udalum's Full Review: Richard Ferber - Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems
This book is written by the Director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children's Hospital in Boston. So, as you read this book, take into consideration that it was written by a medical professional (doctor) who has done a lot of research in the area.
Dr. Ferber's book discusses healthy sleep habits in a child. One of the most helpful charts that I still use today with my four-year old is the typical sleep requirement of a child ages 1 week to 18 years old. This chart is graphed by nightime sleep and daytime sleep (naps).
Ferber's basic method involves putting the child to bed, and leaving the room. After a certain amount of time (there are charts to help guide you), you come into the room and briefly comfort the child. Then, you continue this process at longer intervals of being out of the room. The charts are easy to use, but you may be anxious about letting your child cry for what you perceive to be long periods of time.
Ferber discusses things that help prevent the child from sleeping through the night, such as frequent feeding, colic, and other medical conditions.
You may think that as your child ages, you will not need this book. I have used it several times, especially to refer to the section about night terrors. Dr. Ferber also discusses sleepwalking, nightmares, and bedwetting in this book. He provides several client examples, and how he worked with the parents to resolve the child's sleep patterns.
My personal opinion of this book: I have referred to this book more than any other children's health book. I felt very bad about letting my child cry. But, I was at my wit's end. I was impatient, moody and tired during the day when my child was waking frequently. My sleep was being interrupted all night long, and it was definitely affecting my behavior negatively. After I tried the Ferber method, I was surprised that it worked so quickly. Both me and my son slept through the night. During the day, I was able to be a much better parent. I had a lot more energy, and was able to focus on giving my son great quality time. I noticed that since I was happier, my child was happier during the day.
Now that he is four, he has extremely good sleep habits, and a great attitude about going to bed. Sometimes he even tells me when he wants to go to bed early. He isn't scared, and does not argue with me about his bedtime.
Dr. Ferber provides safe, sound ideas for helping your child fall and stay asleep. He is the director of the Sleep Laboratory and Center for Pediatric...More at Barnes & Noble.com
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