[.ca] Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child (ISBN 0345486455)

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child:
I consider this book to be the "bible" for sleep-deprived parents. It gives you all the background info you need to understand children's sleep problems and how to fix them. I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone with a child who is not sleeping well. However, be prepared for a long, cumbersome read. Like many other reviewers have stated, this book needs some good editing. It is difficult to understand in parts, contradictory at times, and just an overall boring read! Difficult to get through the whole thing when you're a tired mom! Despite all that, I'd still consider the book worth buying. But for those of you who just want to get to the facts and solutions, and only have a couple of hours to spend reading, there is an even better book out there. It's called the Sleep Sense Program, by Dana Obleman. You can order it at wwww.sleepsense.net We were following Healthy Sleep Habits to the letter, but our son was still not sleeping through the night consistently. When we came across Sleep Sense, we quickly ordered the book and devoured it. We found that Dana's techniques were very similar to Mark Weissbluth's. The difference we found in Dana's book was removing the soother from our son's bedtime routine. As soon as we did that, no more night wakings! If you have to pick one book, I'd pick Sleep Sense for its quick, no-nonsense read, easy to implement, effective tips as well as the extras it comes with (workbook, electronic sleep log and audio interview with Dana). But if you really want to get in-depth and truly understand how children sleep, what causes sleep problems, different types of sleep problems and how to fix them - Healthy Sleep Habits is the book for you. Personally, I'm glad I have both, and refer back to them whenever my son enters a new sleep pattern.

2 very different kids - worked for both:
I began reading this book in bits on the third day of my daughter's life. A new mum, already sleep-deprived and feeling desperate I switched to the relevant section dealing with newborns. The news that newborns do not have sleep patterns provided a lot of relief. It didn't solve my immediate problems, but it helped me realize that I wasn't alone (grin and bear it). At six weeks of age I began introducing a schedule for my daughter, and it worked. I had a fabulous, happy, well-rested baby who at 6 months began to sleep throught the night (7pm-7am). She is now 5 years old and still does. What is more, her younger brother (now 2 years old) has the same sleep habits - despite being a VERY different person. He is much more stubborn and strong-willed than my daughter and was a much more challenging baby. The techniques worked on him too. So many friends gape in disbelief when they witness our early bedtimes, and the lack of hassle with which my children go to sleep. The fact that my husband and I can enjoy nuturing our own relationship in the evenings while the kids are in bed is very important to our growth and commitment as a couple. Do everyone in your family a favour and read this book. Don't feel the need to read it cover to cover - hit the points that are pertinent to your own child's age and situation. I still refer to mine as my kids grow. It not only helps your children be healthy, it helps you maintain some time for yourself. If the parents are not happy, healthy and well-rested then the kiddies won't be either.

Healthy Sleep habits, Happy Child:
Fabulous! The first six months of my daughter's life were a sleepless hell. Someone recommended this book to me and now I give it to everyone. A sound grounding in sleep biology and a variety of methods to suit different parenting philosophies and tolerances for crying. I don't follow the ultra early bedtime but keep a schedule and bask in the compliments for the baby's sunny disposition (meaning, now that she is well-rested). I struggled miserably with Attachment parenting methods, this was the remedy.

Great Book, Lousy Organization:
I got this book when I was pregnant, and read it with interest. Now that the little one is here and is three months old I am just starting to employ the book's techniques. It really works and has given me the confidence to tackle the sleep problems my daughter has been facing and also just to feel like what we were doing when our daughter was younger to get her to sleep wasn't causing any future problems (for example, Weisbluth says that prior to thre months using a swing is okay, he also is okay with the family bed). Having also read Ferber's book and Baby Wise (The No Cry Sleep Solution is next on my list), I really feel that this book suits my parenting better than the others and is more appropriate for my daughter's age. Ferber seems to be most appropriate for five and six month olds (and beyond) and Baby Wise's strict schedule wouldn't allow me to breastfeed based on my baby's cues. All in all I think this is a great book, taking a more moderate approach than others - I just wish that it was better organized. If it doesn't end up working for you I would recommend Ferber's book next.

not great:
I didn't like this book too much. I felt that most of the suggestions were a bit harsh and contradictory. I have several *sleep solutions* books and this is definately my least favorite. Was also really really long!