When Andi Buchanan first asked if I wanted to participate in the Mother Talk Blog Book Tour for Ann Douglas' Book: Sleep Solutions for your baby, toddler and preschooler, I was said sure, but I was really thinking, pshaw! My kids both sleep through the night! Like I need to read a book about sleep!
I think the moment I pressed send on that e-mail was the moment Genoa decided to stop sleeping through the night. When the book arrived two weeks later, I had spent the past ten nights wondering if I would ever sleep again. The timing could not have been better and I ended up hungrily devouring the book (with one hand while I held the nursing baby with the other hand at 3AM).
And "Sleep Solutions" did not disappoint! I really loved Ann's no-fluff writing style and the way it was easy to find what I was looking for, which in my case was some new strategies for getting Genoa to sleep again. I also enjoyed the chart at the back of the book that I could use to track Genoa's naps, which helped me see that I really needed to start paying more attention to her schedule.
The best part of this book, though, is that instead of promising you a single solitary solution, Ann rounds up every expert sleep theory ever written about. She summarizes the pros and cons of co-sleeping vs. crying-it-out vs. sleep training, etc. And she does it without passing judgment. The fact is that there isn't a one-size-fits-all magic solution for getting your baby to sleep. There are lots of theories and parents need to figure out what works best for their family. Sleep Solutions for your baby, toddler, and preschooler is an ideal tool to help parents do that.
What an adorable picture! You have to enter it in Tracey's "Sleeping Like a Baby" photo contest!
Posted by: Andi | October 18, 2006 at 02:03 PM
I was actually interviewed for that book, a couple years ago. I'm Rachel, 32 (or maybe 33), mother of one, who's always saying things like, "Sleep is partially genetic! It's not your fault! My boy sleeps great, and I've done nothing to deserve this!"
Ah, fame!
Posted by: rachel | October 18, 2006 at 05:03 PM
It's great to hear about a book that covers all sorts of approaches. Obviously Ferber isn't right for everyone.
Posted by: ruta | October 18, 2006 at 10:51 PM
Ok, you have to ease off with these sleeping baby pictures. I am becoming capable of eating the cheeks of the babies of perfect strangers. I will blame violent video games and you.
Posted by: Gillian | October 19, 2006 at 01:41 AM
What a great pic!
Posted by: tracey | October 19, 2006 at 09:45 AM
I might need to check that out. Between Hailey's poor sleeping and my insomnia I'm barely functioning.
Posted by: Jenny | October 19, 2006 at 04:31 PM
That looks just like my bed... just add a few more.
Posted by: jess | October 20, 2006 at 10:15 AM