Sleep Sense Program... Anyone Heard of It?

I haven't heard of the Sleep Sense program, but I did read the Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child book and that worked for my son. I had also read the Baby Wise book and didn't find it helpful at all for my child. I now have 2 children, a 21 month old boy and a 9 week old girl. I plan to use the strategies in the Healthy sleep Habits book with her too. Good Luck and I hope you get some rest soon!
-A.

I didn't read those books and I didn't let my little one cry it out. Sometimes I even let him go to bed with me. I just watched my guy for cues. For a little while I would rub his back (no bottle or paci) and at each stage I would do what was good for that time. I didn't pay attention to what other children were doing because my boy was not those other children. And I save myself a lot of money by not buying those books. Instead I trusted my intuition with my child and hey, last night he gave me a big hug at 8:30 and said he's engine was tired and needed to rest and off to bed he went.

I had a similar experience with my first born. I thought it was important to hold him as much as possible, and loved rocking him to sleep. He ended up with the same problem - at about 9 months he wouldn't sleep long, and at that time, I had another baby on the way! I didn't want to spend all my time rocking babies to sleep, so I gradually taught him to fall asleep on his own. I took 'baby steps' with this - I started rocking him until he was nearly asleep and then laid him in his crib. After a couple days of that, I rocked him for just a few minutes and then laid him down in his crib, etc. I didn't take long for him to learn to fall asleep on his own - and it wasn't a harsh way for him to adjust! He started sleeping much better and longer - and was happier overall (me too!!!)

Hope that helps!!

J. G

Hi L.,
I also read Baby Wise prior to my son being born..and it is good but I agree, it doesn't provide sound sleeping advice. My son is also 9 months..and sleeps from 6pm - 6:30 or 7pm without a peep. However, it was work to get him there. I highly recommend the book, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child - try your Barnes & Noble or Borders Books or order it from Amazon. It is fabulous. But for the quick fix...based on the book and tons of my friends who have gotten their kids to sleep good...start his bed time routine early. Start it at 5pm. Feed him the bottle, food, bathe him, read him a book, rock him a bit and put him down. It's funny but you would think this is far too early. But basically, sleep begets sleep. If he wakes, do not go to him. Give him 20 - 30 minutes...and then go pat him, tell him you love him and leave the room. This might happen a few times that night b/c he is so used to you coming to him. It also might happen over the next 3 days...but the crying will get shorter as he will realize you are not coming. What you need to remember, is that he's smart - he wants to get out and play - but it's time to sleep. You know better than he does and by leaving him to cry...this will teach him to go back to sleep by himself (which is what you want). Try this routine for at least 5 nights. Try to be walking out of his room by 6pm. I really think putting him to bed earlier will help. It's crazy but if they are overtired...they wake more. If they are rested...they sleep more - this is where the earlier bed time comes in and you can get ahead of the overtired state. I've found that a 7pm bedtime for my son causes him to wake a night..but if I put him down by 6pm..he sleeps great!
The biggest mistake parents make is too late of a bedtime..according to the book - and I agree. Most of my friends let their kids stay up until 8ish...I think they wonder how I got my son to go to bed so early. But it's really b/c he's tired and only 8 months old. They need 12 - 13 hours of sleep. He should also be transitioning to 2 naps a day - around 9am and 1pm. I'm not sure what your son is doing...but a solid nights sleep will help him do this b/c he will wake around 6:30 - 7am and be ready for a morning nap about 9sh. It sounds like you struggle leaving him when he cries - it is hard but it's okay for him to cry. This actually is the best thing for him b/c it will teach him to sleep. Then, you will be happy and if mom is happy, everyone is happy. Good luck. Also, the book is a bit long..but it's written by a Dr. who specializes in sleep and organized by age - so you can easily skim the sections you need. Oh - I've never heard of the Sleep Program. Happy Sleeping! - C.

I am a grandma and have not heard of your book, but I will tell you that as long as you keep going to Brady, he will continue to wake up in 4 hours. I understand that you are primarily doing this so your husband can get some good quality sleep for work, very admirable, but you need sleep too. Babies are not the easiest of jobs, and actually the most important one of your life. You and your husband need to discuss the best time to ignore Brady and let him cry. He is not hurting himself, only your ears, but when he realizes you are not going to go to him, he will give up. It may take a few days, but it will work. A few days opposed to no sleep for a very long time is not much to ask. If you keep going this route you will have him walking into your bedroom until puberty.

