Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child - I'm disappointed

[Luckylove]

I'm a little disappointed in this book. It was recommended to me by several people. I only got to the main sleep training options like 300 pages in. The rest could have been condensed to about 15 pages of information I really don't think I needed. When I did get to the sleep training pages it consisted of one to two long paragraphs for each option. I guess I was looking for something a little more detailed besides go in and check in 5 minute increments. I had a lot of what if questions that were no where near addressed and I had to kind of wing it and hope I was doing the right thing. I guess I was just expecting more. Also, I don't see where his method is all that different than the Ferber method. In the end we did CIO and it worked like a charm. Reading the 300+ page book was a waste as was the $15 dollars it cost. I could have got the same info online and read it in a lot less time.

thoughts? Did I just totally miss something about the book?

[Shanta]

I think we have read 4-7 different books and "methods" And IMHO after they are out of the crib all bets are off and the "experts" know JACK at least about my little man

And if one more person tells "he should be sleeping more" or " he should still be taking naps" I will go red head on their ass

[surmick]

I will go red head on their ass
:giggle

[Lorah]

ya I hated most of the books! too much filler and not enough instruction/ideas

[weg'smom]

I actually liked the book. We had a terrible time sleep "training" W so the book was a godsend for us. I really enjoyed the stories that his patients share at each stage. When I had W I was in WI far from family and didn't have friends with kids (we were in grad school at the time and most of our friends were single students) or a support system like SCM to bounce ideas off of, get support from, or to share with. It was a little lonely and the book was informative and comforting...

[howardvm]

I had two copies of that book and gave them both away. We just decided to learn on our own. I tried to read it, but just didn't believe or see a lot of what was written.

[lovesthebaby]

I actually liked the book. We had a terrible time sleep "training" W so the book was a godsend for us. I really enjoyed the stories that his patients share at each stage. When I had W I was in WI far from family and didn't have friends with kids (we were in grad school at the time and most of our friends were single students) or a support system like SCM to bounce ideas off of, get support from, or to share with. It was a little lonely and the book was informative and comforting...

I agree, I love the book and still refer to it once in a while. I had read 4 books and this one was very informative with all the scientific information. The methods worked best for Jacob's demeanor and it helped us teach him how to fall asleep and put himself back to sleep, he is a great sleeper thanks to this book. Like Valerie, I enjoyed reading the scenarios from other parents in the book and the encouragement the book gave was very helpful for me. I followed the full program and still have the sleep journal I kept for a month to remind of what hard work it was and how worth it it was for our family.

[stephaniemsw]

I read it and started all of the suggestions from the beginning (i.e. drowsy but awake, cutting out night nursing early, etc. ) and it was very effective. I honestly think if it weren't for being sick for the last 2 months Sparrow would be a great sleeper. She was sleeping through the night with 0 wakings prior to getting sick 2 months ago. She still is able to fall asleep on her own. I NEVER rock her to sleep or nurse her to sleep, and I don't beelive it's because she's so different. I believe it is because of my actions around sleeping from the beginning with her. That said, it has involved crying and some hard times/decisions particularly around teething and illness. As I remember it (and it's been a few months since I read it), the method in the book is basically CIO with very little checking on them. Anyways...sorry it's been so rough for you. We've all been there and it sucks. Here's hoping things get better and stay better!

[juliansmom]

. Also, I don't see where his method is all that different than the Ferber method.

It probably isn't all that different from the Ferber method. I read the Ferber book and it goes into alot of detail with the case studies of fully entrenched bad sleep habit examples. It scared the crap out of me so I started the training early on and I had to say it does work. "The Happiest Baby on the Block" was another book that worked well for me but it also could have said what needed to be said in about 5 pages, not 100 of repetitive filler.:tongue

[lovesthebaby]

In Ferber you check periodically, in Healthy Sleep Habits you do not check in. You give them time to learn to put themselves to sleep on their own.

[Luckylove]

In Ferber you check periodically, in Healthy Sleep Habits you do not check in. You give them time to learn to put themselves to sleep on their own.

That was one option (extinction). Then there was check in at 5 min, 10 min after that, 15 min after that and so on (partial extinction). The third option was check in every 5 min and only increase the time by 5 min every 2 days. There was a fourth option I cant remember.

[lovesthebaby]

That was one option (extinction). Then there was check in at 5 min, 10 min after that, 15 min after that and so on (partial extinction). The third option was check in every 5 min and only increase the time by 5 min every 2 days. There was a fourth option I cant remember.

I think I must have the older edition where he didn't include the additional options. Hopefully something works for you so everyone has an easier time sleeping.