Sleep

We have finally hit all night sleeps :) 7pm - 7am! YAY!!! He's done about a week now so I hope its here to stay :)

Sleep (Baby) books...I have read a number of books so I thought i'd do a review of them here:


"Calm Baby, Confident Mum" Simone Boswell

I honestly think this is the BEST baby book I have ever read!! Everything it in was helpful from breastfeeding information, to sleep, to routine, to highchair manners to discipline. It is just the BEST book. If you don't have it, and have (or are having) a baby, I recommend it. The author Simone Boswell is a mother of 6 and speaks from her (and friends) experience! I only wish she wrote a toddler book! I'd buy it IMMEDIATELY!!

You can read more about Simone and her book here.


"Save our Sleep" Tizzie Hall

I have heard a lot of negative things about this book, however, I found it to be great. We followed the routine for OB's age and after 3 nights of doing her "laydown approach" OB was sleeping 7pm till 7am. I think this is because he actually learnt how to put himself to sleep (and there had to be a bit of crying - although it wasn't really crying - it was protesting!!).  This book was fantastic. I would have liked a little more help for what to do when he wakes and won't resettle and when he won't have a nap at all - but on the whole, following her approach worked. I was impressed because I read this book with a LOT of scepticism.

"Baby Love" Robin Baker

SO many people recommended this book to me as a MUST have. It was great to have during pregnancy to read (as I had NO idea about babies), but when I had a real life baby, I didn't find it overly helpful. It was helpful for the beginning when I didn't know ANYTHING (so good for the basics) but I haven't used it since OB was about 2 months old.



"the no-cry sleep solution" Elizabeth Pantley

I'm not really sure how a baby can learn to sleep without any 'cry'. I was a bit skeptical of this book from the beginning. Had heard lots about it. And borrowed it to have a read. It has some good information, but no real 'plan' to get baby to sleep. It allows you to make your own plan, however the reason I was reading the book was because I had no plan. It did give some good cues so it could be helpful to read, however my parenting style required a much more direct approach. It seemed a bit wishy washy and I doubt that a baby will actually learn to sleep through the ideas in this book.

"The Complete Sleep Guide for Contented Babies and Toddlers" Gina Ford

I also heard rave reviews about this book. It had some interesting case studies, but to be honest I did not fid it helpful at all. There was the basic information that most sleep books have but no real plans or what to do when baby wakes during his nap or learns to stand up and won't lie back down. This books talks about babies over 6 months having 30minute naps during the day, but I have found this contradictory to what other books say about babies needing to move through sleep cycles during the day (so they can do so during the night) so their naps need to be between 1hr and 1.5hrs long. I have found that when OB naps for more than 1hr for both his daytime naps, his nights are perfect! Where as if he only naps for 30 minutes, he (and mummy and daddy) are in the horrors.


Do you have any GREAT baby books??? Especially on sleep??

I am off to make some lemon cake and lemonade (I have 19 lemons....any ideas for lemon-y things I can make????)