"The No-Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley

[Threaders]

Simple question - has anyone read it and used the techniques within? Am considering buying, have read a lot of positive reviews (along with some negative) and am just wondering whether any MN-ers have experience with it?

Just to add, DD is nearing 5 months, needs to be fed to sleep (around 6:30pm), wakes around 1:30am for a feed, then has really disturbed sleep until about 6am at which point she will scream until we get her up. It's the stretch between 1:30am and 6am that is killing us - we can't sleep, through DD's constant state of unsettledness. Looking for a solution (through v. tired eyes), or at least some guidance.....

I borrowed it from the library for dc1 and found it interesting. Didn't follow exactly but I think the principle of 'what do you want your dc to learn about sleep?' (and if it's all too much have a break and start again) very relevant.

(With dc2 we co-slept and went with the flow and had much better sleep, mind..!)

I have got a copy I can send to you if you PM me your address? Read it 5 years ago when DS was born though and cannot remember whether it was any good!

I know this sounds like it is not any help at all but I have found (about to give birth to DC3) that in terms of sleeping it is all just a phase and if you let them they tend to work it out for themselves in the end (I know that is no consolation when you are feeling completely sleep deprived though!).

(bartonian, I am about to give birth to dc3 too and would agree entirely)

Bartonian, that is exceptionally generous of you! PM on it's way.

I appreciate your words, it's a comfort to hear from those with experience that it is normally something they will naturally grow out of, however if there's anything I can do to help the process along then I'm all for it as it's causing tremendous strain on my OH and our relationship (and I don't mean that in a selfish way, as if my DD's quality of sleep doesn't matter, because it most certainly does)

I think it's a useful book, but "no-cry" is a bit of a misnomer because although it doesn't advocate any form of control crying, some crying is unavoidable if you're changing something the LO has become used to and needs (or thinks they need) in order to sleep.

For me, the advice that the bedtime settle is the most important had the most dramatic effect - but no amount of Pantley Pull-Off etc. would get DD to go down awake and go to sleep without protest, so I had to grit my teeth and let her get it out of her system for a couple of nights.

After that, the overnight awakenings (which had been a minimum of 5) dropped dramatically first to 3, then quickly to 2. I did that at 7.5mo. Now, at 10.5mo, DD sometimes only wakes once. I feed her when she wakes up, but she tends to unlatch herself when she's ready to go back in her cot.

I've also used other advice in the book and gradually, things are improving.

No, DD isn't sleeping through the night, but my aim was 2 wake-ups or less and we're fine with that.

The book is very helpful (although a bit depressing if you have a nap-fighter - EP is a great believer in good naps=good night time sleep), but it is not a quick fix, so bear that in mind!

Overall, I would recommend it.

Again, thanks for your input IC.

Talking to a friend of mine, she advised that good, solid daytime napping can improve night-time sleep. I've always supported the idea of sleep-breeds-sleep, however DD only ever wants to nap for 30 mins at a time, 3 times a day. Perhaps if I can get it to more like 1-1.5 hrs twice a day, that might improve things. Does the book cover daytime napping, and techniques to improve the quality of sleep?

We used the book with DD1 at about 20 months old as she was a terrible sleeper, I found it very useful. We re-introduced day time naps which made a huge difference to her night sleeping, with 5 days of the book she was sleeping through. She was older and was probably ready and just need showing how to do it.

We also put into practice a lot of things she suggests when DD2 came along. We found the sleep clues were very helpful, DD2 had a blankie (with a back up) from birth, she learnt, as per the book that this was when she went to sleep.

Yes, it does. I read it many times and I have to say I really love it for making you feel normal and this-too-will-pass. It always gave me enough of a boost that I didn't need to try her techniques

boogeek - i found that too, with DD2 i was far more confident to just say, this is just a phase she will sleep through eventually! and with DD1 the books description of an over tired child fitted her to a T, so we re-introduced day sleeps and bingo result!

Threaders I have tracked down the book and will post it to you as soon as I can - think I am currently in early labour though so it may be a couple of days before I make it to the Post Office!

Oh crikey well good luck bartonian, and thanks again!!

wow, good luck. when you said 'about to give birth' I didn't realise you meant literally!

This unexpectedly turned into a live labour thread...! (Well, almost)

Hope all goes smoothly, bartonian!

I liked this book. I haven't managed the 'no cry' bit exactly, but I liked how instead of DO THIS OR ELSE EVERYTHING IS RUINED, it had a far more relaxed tone. Didn't make me feel guilty or harrassed reading it.

Ooh, also, good luck Bartonian!