Books about sleeping?

[AussieMum28]

Morning all,

Could anyone recommend some books to read about babies and sleeping and strategies to help them sleep?

Thanks xx

I would suggest Sarah Oakwell-Smith's Gentle Sleep Book. She basically says that it's normal for babies not to sleep like adults, which is reassuring and offers some techniques. I personally couldn't and wouldn't go down the "sleep training" route, but that's a personal decision for you. Sending

The little ones sleep programme have an antenatal download that I found useful for about £10. It had a lot of information about the biology of newborn sleep, good routines, making a good sleep environment etc.

Sarah Ockwell Smith all the way. Anything else I read about infant sleep just stressed me out so much, because it's all so prescribed and "baby should sleep X-X hours in 24 hours"... my baby never ticked the boxes, I worried endlessly that he was going to suffer from not sleeping "enough". You can't make a baby sleep, but you can do gentle things to help encourage it, which is what SOS approach is all about. That and adjusting expectations slightly! SOS made me realise that the sleep statistics about how many hours a baby should sleep are guesses at best (pulled out of someone's arse at worst) and all babies are different. Happy healthy baby is more important than exactly how many hours they sleep.

If you want to sleep train there will be tonnes of books out there, but I wouldn't personally recommend any.

I second the gentle sleep book to give you understanding.
Id Also suggest to read about the fourth trimester. Babies can't be expected to just get on with it and sleep all alone after being in a warm cushy comfort zone after 9 months of being inside mummy.

I co sleep and baby sleeps so well. I'd also encourage as much skin to skin that you can whether you are breast or bottle feeding. Baby feels most comforted by you as mum and you both need to secure and build your bond.

Baby only slept on me or my DH at the immediate beginning to secure the bind so don't feel harsh if you don't let others have their turn. A few cuddles are fine but baby needs as much time with you and it'll cone back in dividends in terms of better sleeping and excellent bond.

Good luck.
There's no time like when you have a fresh newborn

We've got the baby sleep book by Sears, which I like.

No Cry Newborn Sleep Solution - it's not rocket science, but supportive of mothers (and breastfeeding, of you're planning to do that) and loads of gentle sleep tips so that you don't need to worry about tougher methods later!

With @Eightmagpies all the way.
And lower your expectations and don't compare your baby to others.
Mine hates sleep. But I have realised now that we all have different challenges.
They will get there but mine took 2 years to sleep almost through to 4 am

Durham university ISIS (sleep study) has lots of fact sheets based on research they have conducted.

The ISIS study is really interesting and useful. They’ve changed their name to BASIS now though funnily enough 😂

That sounds much better KonaMum. I was always worried that I was setting off some secret service computer every time I recommend the website.

No cry sleep solution is great.

You can read all the books you like, but in the first few weeks / months ime babies just do what they like. They wake and sleep on their own schedule and there is almost nothing you can do about it. As they get older (8 - 12 weeks plus) what you do can make a difference.

Agree with others that the no cry sleep solution book is great.

The sensational baby sleep plan by Alison Scott Wright. She totally saved me and my reflux baby. Can't recommend her enough. She also does calls, emails, sleep training in the home. I think it's really expensive, but friends of mine who hired her, said she was worth every penny. But the book was enough for me and I tell all my friends to read it.

Tracy Hogg baby whisperer as it includes wake and feeding as well as sleeping.

Hopefully if you follow her advice you won't have sleep issues to resolve!