Hi L.,

I haven't heard of Sleep Sense...but, after 13 and a half months of being up every two hours with our little one, my husband and I used the Baby Whisperer. We got the book The Baby Whisperer Solves all your problems from infancy to toddlerhood. I have to tell you it was a life saver for us! We did a combination of gradual withdrawal and then moved into walk in/ walk out. Another bonus is the baby whisperer website, where you can post questions, read other people's experience. We were desperate, and we followed the instruction and after about 3 weeks Samuel was not only sleeping through the night, but taking regular naps and putting himself to sleep without our help. We were walking zombies and now we actually have couple time after Samuel is sleeping, he has been sleeping through the night for about 5 months now...and I feel like a new person.

Hope this helps. Sorry I don't have info on sleep sense, but the baby whisperer saved us, it might be worth checking out.

L.,

I can't tell you what to do anymore than any of these other Mom's- I guess you've noticed this is a pretty touchy subject. It's a very personal decision but what is comes down to is are you willing to let him cry or not. I respect and understand other Mom's views that don't agree with cry it out but I am a fan. My pediatrician explained it this way- our job as parents is to help them eventually grow into functioning adults one day- baby step by baby step. As an adult, if you wake up in the middle of the night you don't have anyone to come comfort you but you know you must go back to sleep. It can be heartbreaking to hear them cry and not go them them but as a Mom you know the difference between a cry that says something is really wrong and a cry that just says I'm angry that I have to go to sleep. Also, they won't cry forever- they will learn to go back to sleep and this will be healthier for both of you. Good luck!

Mine daughter does the same thing, but I figure it was because she was taking naps during the day it was too late during the day it was about 3:oopm when naps were taken so that had to change, and also when she went to sleep at 1:00am or 2:00am she woke up late the next day so i had to wake her up early in the morning and switch her schedule a little.

I'm going through the same issue right now with my 16-month-old daughter. I've read several books, including "Baby Wise" and "No Cry Sleep Habits", but have really liked "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" the best. At least it explained why it's so important to teach your child to put themselves to sleep and I don't feel as guilty about letting her cry a little.

However, I'm still struggling. After six weeks, she is still crying significantly when I first put her in her crib. I'm going to go see a Pediatric Neurologist who specializes in Sleep Medicine and see if I can't get more individualized advice.

Good luck!!

Hi L. - Our oldest son who is now 5 1/2 has had sleep issues most of his life. We read Ferber and tried many things. In fact, his sleep issues are what prompted us to start Babble Soft (www.babblesoft.com). Because of everything going on, we actually just now (in January) released the ability to keep track of sleep in our web/mobile application called Baby Insights. If you think it might help you identify some of your baby's sleep patterns you can sign up for a free 30 day trial.

Our daughter, who is almost 3, was a pretty great sleeper from birth. Thank goodness!

Unfortunately I have not heard of the Sleep Sense Program. Good luck with your search for the Ebook. I would love to know what you find out.

When a baby is 9 months old, they still need to be parented to sleep. I think you are doing exactly what you should be. If he wakes up and needs mommy and daddy he does. If you need more sleep you could bring him to your bed after he wakes up. I haven't read the book, but I know I wouldn't want to buy a book and have it tell me to let my baby cry it out. My son is 13 months old and doesn't sleep through the night. seriously most 4 year olds still need to be parented back to sleep. baby's and toddlers don't come with the ability to self sooth. Just think twice about doing something against your better mommy judgment.

L. ive never read a book on how to put my kids to sleep.Your baby knows that you will get up and play with him when ever he gets up,try not getting up for him and he will eventually realzie that he doesnt have you wrapped around his little finger.Stick your head in the door and make sure he's alright and go back to bed.Ive learned that most of the people that write those books dont even have children.Go on your own instinct about what he really needs at time of morning,if he needs a diaper change,or feeding,if so do that and let him know that you are going back to bed for some rest and he must do the same.Babies understand better then we do.Dont let him over whelm you because you will get to tired and sick.B. F.

