Find Gentle Sleep Solutions for Your Child

The popular Sleep Options Wizard has been converted into a series of e-books. If you are beginning to feel stuck with your child’s sleep, if you have fallen into habits that are no longer working for you, or if you know you need to make a change, these e-books will help you to devise a change-plan, with at least a couple of fall-back options, so you never have to feel stuck.

Transitioning from co-sleeping to solo-sleeping

For when you have had enough of co-sleeping.

If you or your child are not sleeping well together, if it isn’t safe for your baby to co-sleep with you, or when you just need your space, there are gentle ways to transition from co-sleeping to solo-sleeping.

This e-book is quick and easy to read. In 14 pages, you will get an insight into 6 different ways to transition from co-sleeping to solo-sleeping including 3 gradual approaches, and 3 sudden approaches.

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Is this the right book for you?

If you definitely want to move your baby or child out of your bed into their own, this book will give you evidence-based options to achieve that. But first, let’s make sure that is really what you want.

Good reasons to change

  • I am not sleeping well when my child is in bed with me
  • My child doesn’t seem to sleep well when we share a bed
  • It isn’t safe for my baby to co-sleep with me or my partner
  • I’ve had enough of co-sleeping, I want my space
  • My relationship with my partner is suffering

This book is a good fit for you

Reasons for partial change…

  • I can’t afford to co-sleep during the day, but still enjoy it at night
  • I’m happy to co-sleep, I just don’t want to have to go to bed with my baby that early at night

You could use these suggestions for day-sleeps but not night-sleeps, or just to help your baby to go to sleep alone.

Not good reasons to change

  • Co-sleeping is always dangerous – False – There are safe ways to co-sleep. See the link below.
  • People say I’m stifling my child’s independence or creating unhealthy sleep habits. Not true, see the link below.

www.practicalresearchparenting.com/sleep-options-wizard/cosleeping/

You may not need to change what you’re doing.

Is this the best book for you?

If you have good reasons for change or partial change and you…

  • Usually stay with your child until they are asleep, consider adding the Supporting Self Settling Book (coming soon) to the bundle.
  • Want your child to move into their own cot/bassinet etc. this book is right for you.
  • Want your child to move to their own bed, the Transitioning Cot to Bed Book (coming soon) might be a better fit for you.

Transitioning from sleeping in a cot to a bed

For when your child is climbing out of the cot, or old enough to move to his or her own bed.

Transitioning to a bed is rarely easy for children or their parents. If you want to make the transition as smooth as possible from the start, or if you transitioned a while ago but bedtime and sleep hasn’t been as good since, this book could help.

This e-book will provide a range of options for helping you to smooth the transition and teaching your child the skills needed to fall asleep and resist the urge to get out of bed.

 

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Transitions are rarely easy for children or their parents. If your child is climbing out of the cot already, or you feel it is time for a big bed, this book will help you to make the transition as smooth as possible, and provide you with options as to how you go about the change, so that you can choose one that best fits your child. If you transitioned to a bed a while ago, but your child is still getting up repeatedly at bedtime, this e-book could help you too.

Is this the right book for you?

If you definitely want to move your child into their own bed, this book will give you options to achieve that. But first, let’s make sure that is really what you want.

Good reasons to change

  • It isn’t safe for my child to stay in the cot because s/he has started climbing out.
  • It is safe for my child to get out of bed at night (the environment is safe and I can trust my child to do the right thing).
  • Co-sleeping isn’t working for my family anymore and my child is old enough* to sleep in his/her own bed.
  • We are all ready for this transition.

If any of these apply, this book is a good fit for you.

Not good reasons to change

  • My child isn’t sleeping well in a cot, so perhaps a bed would be better.
  • Other kids seem to be moving to a bed already.
  • I just feel like a change.

Moving to a bed can feel like a big change, and a big loss of security for children. Plus, younger children often lack the ability to wait in bed until they fall asleep and to resist the urge to get up and play, or find their parents.

If night-times are OK at the moment, it may be best to wait.

If night-times are a struggle, consider whether having your child able to get out of bed at bedtime, and during the night is likely to improve matters.

Consider whether these ebooks are a better fit:

  • Gentle Sleep Options: Bedtime Struggles.
  • Gentle Sleep Options: Night-wakings.

Is this the best book for you?

If you have good reasons to change and…

  • You usually stay with your child until they are asleep, consider adding the Supporting Self Settling Book to the bundle.
  • You want your child to move into their own bed, then this book is right for you.
  • You want your child to move from co-sleeping to their own cot, the transitioning from cosleeping to solo-sleeping ebook might be a better fit for you.

