Sleep. It’s what every parent of an infant dreams of. Sadly, this includes me. I thought I was SOOOOO lucky that Samuel was sleeping 12 hours every night with just a couple of brief wakings to eat AND taking two good 3-hour naps each day, all without a struggle. And, of course, I just assumed this would continue. Now I look back and laugh at my naïve self of only a couple weeks ago. As a new mom, what I didn’t realize is that 1) Babies change so rapidly, you just can’t depend on something truly being permanent at this point, and 2) Samuel was about to hit what is known as the 4 month sleep regression.
Obviously, this review couldn’t have come at a better time for me! So for the past couple of nights, after I’ve finally gotten Samuel into bed and asleep, I’ve propped my eyelids open with toothpicks and dove into what Nicole Johnson, sleep coach and owner of The Baby Sleep Site, has to say.
Ms. Johnson’s e-book, The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep, is offered as a PDF to read on the computer or print out and as .epub and .mobi formats for reading on a Kindle, Nook, or iPad. I chose the Kindle version of the book and using their easy-to-follow instructions I got it loaded and was reading within a few minutes!
This book is a fairly quick read; it took me approximately an hour or so to get through it. It is laid out very logically and Ms. Johnson explains things in simple terms. I loved this because I didn’t have to guess at what the author meant by something! When you have an over-tired parent looking for help, the last thing you want to do is leave him/her guessing. For example, Ms. Johnson begins by telling us that babies need a lot of sleep. Then she follows that up with a chart that actually shows sleep needs broken down by age. VERY helpful!
The book is geared toward babies under 12 months of age and covers topics including newborn sleep, ideal bed times, naps and schedules, shifting schedules, sleep routines, sleep associations, sleep training and coaching methods, nap training, night weaning, and transitioning to a crib and toddler/twin bed.
At the point I’m at right now with Samuel, I found the chapters devoted to sleep associations and sleep coaching methods the most helpful. While I have already established a bedtime “routine,” I hadn’t stopped to consider sleep associations. And while I had already started to think about how I will sleep train Samuel, I really didn’t know what the different methods look like. Ms. Johnson was able to draw what I feel is an adequate picture for me so that I can make a more informed choice.
There are several very helpful appendices at the end of the book. I loved Appendix B, which is a quick age reference for what to expect at different ages. For example, at four months of age I should expect Samuel to be developing a morning nap shortly after waking in the morning.
Appendix D is also great as it provides blank sleep logs you can fill in to get a better picture of your baby’s sleep. This will help you gauge whether your baby is getting enough sleep and can serve as a guide should you ever need to adjust baby’s sleep schedule.
I would recommend this for a first-time parent who needs to start with the basics. The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep can be purchased in the form of three different packages, with the least expensive costing $27 and the most expensive costing $97. Each package offers various other “tools” in addition to the e-book. The various package details can be seen at www.babysleepswell.com/
Ms. Johnson by no means offers magical formulas that will make getting your baby to sleep easy. In fact, she is very up front and makes it clear that while some children will sleep train faster than others, rarely is it easy. There will likely be rough nights ahead, but if you persevere, you will eventually be able to enjoy nights of restful sleep once again.
That’s what I’m crossing my fingers for!!
WIN IT!
1 lucky winner will receive a copy of The Three-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep ebook and a $25 Amazon giftcard!
A second runner-up winner will receive a copy of the e-book.
Rules:
This giveaway ends on July 2, 2012 at 11:59 pm EST.
Open Worldwide, ages 18+.
Click here for complete rules and disclosure.
About Melanie
Best tip for better baby sleep? Whatever method you choose, be consistent! It can take up to a week or more for something to work well for your baby, especially if he or she is older.
We are about to hit the dreaded four month sleep regression point with second. Keep your fingers crossed!
Twitter: mkjmc
says:
I rocked my babies to sleep. I would give this book to a couple of friends who are expecting in Aug
I always rock them to sleep.