I haven't. actually, I haven't read Baby Wise either, although I was TOLD that is the method I follow. Naps have been a struggle in our home with my four girls, but bedtime has been as follows-

newborn: wake every 2-3 hours during the night until 6 or so weeks. That's when I wait and let the baby move and fuss a bit before feeding- sometimes she will go right back to sleep without really waking up. By 7-8 weeks she would sleep about 5-6 hours at a time. Nighttime feeding should be done with no talking, and low or no lights. This is bedtime, not play time.

older infant, about 4-6 months: never nurse or bottle feed to sleep. If not actively eating, take off the nipple and put to bed drowzy but awake. When you put her down, don't immediately pick her up again if she fusses. Wait a bit.

By 1 year- my first three were sleeping 12 hours or so at night at this age, without waking! My fourth is 11 months old and has only been doing this for a week or so. It's been oh so nice. But prior to that she was waking too often. I had to start letting her cry because with four children a year apart from each other, I was just exhausted. I let her cry but only for ten minutes or so. I have a monitor on and if she's screaming or choking I get her, but most of the time she screams in a short angry burst (she does this while awake also, throws herself in the floor kicking and screaming like her older sisters.) I hated to let her CIO but I was spending most of my time in bed with her and couldn't get enough sleep. Even now I don't get enough, but then I felt like I was sleep walking during the day!

I wish you a good night's sleep,
S.

It sounds like you are very in tune with your son and looking out for the best for him. I sure wish there were more parents now days willing to seek out all they can for their children. The world would be a much better place!
As a Licensed Midwife of over 15 years with five children of my own I have greatly discouraged any of the Baby Wise books. I have just seen too many mal-nourished and very frusterated moms, dads and babies over the unnatural practices in this book. I have seen several cases where babies have been hospitalized. Instead of Ezzo's books I usually recomend "To Train Up a Child" by the Pearls or any books by Sheila Kitzinger or Michel Odent.
Through the last 21 years of being a mother I have probably read several hundred parenting books. Research for yourself and you will find something that meets your needs, and don't forget, moms know their babies better than anyone else!

We are on day 4 of the sleep sense program and it is amazing! the first two nights my 8 month-old and i probably got about 2 hours sleep because he screamed the WHOLE night. The third night he woke a few times but was able to get himself to sleep within about 30 min... last night (night 4) he slept right throiugh the night, waking only once and he was just whiney for a few minutes then fell back asleep!
He has actually fallen into a great nap schedule too, and i hadent started that part of the program yet. He was a very bad napper before.

Hello...I haven't heard of the sleep sense program so I can't help you there but I am a 49 year old Mom of three. My best advice is to "keep Brady up". It may be a little more work for you earlier in the evening to keep him awake but the payoff will be that he will sleep longer during the night. I would try to keep him up until at least 8-8:30 pm. He will eventually sleep all through the night, if not right away. And as you have discovered, a bottle at bedtime is not a good idea. I never had a problem giving mine a pacifier though. He will probably have to cry himself to sleep a few times but I promise it won't hurt him and you and your husband will be better able to handle things when you both get the sleep you need.

I purchased the Sleep Sense programs for my second child who was taking much longer than my first did to sleep through the night. I found it very similar the the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Weissbluth. The good thing is that there is a money back guarantee. I think that the Sleep Sense program might be beneficial to you, as would the book I mentioned. It is similar to the Baby Wise, but there are a lot of differences as well. Good Luck!