* There is little agreement on what “old enough” to be in a bed is. The rule of thumb is that if your child is likely to climb out of a cot anyway, it is safer for them to be in a bed. Usually this happens around 3 years old, but it depends a lot on your child. The transition is likely to be easier for older children.

Bedtime Struggles

For when bedtime takes excruciatingly long.

If your child is taking forever to fall asleep, crying or constantly demanding, this e-book will help you to develop a plan to transform bedtime into a pleasant time for your kids and you.

This e-book is easy to read. In 21 pages, you will get an insight into why your child is taking so long to fall asleep, and at least 3 options to try to address that issue, for a total of 14 techniques to make for more peaceful (and quicker) bedtime routines.

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Is this the right book for you?

If your baby or child is resistant and upset at bed time, and takes ages to fall asleep, this book will give you evidence-based options to identify the issue, and help your child fall asleep more peacefully.

Good reasons to choose this book

  • By the time I finally get my child to sleep I’m exhausted. I don’t have energy or time for me or my partner at night anymore.
  • My child is going to sleep so late, that s/he’s not getting enough sleep, but won’t sleep any earlier.
  • Bedtime is a really unpleasant, stressful time for me.

This book is a good fit for you

Do the following also apply to you…

  • I stay with my child until s/he sleeps but this isn’t working for me anymore.

Some of the techniques in this book are likely to help. Also consider adding the Gentle Sleep Options – Self Settling book to the bundle for additional tailored approaches.

  • Bedtime struggles started when we changed where our child slept.

Some of the techniques in this book are likely to help. Consider adding the Sleep Options Transitioning from Co-Sleeping to Solo-Sleeping  or the Sleep Options – Transitioning from cot to bed book to the bundle.

  • My child takes a long time to fall asleep and then wakes me up frequently at night.

Suggestions in this book can create a more peaceful bedtime, which is related to better night-time sleep. Also consider adding the Sleep Options – Night waking book for suggestions tailored to night-waking issues.

  • My child also wakes up way too early.

Consider adding the Sleep Options – Waking Early book.

  • My child starts screaming after falling asleep.

If your child is sleep deprived when s/he falls asleep, this increases the likelihood of night terrors. Helping your child sleep earlier might help. Also consider adding the Sleep Options – Nightmares, night terrors, and body rocking book.

  • My child has medical issues (reflux, sleep apnoea, developmental delays etc)

While you might find this book helpful, it does not specifically address medical issues, please ask your medical specialist for sleep recommendations.

Supporting Self Settling

For when your child will only fall asleep on you or with you and that is no longer working for you.

Are you losing hours a day settling your child to sleep? Do you need some of that time back for work, relationships, or time out?

This e-book provides specific approaches to teach your child the skills needed to fall asleep without you. This is a great addition to other e-books if you think that inability to self-settle is contributing to other difficulties such as Bedtime Struggles, Night Waking, or Transitioning.

 

Night wakings

For when your baby or child is waking you frequently at night.

Children waking at night is very common and very normal. If night wakings are excessive, or leaving you so sleep deprived that you cannot do what you need to each day, then there are gentle options to try to reduce night wakings.

This e-book helps you to figure out why your child is waking you, and provides a variety of possible approaches. If your child doesn’t fall asleep alone at bedtime, but wakes up alone at night, you might consider adding the Self-Setting e-Book above.

But I have no time!

I know. That is why:

✓ You can buy books specific to your needs.

✓ Books start with a decision guide to help limit your options.

✓ You can get the basic information at a glance.

✓ Download and read at any time of day or night.

✓ Jot down your favourite options at the end.

I’m not willing to do controlled crying

You don’t have to! There are so many other ways.

I am sick of one-size fits none approaches

Each book provides a range of options so you can choose the options that fit best with your family, and still have a back-up plan.

What if I have tried them all?

Then you get a full refund. I genuinely want to help!

As a Registered Psychologist in Australia, I am prohibited from providing testimonials. I can tell you that 95% of people have said that they thought the suggestions would be helpful. (One said she had tried them all and got her money back). On average mothers have rated the questions and suggestions a 4 out of 5 for ease of understanding and relevance.

Please help to counteract the handicap of no testimonials (applied to Registered Health Professionals in Australia) by sharing this page with your sleep deprived friends.

Dr Nicole Weeks

Registered Psychologist, Practical Research Parenting