Choosing an Infant Sleep Book - for babies over 4 months

The following information may help you choose the most appropriate sleep book or DVD for your situation:

I don't know why my baby has started waking or won't sleep through the night:

We recommend 'The Sleep Easy Solution', as shows you the reasons why babies wake and a step by step plan to teach baby to sleep through, with actual parents & babies going through the process of learning to self settle. This technique involves 'checking-in' with your baby after 5 mins, 10 mins, 15 mins. The check-in is a 30 second verbal reassurance from just inside the bedroom door, there is not patting, sssshing or cuddling involved. This works well for babies who get more irate if picked up or patted, then left again. Appropriate for babies from 4 months old upwards (while in a cot).

The Sleep Store highly recommend 'The Sleepeasy Solution'.

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer -This excellent book will teach you the EASY routine - east, activity, sleep and your time. It covers baby body language, so you can also identify why your baby is crying, such as hunger, tired signs or wind. It also includes information on settling your baby, using the 'pick-up/put-down' method

I am currently feeding my baby to sleep and I think this is why she is waking during the night.... how do I teach her to fall asleep by herself without leaving her to cry:

No Cry Sleep Solution - suitable for babies aged newborn to 2 years. Covers techniques for weaning off feeding to sleep, needing a dummy to fall asleep and rocking or needing a parent to fall asleep.

No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers & Preschoolers - appropriate for children 1 - 6 years. Gradual behaviour change to teach children to settle at bedtime, solve settling for naps, dealing with settling issues during the night when children visit parents bed, weaning off feeding to sleep and more. Highly recommended for toddler settling issues.

I am currently co-sleeping with my baby and am happy feeding in the night... but I'm looking for gentle ideas to help her sleep longer:

No Cry Sleep Solution - suitable for babies aged newborn to 2 years. Covers techniques for weaning off feeding to sleep, needing a dummy to fall asleep and rocking or needing a parent to fall asleep.
Sleeping Like a Baby - suitable from newborn to toddlers, this book covers a simple plan to gradually teach baby to fall asleep without needing a parent present. It is especially suitable if you have been co-sleeping or have a strong attachment parenting philosophy. It assumes that babies will sleep through the night when they are ready.

My baby is catnapping during the day and I think a structured routine would help me solve this:

Save Our Sleep - we highly recommend this book for the sleeping & feeding routines, which can quickly help a baby over the age of 4 months sleep better during the day. Routines are covered from birth to 2 years. It also includes a settlign information, but it you aren't comfortable leaving your baby to cry, you can combine the routine information from Save Our Sleep with the settling information from the 'No Cry Sleep Solution'.

The Sleep Easy Solution DVD also has excellent information on solving naptime problems and contains sleep routines.
 

I have been told that controlled crying will help my baby learn to self settle - what do I do and how long do I leave her for?

We recommend 'The Sleep Easy Solution', as shows you the reasons why babies wake and a step by step plan to teach baby to sleep through, with actual parents & babies going through the process of learning to self settle. This technique involves 'checking-in' with your baby after 5 mins, 10 mins, 15 mins. The check-in is a 30 second verbal reassurance from just inside the bedroom door, there is not patting, sssshing or cuddling involved. This works well for babies who get more irate if picked up or patted, then left again. Appropriate for babies from 4 months old upwards (while in a cot). other settling and sleep information. Also available as a DVD to rent or buy..

I have been told my baby needs to 'Cry It Out' - what does this method involve and how do you do it?

The Sleep Book - this brief NZ book covers everything you need to know about how to use the cry it out method. It is appropriate for babies over 9 months and up to 4 years. Not suitable if you aren't comfortable with leaving your baby crying.

You may prefer to use a controlled crying approach, where you leave your baby for set periods on time and regularly check on her - see above.

The Sleep Store does not recommend the cry-it-out technique, as we believe the verbal reassurance method used in the 'Sleepeasy Solution' is more effective.

My baby doesn't have a routine.... but I don't like the idea of set times for feeds... I like to go with the flow and demand feed my baby:

If you are looking for some gentle structure to your day and also to help your baby sleep better, we recommend The Secrets of The Baby Whisperer.