I read Baby Wise -three times. I have talked with many other mom's who say it didn't work for them. There are many problems with Baby Wise. First, it doesn't mention that a 9 month old thinks that he and mom are one person. When you have your baby CIO, the reason your baby stops crying, is not because he is soothing himself to sleep. It is because he gives up. It is also very dangerous. A baby cries for a reason. I don't want to scare you, but I read in Parents Magazine about a mother who let her baby CIO and when she finally went in to check on her son, it was too late . When I tried Baby Wise with my first child, I initially let my daughter CIO, and when I went to check on her, she had spit up and was laying in her own mess screaming her guts out. Another time when I checked on her after a crying spell and letting her "soothe herself to sleep", her leg was caught in the crib rail (she was over a year old, so the baby bumpers were removed). Most other countries don't let their baby CIO. It is unnatural. Is your son eating solid food yet? If not, he may be waking up because he is hungry. Also, your baby may be cutting new teeth. In the daytime, try putting him to sleep on his tummy (close by so you can check on him). Babies digest better when they sleep on their tummies. Also try putting him to sleep immediately after you give him his bottle at night. And then get yourself to bed early too! After my first baby, and going through all the sleep issues we did, I put my second and third to sleep on their tummy (they slept in the same room with us for the first 3 months). My second and third babies sleep like a log. I hope this helps. When your baby sleeps in the daytime, try to nap at the same time to catch up on your much-needed sleep.

Never heard of this program, but i can tell you from experience with my first son i held him ect to put him to sleep, now he is 4 and we fight every night for him to stay in his own bed, with my youngest son i said no way my bed isnt big enough for this, lol, so i would just put him in his bed with his bottle or/and now cup and he goes right to sleep, sometimes. We have him in our room right now, because brothers room is too small for his bed too, so what we do is put him in his bed close the door, with the light off sometimes we turn on the tv with the volume either really low or muted and he will go to sleep, there are sometimes he fights it, but you just got to learn to let them cry it out. They are in the cause and effect thing, he will learn that if he cries or cries long enough you will come running, so he will do it no matter how tired he is he will do it. I know its hard, but if you stick to it for a little while it will "pay off" in the end, sometimes when i couldnt take him crying i would do something where i was busy for a while and could hear him but to where it wasnt as bad. Good Luck, I hope i helped you!!

I have never heard of that program before. We have been having sleep issues with our 5 month old. She didn't have an established nap pattern and would only cat nap in her swing or Boppy. When we took her to her 4 month well check the pediatrician suggested we move her to her room immediately and put her down earlier. She suggested reading "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" I read it a week and a half ago, and now I have a napper and a baby that wakes typically once a night to feed. The book goes through age ranges up until the teens. It also talks about sleep issues such as nightmares,night waking etc... Great book and it worked.

I have no advice on the sleep sense program. I checked Dr. Richard Ferber's book of child sleeping out from the library and it worked great. I started it sooner with my second and she is a great sleeper. It involves letting them cry a bit and learning self soothing techniques. Some people don't want to let them CIO (cry it out), but Dr. Ferber tells you how to do it and why you are doing it. He is a child sleep specialist. Good luck with the sleeping...my oldest my son never slept through the night until I "Ferberized" him. {{{{hugs}}}}

Never heard of it but my children are 31 and 33 yrs old. Have you tried putting him to bed at a later time? Does he take a long nap in the afternoon? My youngest son could never take a nap or if he did he would sleep for 4-5 hours and then be up until mid-night. Try feeding him at his unsual time and then play for a couple of hours and give him a snack and then his bottle and put him to bed. Rock him if you want for a little bit and then put him to bed. If he cries, let him, it won't hurt him. I have friends from Scotland and their oldest son did the same thing as Brady, he just didn't aquire a lot of sleep. Good luck and God Bless.

C.

L....may I suggest changing the time you put son to bed. I didn't read any books on how to put my child to bed, but I did listen to my grandmother who raised for children and still had an in home daycare when my son was our son age. My son would wake up 3 or 4 times a night and on the last time waking up he would want to stay up and not go back to sleep. She advised me to change the bed time to 8:30pm make a bottle with a little rice cereal in it so my sons tummy would be full. As he drank the bottle read a story to him or even make up a story and tell it to him. Then put him to bed and give him kisses and tell him " my little angel is gunna sleep all through the night because he is happy and his tummy is happy". If he wakes during the night to have his diaper changed, just change it give him his pacifer and then lay him back in his bed and pat him on his back til he falls back to sleep. Or even if he just wakes up give him his pacifer and pat him on his back til he goes to sleep. I did this for 3 weeks and he started sleeping through the night. I actually stopped putting the rice cereal in his bottle then. Now he is 16 yrs old and him keeping his room clean is the only problem I have. Hope this helps.

I looked at Sleep sense online too, but couldn't find anyone I know who'd actually tried it. I'm in a local mom's group that has about 500 members, and no one had tried it. I'd love to get a link to the download to check it out.