I’d love to share this with a colleague of mine who just had her first son a few weeks ago and is already struggling with sleep issues. Thanks!
Gently rocking worked with my kids.
Thanks so much.
Twitter: aproudmomof6
says:
nice warm bath and massage b4 bed
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I drive them around in the car until it lulls them to sleep
Hold them in your arms and sway back and forth. If rocking in a chair, gently rub their backs in slow circles.
Co-Sleeping
Twitter: tkups575
says:
Warm milk always seems to work!
i use to have to put my son in an umbrella stroller, tilt it back and roll.
debra.pauley63@gmail.com
I wish I had a best tip to tell but we have a very hard tim ewith sleeping and the little one we have to bounce him to bed its a 30min process every nap/bed time, wears on ya after a while he’s 16 months now and still dealing with it
hopefully soon we can break the habit
I’d use it with my little nephew.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Twitter: lpninpain1
says:
If you are at your wits end and your baby will not sleep longer than 45 mins on their back or propped on their sides. then get an angle monitor it is a monitor that make sure the baby is still breathing, there are other monitors out now and place the baby on their stomach some children will not sleep on their back for any length of time. I know everything says back to sleep but babies as well as mommies need their sleep in order to remain healthy think of it how.
The supper-bath-story routine helps my baby get to sleep.
Singing always got my son to sleep. I’d use this on him.
My baby sleeps 12 hours at night most nights without waking at all. However, naps are a completely different story. I still, after 7 months, haven’t figured these naps out. She is so inconsistent. I am trying to break my baby of using a paci because I am thinking this may be part of the problem. I am always open to new information and advice to help my little one sleep.
Twitter: clc408
says:
I would share this with my niece who is expecting.
Twitter: EmilyTweetsHere
says:
my sister could definitely use this with my nephew. they have the hardest time getting him to sleep.
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Tell me your best tip for getting babies to sleep better. Or tell me who you would use this with!
no children..all mine if i win
Best thing i would say is make sure you have time and dont feel rushed, low soothing music a swaying back and forth
My 5 month old son Gabriel loves to sleep but he is not the best sleeper!!! He is so cute though and smiles and laughs all day long.
I rocked my children in the rocking chair to get them to fall asleep.
My best tip is swaddle swaddle swaddle. And having a routine. Babies crave consistency. And remember “this too shall pass!”
Cuddling with the baby and humming a lullaby seems to work best for me!
I’d actually give this to my best friend’s daughter who has a new baby!
Twitter: winforeden
says:
With our 8 month year old daughter it is important to not put her nuki in her mouth until she has been completely laid down. Soon as we let go she cries a little but the nuki puts her back into comfort. If you put the nuki in before you lay her down then she cries and she doesn’t have anything extra to put her back to sleep.
Be consistent with daily bed time.
I have really enjoyed the Baby Sleep Site as well. I appreciate that Nicole was a breastfeeding mother and has that perspective when discussing sleep-training.
Twitter: mverno
says:
lullaby’s while rocking always worked for me
I would use this with my little niece!
Twitter: tracyparral
says:
I always made the ssshhhhhhh noise it always worked for me…..the louder they got when crying the louder i would get.
we have a CD we listen to at night to get her to go to sleep
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Twitter: tigers3450
says:
I’d save this book for my daughter because she’s getting married next yr and will have a baby in a few yrs. I’d spend the Amazon GC on myself. Thanks for the giveaway!
I’d use this with my neice
I’m not the one to ask for tips, but i find a routine helps a bit
Stick to a routine and a bath before bedtime always is helpful too!
I would give this to my little brother who is becoming a Father this summer. It would be great to see how well this works.
Consistency is what worked for us. We picked a method and just stuck with it. My son loves his routine now and knows when it’s time to sleep
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
Twitter: ContestCrazy305
says:
I was very, very fortunate that I didn’t have too many problems with my two children getting to sleep as infants. I breastfed both of them at bedtime and they went right to sleep when the feeding was over.
