Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems

I figured that if the quote I use on my blog says 'Good Books' then I need to write about such books. I have a goal this year to read (at least) one book a month. Sometimes that is all my mommy time can achieve. This last month I read the book Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems by Richard Ferber, M.D.

I have heard of the Ferber Method to sleep training when Johnathan was a baby. I read and applied his method to sleep train Johnathan from the book Baby 411 (another great book to have on hand). My nerves were getting the best of me when the thought of having to eventually put Colette into the same room as Johnathan. Johnathan was a great sleeper, but we wanted to try to even improve his bedtime and sleep even more so. Not to mention, we wanted to get Colette officially sleep trained well, so she is not so much of a disturbance to Johnathan. .

Once I started to read Dr. Ferber's book, I realized much more I can implement. Johnathan was in a stage of wanting to be done with naps, but we knew based on his moods, he was not done. Some of the things in the book we applied and now Johnathan is back to taking naps most days.

The book covers everything from bedtime routines, sleep training, sleep associations, naps to sleep disorders, nightmares, night terrors (and that parent's often use this term wrong), sleep walking, sleep apnea, etc. If you have any question about your child's sleep, any worries, or just wanting to tweak and improve it some, this book is for you! He also addresses you personally on your situation. So if you are a co-sleeping family, he addresses your needs so you can continue that sleeping arrangement if you so wish. He also helps you understand sleep schedules and rhythms, so it helps you realize that your child is not just waking up early or having a hard time settling down for sleep. I did read the entire book except for a few areas I skipped over. I skipped anything about co sleeping because we don't co sleep. I also skipped reading about the sleep disorders. I found this book to be a fascinating read and a great understanding on even my own sleep.

I truly recommend this book for every parent. He addresses baby through teenagers. Even if your child does not have a problem now, read this book. It has so much good information in it that can help prepare you, and also be a great reference guide--if you child does eventually have a problem.