My son is 8 months old. At the advice of our pediatrician, we used the Ferber method. It only took a few days for him to sleep through the night (8 pm - 5 am). However, he was sleeping through the night since 2 months using Baby Wise. Then he got messed up at Christmas time with travel.

Good luck!

Hello! Your post broke my heart...I was right there with you several months ago. I have a 14 month old little boy and we just established a wonderful sleep pattern only two months ago when he turned one. I didn't even remember what sleep felt like b/c he woke up 3-5 times every night. Finally, we decided that he must learn to fall asleep on his own in his own crib in his own room. He had previously slept with us in our room. Someone suggested the book "The Sleep Easy Solution". We followed it, and within 3 nights our son would not cry when we layed him down at bedtime and would just put himself to sleep. Now, he points at his crib after storytime, waves bye-bye and goes right to sleep every night. He now consistently sleeps 11-12 hours every night b/c he is able to put himself back to sleep on his own if he wakes up. I hope this help. Praying for you!

i have never heard of this program but as a mother of 3 i hear you girl. i have a 7 yr old, 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 yr old. my babies are a yr and 8 days apart so i know all about the no sleep thing. hannah was barely a yr old when her baby brother came along and he was an eater and up all the time. the only advice that i can give you is that you have to set a routine that is very strict and at first this will be hard and he will cry. no mabyes about it, but if you want some peace at night, he has to know mommy isn't coming to the rescue cause i want to play. it will take some time,but he will get into the routine and then you will have sound nights. he is old enough to understand this too. he is old enough to be working his mom over big time. they learn how to do that very early in life. also, sleep when he sleeps that way you are not so exhaused. if you have the privelage to stay at home like i do with him, take a nap when he does. the clothes can wait to be folded. the toilet can wait to be scrubbed. you will be a better mother and wife if you are rested. they grow up so fast too enjoy every minute good or bad. i hope i helped.

D. mattern
The MOM Team
Raise your income and your rugrats at the same time.
www.formyrugrats.com

L. - I hear you! I have 4 children and they all took there time sleeping thru the night. The pacifier is not the problem, I don't think as my 3 year old still has a paci and sometimes will wake up, but usually it is to go potty.

I would suggest that you give him a after noon nap and stay on the same feeding schedule, but keep him up later. Also, some activity during the day time before & after his afternoon nap will help. My 3 year old took 2 or 3 short naps during the day and was in bed usually by 9 and slept pretty much through the night at 9 months. I know it is hard, but he will learn to self soothe, try some lullaby music and put him into bed awake rather then asleep, he may scream, but he'll be okay, really - I know at the time you think you are being the worst mom ever, but it will get better. I was a foster mom and fostered over 25 babies and they each had different ways of going to sleep. I know with my first baby it was so hard to put him in bed, I just wanted to hold him and rock him as long as possible.

Good Luck -
L.

My sister and I have both had great luck with Richard Ferber's book "Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems". It is a cry it out method, but works in no time at all and wonderfully! All 3 of our kids had a sleep problem of some sort that we took care of with this book. We have 3 grest sleepers now!! I woud HIGHlY recommend this read~

My sister is having a similar problem. My only thought is that she hasn't allowed her son to learn how to put himself to sleep. She would always "put him to sleep" before laying him in his crib. I advised her to lay him down at bedtime "awake" and allow him to cry if necessary. If he crys for more than 15 minutes or so, then go in and comfort, but don't pick him up. Then leave again and repeat the process. Eventually, they will learn how to put themselves to sleep and then when they awake in the middle of the night, they can go back to sleep on their own.

i agree with with woman who wrote just below me... she is a midwife and discourages the baby wise. i also read that book (before my first was born) and got so frustrated after he was born when i was trying to implement the ideas, that i literally tore the book apart and threw it against the wall (hormones??? sleep deprivation?!?!? jeez...) anyway, i told my midwife about that and she said good girl for trashing the book. babies are little human beings, they are not programable, and even if they are programable for a little while, they change on you, because they are growing so fast.just go with the flow, he will eventually sleep more, and in the meantime, get as much rest, good food, and exercise as you can, keep your spirits up! your baby loves you!

