Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth
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Book Reviews of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
Book Review: Extremely educational...outstanding book that really helped us
Summary: 5 Stars
I read most of the one-star reviews in order to help others considering buying this book. It's true that Weissbluth gives sometimes harsh advice (i.e. crying it out...past a time what most parents feel comfortable). But the guy knows what he's talking about when it comes to sleep and most babies' reactions. For example, our baby is now a great a sleeper, however, she still "cries" when we lay her down since she'd rather play with us (wa, wa...not wailing and usually for less than two minutes). When she does this for a little longer, we now let her having the confidence and research to back up what we thought. We know better than her she needs her sleep, and she is tired. If she wails, that's a different story. Personally, we don't let her wail more than ten minutes...which rarely ever happens since she's rarely overtired.
He offers good advice to sleeping and napping problems. One person who critiqued this book claimed the authored ignored specific problems. I noticed small stuff (the two hour rule and the shorter nap issues; 9am & 1pm), but you adjust. My seven month old daughter doesn't follow his exact schedule...wakes at 6 am, I put her back down at 8 am, and she sleeps for 1.5 hrs. I put her back down at 11:30 and she usually sleeps til 2. So, I take his advice and alter accordingly. She follows the schedule in its intent and is very well rested. Bottomline: Like any book, you need to take Weissbluth's advice and apply it.
Last two key points: 1) this book has really helped us understand sleep and make the right decisions for our daughter. I found it to be very well organized (and I think I'm a hard critic when it comes to that). 2) Pantley's book, however, (which I bought first) I found very disorganized, contradicting!, based on little if any research on sleep (her own or others) except personal experience, and quoted well-known pediatricians (and if I'm remember correctly, she's not).
I highly recommend this for babies over four months. Under four months, read Dr. Karp's "The Happiest Baby on the Block" and then this one.
Book Review: best sleep book out there!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is by far the best book about sleep I have ever read! We received this as a gift from my sister-in-law and we are thrilled with the results. Our baby is a "textbook" sleeper and whenever we have a bump in the road, we refer to this book to help us out. Our baby is now 17 months old and has taken 2 good naps daily as well as slept 11+ hours each night without fuss since about 3 months old. Now, she is down to one long afternoon nap and still 11+ hours at night. She loves the nap/bedtime routines and 99% of the time goes right down to sleep without a peep. She actually looks forward to and loves to go to sleep (because she is absolutely ready/tired at those right times) Naps and bedtime are a joy, not a disaster.
The most important part to us was the beginning of the book that discusses the current sleep research and the importance of healthy sleep habits. As a teacher, the brain/sleep information really spoke to me about how good sleep habits help improve brain functioning. Read it, it really makes lots of sense. Dr. Weissbluth says that "sleep begets sleep" and it is SO true. That knowledge helps me to stay focused and stick to my resolve about my baby's regular naps, bedtime routines and early bedtime. I know in my heart that I am doing the best thing for her...I ignore the naysayers with overtired (and very cranky) kids who say "skip the nap or why go to bed so early?" Dr. Weissbluth's book is a wonderful reference for kids from newborn and up. I know I will constantly refer back to this book time and again to help with any sleep issues that arise. I highly recommend this book to ALL parents. Also, as I tell my friends, each parent should read this book and take/use what works for them and their child (with regard to the sleep training options, etc.). What works for me and my child may not for you..with the solid foundation from this book, each parent can make a more educated decision and a personal choice that is right for their family. Trust me, buy and read/apply this book. It will be the best investment you'll make for a lifetime of healthy sleep for your child.
Book Review: Informative, Educational and EFFECTIVE!
Summary: 5 Stars
I found out about this book from the mother of a bad sleeper who claimed it had changed her daughter's personality. I bought it because at the time my 6 month old son was refusing to nap for longer than 15 minutes a day.
This book is very comprehensive in that it covers sleep habits of newborns as well as school-age children. It discusses sleep in general (in a very understandable yet informative way) and then gives techniques and guidelines for each age group. For example, if you are just buying this book for a four-year old problem sleeper, this book will address how to begin instilling healthy sleep habits at that age.