If I win the book I will gift it to a new mom that I know, and if I am lucky enough to win the gift card & book, I’ll be able to buy the mom some things to pamper herself with too!..
i would love to give this to my co-worker for her little one
Twitter: onefrugalgirl
says:
Best tip is to be as consistent as possible.
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I would use this with my one year old.
Boosted #2.4k
2dogs5catscrew@att.net
Twitter: cistran
says:
I’d use this with my little son
Always follow a routine, no matter what!
Twitter: elannbe
says:
I need some advice in helping baby sleep! I would use this with my 4 month old who seems to be going through a fussy stage.
Twitter: JalapenoMama
says:
I’d use this with one of my grand kids.
Thank you.
Twitter: jmesparza821
says:
I would share it with a friend who had her first baby last month.
jmesparza821(at)gmail(dot)com
Twitter: gopilates
says:
old fashioned rocking works like a charm
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My best tip? Be consistent and do the same thing every night and every nap time! We brush teeth (now that she has some), say prayers, read a book, and rock/sing briefly before putting her down. Plus, putting her to bed while awake has made a world of difference in teaching her that her crib is okay… I recommend that too! (If you don’t cosleep, of course!)
Twitter: smilekisses
says:
I like using the sound machines to lull a baby to sleep.
Unfortunately I have not good tips, my daughter was not at all a good sleeper as a baby, not until she reached around age 2. It was a very difficult time for me. But things get better. So I guess my tip is: patience. And try to maintain your sanity while you’re waiting. She is now 6 years old and has been sleeping perfectly for years now thank GOD!
I sit on my exercise ball holding my daughter and gently bounce.
I am going to use this with my son. I would love to get him to sleep better.
Twitter: martinmommy
says:
I would use this with my baby due in December.
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calming music
My best sleep tip is to get into a routine, bath, bottle, bed and lights out.
I could use this for my 2-month-old son
put on a soothing cd
Twitter: elliebunny24
says:
rocking to sleep seems to work
I would use this with my grandson.
Mix milk with a spoon of honey and a little almond extract. Warm it up and drink warm. You’ll want to have them brush again afterwards, of course, then right to bed.
Keep a radio on in the baby’s room with non-stop music, preferably classical or easy listening.
play some Gotye song or classical music
My best tip – follow a bed time routine!
I’d share this with my sister – she has a 18 month old and another on the way.
I think making a peaceful environment to relax them into a reoutine would be the most helpful!
Nursing.
My nephew has a little seahorse that lights up and sings. It helps him sleep better. Also, once you put a blanket to the side of his face, he falls right asleep.
would give this to my sister in law who is due in about amonth. She will need it
brich22 at earthlink dot net
My tip is a nice relaxing bath before bedtime.
I would use this with my baby goddaughter! How exciting!
I just rock or sing to them
Twitter: ajoy1332
says:
I’d give this to my friend who just had a baby
Twitter: LT38
says:
Singing my daughter’s ‘favorite’ lullaby usually puts her right to sleep!
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Rocking them
my tip is rocking and/or swaddling
I would always rock my kids in a rocking chair and they would fall asleep. Sometimes it felt like it would take them forever to fall asleep.
Twitter: schueler1
says:
Bath and warm milk
This would be for Samuel!
Twitter: CoreyLOlomon
says:
My youngest son.
I’d give it to my niece who is expecting her third any day now.
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I would use this for my grandson
I would give this to my niece for her to use on her baby
nothing spectacular – just rocking and singing
jagar0047 at yahoo dot com
i’d share this with a friend who’s sure to be pregnant soon
Started playing lullabies while pregnant and as baby and my children still fall asleep when I play them.
Do everyday activities around them so they get used to it and don’t get waken up by the noise
I’ll give it to my friend’s daughter who just had a baby. I’ve never had one, so no tips.
Thanks for the contest.