I watched the video, "Your Baby Can Sleep" (video) by Stuart Tomares, M.D. It's wonderful and it's not another book to read. It took us from getting up 4-5 times a night to sleeping 8-10 hours after only 3 days! WOO HOO! Good luck!

Hi L.,
I have an 18 month-old son, who just started sleeping through the night and I think I can help you a little. First, I wish the books had all te answers, but they just don't. I was very frustrated when everyone I know said my son would be sleeping through the night "soon" at every stage of development and he just didn't do it! I have had soooo many sleepless nights, too! The best advice I can give you is start streching the time you put him down to sleep, nap or bedtime. Does he still take two naps? If he is down to one, like my son was by your son's age? Try to make sure he has a level amount of playing time between his nap and then bedtime. My son has a two to three hour nap around 4-6 hours after getting up in the morning and then does not usually go to bed till the same amount of hours again later, which usually means 9 or 10 pm. That sounds late to many, but for us, it works! My son then sleeps all night and everyone has a chance to recharge as well! My son still takes a bottle before bed and uses a pacifier, too. Try not to think this is something you have done wrong and focus more on being in tune to him. I feel like I overloaded on information before my so was born and that really turned out to be unhelpful occasionally! Loving your son and doing the best for your family is what your purpose is and has been, so you are being a great mom! I hope I have helped you at least a little! :-)

WEll, I have a 22 month old and he has also woken up after 5 or 6 hours all his life. Books have defined a "sleeping thru the night" as just that. Just lately he has slept thru an adults night...8 or 9 hours. He did go 8 or 9 hours around 10 months for a while. My son has always shown signs of teething..so I think that is what it is. He is getting his molars now and still wakes every once in a while....I take his temp and is always 99 or more. I also chaned his nap time. When he gets up around 6:30 or 7:00 I put him back down for a nap before 11:00 and will let him sleep until 12:30..When it is bed time...I feed him, bath him, let him play...read to him and sing a little. It seems to put him ina zone..I give him a little milk and brush his teeth and lay him down...It has been doing the trick...Your son is wuch younger and maybe he is teething. Doctors say that does not matter...but I think is all depends on the child. You need to get rest yourself. Take a nap with him or get a friend to watch him while you get some ZZZZ's. Your sanity is very important....good luck with your little tyke

Hi L..
I have not heard of the programs you are referring to, but I can tell you what worked for me.

I was the mom that rocked her son for every nap and every night to put him to sleep. We have not been feeding him right before bed, but he does take a pacifier (only for night time). A family member that has 2 kids told me that she regretted rocking her daughter the same way I rock my son. She said that it took almost 5 years to get her to go to sleep on her own and in her own bed. She said that with her second baby, she just lays him down and he will cry sometimes, but usually go right to sleep. I decided to give it a try the very next day. When he came to me with sleepy eyes, I took him to his room, turned on his white noise machine (he has sleep with it since he was 2 weeks old. He is now 15 months), gave him his pacifier and his blanket and told him "night night." He cried for maybe 3 minutes and he was out like a light. I have not had to rock him since he was about 10 months old. He actually prefers to go to bed on his own now. If you haven't used a white noise machine, they are wonderful. We started using ours on the advice of our pediatrician. Not only did it help our son sleep, it helped us sleep better too. My son has been sleeping through the night since he was 6 weeks old. Every baby is different. You will just have to keep trying different techniques until you find the right one. I wish you the best of luck!

HI L.
Have never heard of the sleep sense program. I am a mom of four and whenever I needed advise on parenting, I picked up the phone and called either my mom or my grandmother. My husband is the youngest of six and I am the youngest of three.
When mine were little, I did what my mom did with me. We were all on cereal by eight weeks, took a bottle and off to sleepyland. It is difficult at best not to go to your child in the middle of the night when they are crying but you are gonna have to or it will never change. Try keeping him awake until 8:30 or so and feed a little later. It may prove trying at first but be consistent and let him learn to put himself to sleep. It sounds like you are a dedicated mom, just hang in there. Women have been parenting long before pediatricians came along, find out what your grandmother or mom did and go from there.
wishing you a blessed day
K.

