The Sleepeasy Solution: The Exhausted Parent's Guide to Getting Your Child to Sleep from Birth to Age 5

Jennifer Waldburger and Jill Spivack
HCI (2007)
ISBN 0757305601
Reviewed by Stephanie Rollins for Reader Views (5/07)

Jill Spivack and Jennifer Waldburger have been featured in “Inside Edition,” “Variety,” “Fit Pregnancy”, and many more publications and television shows.  I was introduced to the ‘Sleepeasy Solution’ a few years ago when I saw them on a television show; they were helping celebrities with their lack of sleep.

I really was hesitant to read this book once I saw the authors’ names.  I remembered the fact that they believe it is okay to let a child “cry it out.”  Though I still disagree with a lot that they believe in, I have no doubt that it is effective.

Perhaps your child feels isolated without you.  They recommend giving the child an item that they are to associate with the parents.  Maybe they get hungry, thirsty, scared, and etc…Say, “Monsters are just pretend, honey.  They don’t really exist.  Everyone is safe and snug in our house.”  If a child is over 15 pounds and older than 5 months, the child needs to be offered milk before bedtime.  They should be weaned from milk during nighttime.  Sometimes children have legitimate concerns that may cause them to not sleep through the night.  How to handle this problem is clearly discussed.

Make the child’s room desirable.  Do more in the bedroom than put them to sleep.  Read books, change clothes, and occasionally play in the child’s room.  However, before bedtime, be sure to not rev your child up.  Before bedtime, dim the lights; do not put on action-packed shows (no Wiggles or Barney).

Subjects such as family-beds, post-partum depression, and teething are addressed.  The authors are open-minded in their writing when addressing the different parental styles.  Breastfeeding is addressed; all breastfeeding parents know how hard it is to keep their babies asleep. 

“The Sleepeasy Solution” does have many great suggestions for struggling parents.  Though, I would not apply every idea, I have started using some of their suggestions.  Whether you follow their advice completely or somewhat, tired parents will find “The Sleepeasy Solution” helpful.

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