Everything in the book made complete sense to me, and it helped me feel better about some of the conflicting emotions I was having regarding my son's sleeping habits. I'm sure many parents can relate to feeling guilty about letting their child "cry it out". Dr. Weissbluth explains that in actuality, you are doing your child a huge favor because you are teaching him/her the skill of falling asleep by himself, and this is critical to healthy lifelong sleep habits. Who knew? Another interesting point he makes: you wouldn't feed your child candy around the clock simply because your child wants it, because you know it's not healthy. Similarly, you shouldn't "spoil" your child by letting him get away with "coming downstairs" or trying to get the parents to make repeated trip to his/her bedside because that's not healthy either.
I appreciated that the author doesn't talk down to or lecture the parents. He seems to understand the conflicting emotions many parents experience with this topic. Additionally, he does not seek to minimize children's fears or emotional issues. His advice is to be loving, but firm.
I have followed much of the advice in this book over the last three years and my two children are, thank G-d, great sleepers. Comparing some of my friends (suffering from near exhaustion yet refusing to give this book a chance)and their cranky, sleep deprived children, to our family, only confirms this book is right on target.
Book Review: Very helpful even if you don't follow all the strategies
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read this book when our daughter was about 5 months old and was not napping well nor sleeping past 5:30 am. I wish I had read it before she was born, when I had more time and could have learned about the strategies Dr. Weissbluth suggests for a baby's first three months, when our daughter was extremely colicky. I think our daughter was somewhat sleep deprived during her first 5 or 6 months and we definitely had to work hard to "train" her to sleep. She is now one year and has been taking two good naps on most days and wakes up anywhere from 6:30 to 8:00 am.
We did not follow every single strategy to the letter, but I felt the pros of this book were:
* Lots of information about how babies sleep, including their sleep cycles and how to get them to sleep during their natural, biological sleep times.
* I had no clue what kind of schedule my daughter should have been on since her sleep times were all over the map. The book suggests sleep schedules based on age that have mostly worked well for us.
* It stesses the importance of an early bed time (6:00 to 8:00 PM for most babies) which I believe helps my daughter take better naps during the day and sleep later in the morning, even though with our busy work schedules we don't always make that precise deadline.
* It suggests methods of altering the sleep schedule to accommodate special occasions such as holidays and travel and ways to get the baby back on track afterwards. I have found that our daughter does well when she goes off her schedule and I attribute that to our sticking to the general schedule most of the time.
* Gives alternatives if you don't want to let your baby "cry it out."
I can't think of too many "cons" about the book other than I think some of his theories about what can happen to chronically sleep deprived babies are unduly alarming. Don't let that scare you away from this book. I think you will find some helpful information here, even if you don't agree with everything Dr. Weissbluth has to say.
Book Review: Wonderful, if you follow it
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book and completely agree with its content. Before my son was born, my husband and I had decided it was very important for us to teach our child healthy sleep habits. We read the book, I read it actually a couple of times. Yes, it was difficult letting my son cry at times, but let me tell you that it is worth it when they finally figure out that it is time to go to sleep. If you do not follow this, be prepared that at all times (even when they are 20 months like my son) they will rely on external stimuli to fall asleep...you rocking them, milk, etc... This also means that when they naturally wake in the middle of the night, they will rely on that same mechanism to put them back to sleep. My son sleeps from 8p-8a and naps for a couple of hours. We have a scheduled routine where we brush teeth and put on jammies, then we read 4-5 books and cuddle. He knows what is to come next so it is not a struggle.
I have noticed the people who complain about this book and say that these techniques do not work are the ones who have slept with their children from day 1 and will not let them cry. Yes, it's true that these children are probably not good sleepers if mommy and daddy did not follow the techniques. It takes more than wishful thinking. It takes hard work at first and following the techniques. So please do not listen to these people. Basically these parents failed to follow the guidelines to get their child on a schedule.
My son never cries anymore, infact it only lasted a couple of days. I lay him down and he is happy. He will play in his crib, talk to his stuffed animals for awhile and then fall asleep. When he wakes up in the night, we don't hear from him. When he wakes up in the morning, he is jabbering in his crib to his stuffed animals. Give your child a "lovey". That is something we gave him at 7-8 months and it is comforting to him in the middle of the night when he wakes up.
Make sure you give these techniques a try. They are wonderful for both the parents and the child!!