On June 27, 2008 I gave birth to an amazing, not so little, baby boy and I had myself convinced that I knew what was ahead of me. Before starting a family of my own I had been a nanny to several other children and also worked in a few different child care centers so I felt that I truly had a handle on the ins and outs of raising a baby. I don't think it is possible for me to have been any more wrong than what I was. My beautiful boy slept like a champ those first few nights in the hospital and even at home. He slept enough nights for me to start bragging to others about how perfect he was and how easy the whole parenting thing had been for me. Did I know better? Deep down of course I did and I should have seen the inevitable. Suddenly the little snoozer would scream whenever I put him down and minutes would pass before his stomach
decided demanded that it wanted more. The next five months were spent on the couch ( thank God I have a comfy couch) watching Gilmore Girls and nursing my starved yet adorable beast. He would eat and then sleep just long enough for me to think that I could catch some much needed zzzz's and then he would stir and scream for food. Finally after five months of pure exhaustion I broke down and purchased a sleep training book. The next few nights it was me that cried instead of him. I felt as though I was failing him and that I should just suck it up and sacrifice my sleep for him. Almost five years have passed and I can finally say that my big boy is a great sleeper. I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to read this book and use it when God blesses us with a third child. I am convinced that we will have a good sleep from the start if we use the tips given by
Harvey Karp, M.D
Before reading this book I had only read one other book on sleep for babies and children and it was a great help to us, but at the same time it could have been better.
The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep is not just an instruction book it truly is a guide. Each tip that he gives he presents in a manner that is truly easy to grasp even for those who have not slept in months. Dr Karp does not just say, " Hey since I am a doctor and a New York Times Bestselling author you had better do as I say." Instead he guides you through a process that clearly lets you know why he wants you to do it and also what results you will get. His tips are easy and yet they are things that I myself would have never thought of. He is not out to just put a bandaid over the problem and hope that it heals itself instead he shows you how to get to the root of the problems and also shows you what to do so the problem never arises.
I highly recommend this book and am slightly jealous of any mother who gets to read it before her bundle ever arrives. And if any of my soon to be mommy friends are reading this you can surely expect a copy of this book will be included in your shower gift!
“I am participating in a book review campaign with One2One Network. I received this book from Harper Collins for the purposes of reviewing it. I have not received compensation. My participation in the campaign enters me into a drawing for a gift card. All opinions stated are my own.”
