OVER THE LAST 20 years through my consultancy I have helped thousands of parents resolve their babies’ sleep problems using the gentle methods outlined in this book. When parents come to me struggling with how to deal with their baby’s sleep problems, I always stress that whilst it is important to understand why the sleep problems have developed, it is equally important not to dwell on the reasons why, but instead to move forward and take control of the problem. It is all too easy to keep delaying dealing with a problem in the hope that the baby will eventually start to sleep better naturally. In my experience the types of problems covered in this book rarely resolve themselves. Sleep deprivation affects not only the baby but the whole family and the sooner a healthy sleep pattern is established the sooner calm and happiness will be restored within the family.
To get the best out of the methods in this book I advise that both parents should read the book and then agree upon a plan that you think will work best for your baby. I usually advise that parents start the plan on a Thursday or Friday, as the first few days are usually the most difficult, it is good to have no work pressures whilst implementing the plan. Remember that the guidelines in this book are exactly just that, if your instinct is to stay on a particular stage of the plan a few days longer than I recommend, then that is fine.
You may also find it helpful to check out my website www.contentedbaby.com where you can access dozens of the case studies that I have worked on, along with support from other parents who have had similar problems. If you feel you would like professional help in resolving your problems, please do not hesitate in contacting cbc@contentedbaby.com.