I don't know anything about the program but I do have a suggestion. I think 7:30 is too early for him to go to bed. Trying letting him play longer and get more tired and put him to bed around 9. I'll bet he sleeps much longer!

It may be possible that your child is taking too many or too long naps during the day. You need to only let him take one nap and not for very long during the day. It will be hard, but it will become easier with time. He will be cranky and fuss, but at night he will sleep deeply. Not all children need naps and not for very long if they do.

L. I have heard of the sleep sense program. I was once in your shoes. My son did not start sleeping through the night till he was 14 months old. You are sooo lucky that you are getting to stay at home. I was working full time and not getting any sleep at all. My son would sleep for about 2 to 3 hours and then would wake up crying so I would go get him rock him back to sleep or stay up for a few hours with him and then he would go back to sleep and then we would repeat this all over again. I read many books and read everything on the internet. The best thing to do it just to let him cry it out. It is hard believe me but that is what worked for me. Let him cry for 5 minutes and then go check on him and then the next time wait 10 minutes and so on and so on. That is what I finally had to do. Good luck.

-A.

We are trying the Sleep Sense program now. The videos seem very clear, but it has only been one night. It is a form of cry it out, but you actually stay in the room with them for comfort. I was so opposed to cry it out, but at a year we just have to try something different to help our daughter learn to sleep.

When my daughter was born over 3 years ago, my peditrician recommended NOT reading BabyWise. She did recommend the Happiest Baby on the Block and Ferber. I have 2 kids that are really great sleepers and have been at a very early age (3-4 months). I know a lot of people don't recommend Ferber, but I do think he understand the child psychee and sleep cycles and has recommendations on how to get a child to learn how to sleep on his own. Just some advice on a different author. I have not heard of the ebook - but, thank god, haven't needed sleep advice in a while. HOpe you find a solution that helps you!

Haven't heard of a "Sleep Sense Program", sounds like a free lunch: too good to be true.

Hi L., I undestand your concern about your son sleeping habits but I think his to little to give him a habit on sleeping. I do have 4 children and believe me they are all different, I think you should let him sleep when he needs to. I would put him to bed a little later so you and your husband can sleep at night.
S.

This is what I did with my son. He would wake up at 1 am and 5 am for feedings at 8 months. Make sure to keep feeding seperate from the bed. Put him to bed awake for all naps and bed times. If he is waking for a bottle-reduce the ounces by one each day until you are only giving him 1 oz. I did this with my son and dropped 2 8oz feedings in 7 days. I used the Ferber method and let me tell you....my son goes to his crib and says "night night" for both naps and bedtime. I believe sleep produces a happy child and we have all seen are kids act up when they are over tired. Good Luck!

It's wonderful. We did the no tears option. Here's the program available in PDF http://www.sleepsense.net/share.html?p=sleepbabysleep&amp...

I bought the book online two weeks ago, it is fantastic! worked like a miracle. My 14 months old boy woke me up four times at night , and i grew tired and exhausted. Until i found the book online, bought it, and tried it .from the first night, i learned what i was doing wrong , and that this was the reason why my son had bad sleeping habits. but i was not sad to know that it was my fault, for i had the answer now. my son slept from 9 pm until 10 am the next morning. He did not wake up even once. Wow!

I recommend this program, but i want to say that commitment and cosisstancy is a key!

I have never heard of this book but I agree with the people that suggest being wary with any program/book that is too rigid. I have 2 children, 3 & 5. What worked for me when they were little was to be very tuned in to where they were at and gradually get them used to self-soothing and falling asleep on their own. Once I felt they were securely attached and had a comforting routine (2-3 months of age perhaps), I let them cry it out just a few minutes (5 or so), then gradually increased the time - assuming they were not hungry, had already nursed. Within a week or so they were able to get themselves to sleep and they continue to fall asleep well and sleep through the night. It is hard to not go in and comfort them but doing just a few minutes for a while helps as well as keeping in mind that it will benefit them in the long run. Find the right balance between nurturing and sleep. In our house, we have no power struggles (yet!) with getting them to bed. I also have been very tuned in to what naps they need - if they nap too late, they have trouble getting to sleep sometimes but if they don't nap at all the same thing can happen.