If I could give this book 6 stars, I would. It's a must read for any new parent...or maybe also for parents who are looking to do things differently this time around.
A friend of mine highly recommended it for sleep training purposes, but I didn't think much about it. This, in spite of the fact that I once put her infant child to bed for her well before I had a baby, and her baby knew the bedtime routine better than I did. Somehow, the baby coached ME through it. ;) At any rate, my baby had settled into a decent schedule with somewhat set intervals, and he was sleeping pretty good stretches at night. However, I wanted to get on more of a schedule so that I knew how to plan things for us throughout the day. I ended up picking up the book and reading it as we returned from a road trip. We started sleep training the next day at about 14.5 weeks. The first night was rough for all involved, but we dropped our beloved swaddle, night/early AM bottle, and put him into his crib in his room for the first time - all at the same time. Night 2 was much better, and we were basically set at night after that. We did have trouble with him waking up too early for a while (5:30-6am - book calls for 7:30pm - 7:00am sleep), but that stopped after maybe a month or so. And we'd usually let him cry it out unless it was really close to time to get up (6:30/6:45). Now, he doesn't wake up crying anymore, even if he does get up before 7. He rolls around and plays in his crib for 15-20 minutes before he starts letting us know it is time to get him. Enough time for me to pretend to get "5 more minutes" of sleep and to run to the restroom before the morning begins.
3.5 months later, sleep training with the help of this book is one of the best parenting decisions I've ever made. We did it before the "4 month sleep regression" and did not notice any issues with his sleep in that time period. We did have to go in early in the AM (5ish) when he started rolling, couldn't get back to his back, and would scream as a result, but thankfully that only lasted about 2-3 nights.
As much as I'd love for him to be on a schedule like clockwork, I'm honestly not that great at staying on schedule myself. However, the routines established courtesy of this book have really helped to make sleep possible no matter where we are (at home on the East coast, traveling on the East coast, in Chicago, or even Hawaii). Even if we can't get a bath in, or if we have to give him a bottle out at dinner instead of at home right before bed, once we wipe him down and/or put on his PJs and hit the white noise machine (Hatch Baby Rest at home or a portable one for travel), he knows the deal. We laugh because even if he is totally wired, he'll often start rubbing his eyes as soon as we turn the white noise on. We go back and forth on putting him down when drowsy or waiting until he's fully asleep, but even if we wait, it never takes more than 10-15 min max for him to go to sleep. I'll accept that some of this may be because he's just a good baby...and he likes to sleep like I do...but I also give MOC full credit.
I won't lie, when people talk about their 6, 9, 12, *24* month old children who still don't sleep through the night, I quietly thank MOC. If they ask me how my baby is sleeping, I tell them....and then recommend the book. I also recommend it to all new moms. I even got the toddler one for a friend who was trying to get her baby in her own room and to drop the night bottle at 1.5 years old. She found that book helpful for that and also for the potty training portion.
This 0-6 month book was also helpful when it came to introducing solid food around 4 months, and it was reassuring to read the section on falls after he flipped off the couch once. ;) I also got a better technique for clipping his nails (while he is awake). The book basically has all the practical advice that a new parent needs.
The book is a quick read and doesn't necessarily have to be read chronologically. If you just want to do the sleep training, you can just read that part and maybe a section or to before/related to that. Same for introducing solids. I'd read Babywise while pregnant, and though I guess I got some nuggets out of it, I don't remember much that was particularly actionable. Someone also recommended the "Healthy Sleep Habits" book to me when my son was about a week old. I ordered it....like I really had time to read...and I let out an audible chuckle when it arrived and I saw how THICK it was (like 600 pages). I managed to read bits and pieces, but it is super scientific and research heavy. It also lacked the "do this and then this" that I really wanted. MOC tells you exactly what to do and when to get the results you want, and that is much appreciated. I also felt that the advice pretty much lined up with the "Healthy Sleep Habits" book, just without referencing (endless) studies. I tell people that if they only have the time/desire to read ONE parenting book...make it this one.
I could go on and on, but I'll just say this: JUST GET THIS BOOK!!
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Popular Highlights in this book
Do not allow any naps to last longer than 2 hours. (2 ½ hours is ok for the first 4 weeks)Highlighted by 1,272 Kindle readers- Do not burp too often. The initial suck is the one that produces the most gas. Burping 3-4 times a feeding means 3-4 initial sucks that produce more gas.Highlighted by 828 Kindle readers
- At 4 months of age we should be getting the baby in the crib by 7:30pm (8 pm at the latest). This will help them to make it to 7 am (we know that seems counterintuitive but it works!).Highlighted by 640 Kindle readers
From the Publisher
Game changer
This book is so helpful and is chock full of information you need especially as a first time parent. It is a game changer for sleep training, feeding, and everyday routines plus so much more. We’ve been following the book since our baby was 2 weeks old and it’s helped all of us thrive so much. Huge confidence boost for us as first time parents. Get the book!!!
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2018
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Top reviews from other countries
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in India on September 4, 2023
Not a paid review / not worth the price
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- Kayleigh BoekerReviewed in Germany on July 7, 2022
very helpful and comprehensive.
