The Dream Sleeper: A Three-Part Plan for Getting Your Baby to Love Sleep [Paperback]

Conner Herman (Author), Kira Ryan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 13, 2012

Dream Team's new way to a good night's sleep for babies and parents

With a simple and easy-to-follow plan for today's fast-moving (and often sleep-deprived) parents, this book offers a new, modern approach to teaching babies how to sleep independently. The authors' proven methods, prepared with a team of esteemed pediatric advisors, show anyone how to coach their baby to sleep through the night on his or her own. The importance of preparation, consistency, and patience is explained in a down-to-earth style.

• A primer on the science of sleep
• Instructions for setting up the sleeping environment and creating sleeping and eating schedules
• Advice on identifying sleep associations and creating a support system
• Checklists and strategies to implement the three-part plan

With respect for many styles of parenting, this step-by-step program includes methods for helping baby get a good night's sleep.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

From planning the perfect day/night sleep schedule to fixing troublesome sleep challenges, The Dream Sleeper provides a simple and easy-to-follow plan for getting babies to learn how to consistently and happily get themselves to sleep. Based on the advice of a team of pediatric advisors and the authors' proven methods, this essential book for sleep-deprived parents shows how to set yourself up for sleep success so the entire family can begin getting a good night's sleep in just a few weeks.

You will learn

• Why baby's sleep is different and how it changes over time

• When to start sleep teaching

• How to prepare your baby's environment for sleep teaching

• How to plan a sleeping and eating schedule

• Strategies for dealing with crying and setbacks

• And much more

"Give your child and yourself the gift of a good night's sleep. The Dream Sleeper is chock-full of useful strategies for sleep-deprived parents. Herman and Ryan put sleep in terms that today's parents can relate to, offering compassion and empowerment with a side helping of humor."
—Dr. Michele Borba, Today Show parenting expert and author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions: 101 Answers to Your Everyday Challenges and Wildest Worries

"Finally, a realistic and modern approach to helping baby sleep from two of the best sleep experts around. The Dream Sleeper is an invaluable guide with advice from real (and formerly sleep-deprived) moms and provides great anecdotes and tips for navigating all the baby sleep challenges that both new and experienced parents face. I wish I'd had this book when my babies were learning to sleep!"
—Carley Roney, cofounder and editor in chief, TheBump.com

About the Author

Conner Herman & Kira Ryan founded Dream Team Baby with the help of an advisory board including a neurologist, pediatrician, nurse practitioner, psychologist, and behavioral therapist. Together they created new ways of getting children to love sleep.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (March 13, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1118018427
• ISBN-13: 978-1118018422
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.8 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #167,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #82 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Diseases & Physical Ailments > Sleep Disorders

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Sleep Guide February 21, 2012

By Kelly Brogan, M.D.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a physician who treats postpartum mothers and a mother of two, I have read every sleep book out there. I listen to exhausted, and often suffering, mothers struggle to strike a balance between feeling physically and emotionally available to their babies and caring for themselves. I believe that, whether you choose to nurse your baby at every peep or facilitate self-soothing, you are actively teaching your baby in both instances. There are only parent-led approaches, despite what many would have you believe about distinctions between parent vs baby-led. In this guide (and through private consultation with the author), you learn to appreciate the opportunity for your baby to sleep soundly, restfully, and without imposition from the parent.
We went from having a crying, frustrated, exhausted baby who seemingly required hair dryers, bouncing, and an extended middle of the night ritual to one who slept 12.5 hours with less crying on the first night of training than she had done when we were at her every beck and call. We learned to understand the nuances of her vocalizations. As is stated in the book, if your child resisted being buckled in a car seat, would you acquiesce? After one night of seeing that my daughter could and would sleep 12.5 hours, I felt amazed that we had been colluding in her sleep deprivation. I marvel at how they divined such an effective and replicable method.
Absolutely, a must read for every parent of a 3+ month old looking for a structured approach to allowing their children to sleep.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book helped us teach our breastfed son to sleep 12 hours February 20, 2012

By CSR

Format:Paperback

This book and the authors' methods are very effective. I read a number of books on infant sleep and I found this book the most user-friendly and helpful. Using the methods and schedules outlined in the book, I was able to get my 3.5 month old son sleeping 12 hours a night and on a regular nap schedule within less than a week of starting sleep teaching. I am a breastfeeding mom and following the tips and the schedules in this book did not affect my ability to breastfeed nor my son's milk intake. On the contrary, his appetite has remained quite robust. At eight months, my son is still sleeping through the night and thriving. I've often turned back to this book for advice when dealing with sleep disrupting events (shots, sickness, travel) and the advice has been spot-on every time. Knowing that once I put my son to sleep at night, I won't hear from him until morning is a great feeling. I know he's getting the rest he needs and lets a working mom like me get some uninterrupted shut-eye. I highly recommend this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I am recommending this book to all of my clients! February 18, 2012

By Dr. Ingrid Schweiger

Format:Paperback

As a NYC couples therapist [...], I have seen many a relationship deteriorating due to a lack of sleep. Conner Herman and Kira Ryan have provided parents with a clear, intelligent, and very personalized guide for teaching your baby to sleep. Becoming a new parent is stressful enough!! Teaching your baby to sleep will help you to not only enjoy your baby more, but will also provide you with the time and energy needed to nurture your relationship with your partner.