of parenting.

I don't subscribe to either parenting extreme. I don't feel comfortable letting Jack cry in his crib for 45 minutes, but I also don't think it is in his best interest if I rush in to pick him up the instant he makes a sound. I think that a child should enhance your life, not take it over. And if I am honest, at first, Jack took over.

So I have found what I believe is the middle ground and what is working for Jack. He is on a routine now, which I can tell has made his life easier. I think that having a routine helps him to be secure; it's got to be comforting to an infant to know what to expect. Since part of that routine is napping, he is getting the sleep he needs. It's not always the 1.5 hour naps recommended in Babywise, but he is getting sleep. Probably anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours per nap. Since doing this, he has become a new baby. He is happy, and has dropped his nightly ritual of hulking out. I have time for myself again and Joe has his wife back. Everyone wins.