Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth M.D. (2005, Hardcover)

I also disagree with the disgruntled reviewer. Not only does Weissbluth give SEVERAL different options for helping your child (newborn-adolescence) get the sleep they need, he educates the reader on the importance physically, emotionally, etc. of sleep so you really understand how important sleep is to a growing baby and child. Yes, ONE of his methods is letting your child cry it out but it's only one option. He also details other less drastic methods, for those parents who are lucky enough to have children that don't require cry it out. He's also pretty specific about not letting a child under 4 months cry it out (I don't recall the letting your child vomit and not clean it up til morning). I did not want to let my baby cry it out either, but after 5 months of no more than 2 hours of sleep at a time, we BOTH needed some rest. After 3 nights of using the cry it out method, my child is sleeping nearly 12 hours at a time and napping 2-4 hours a day. He's a changed baby. I'll take a few nights of crying for a well-rested happy baby anytime. Good luck readers!

I could not disagree more with the other reviewer. This book is excellent - it gives an overview of different developmental stages and what to expect with sleep formation/ how to respond to problems you may be having. Yes, he does suggest that you let your child cry, but it is hardly the neglect and abuse the other reviewer dramatically described.

Our toddler is the best sleeper among all of the families we know, and I think this book has alot to do with it. It gave us, as new parents, the confidence to handle her sleep patterns and have an orderly, rested household. The only reason I rated this book as "good" and not "excellent" is that it sometimes is a bit cumbersome to read through, and not necessarily a quick "do this, do that" guide. However, I read this before my daughter was born and was so grateful for the extra information this book provides about sleep development by age, different parenting "theories" when it comes to sleep, problems that may be encountered, etc.

I highly recommend this book for any parents who are serious about helping their children be healthy and well-rested. Teaching your child to sleep is NOT abandoning them - it's the best way to help them get the sleep they need to develop and grow!

I borrowed this book from a fellow mother and had to buy it for myself. This book is very helpful and worth having on hand. It explains everything you need to know about children's sleep habits and how to help them have the most sleep possible so they feel rested and happy. Every mom should have a copy of this book.

This book is fantastic! Dr. Weissbluth knows the ins and outs of sleep! Not only does he explain how to solve common problems, but he explains HOW sleep works. Very helpful for new parents or parents needing a refresher!

I completely disagree with the person who rated this book as poor. I've read several sleep books and this one is the best by far. I've loaned this to many friends and now I'm buying my second copy. I highly recommend this to any first time parents.