The Happiest Baby on the Block

Madelyn8278 — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:49:00 GMT

With a five-star rating on Amazon and more than 200 stellar customer reviews, “The Happiest Baby on the Block” teaches you how to transport your baby from screaming to serene. In a few simple steps, Dr. Harvey Karp promises to help you switch on your baby’s “calming reflex,” a sort of automatic off-switch for any baby’s crying.

It almost sounds too good to be true, right? Still, thousands of parents, from working moms to superstar celebrities like Madonna and Michelle Pfeiffer, have turned to Dr. Karp to discover his secrets for making babies happy.

Many couples think Dr. Karp’s techniques are successful because he acknowledges the existence of a “fourth trimester,” referring to the first three months of your baby’s life and her need to feel as she did while she was in the womb. These techniques are summarized on the DVD as the five S’s: swaddling (tightly, to resemble the environment of the uterus), side or stomach position (also known as the “football hold”), shushing (at the same sound level as her crying), swinging (to replicate your movements when she was inside you), and sucking (using your finger or a pacifier).

Annie, once the frustrated mother of a 4-week-old, found great success with “The Happiest Baby.” She says, “Our son went from being fussy before bedtime … to drifting off to sleep without any drama. We couldn’t believe the transformation.”

In one bonus area of the DVD, Dr. Karp answers questions from real parents about calming babies and helping them fall asleep. In another, the entire contents of the DVD can be viewed in Spanish. And our favorite bonus feature of all: three tracks of a wonderfully calming mix of womb sounds and pulsation that can be played individually or in succession to gently guide your baby to sleep.

Get a copy here.

The Idiot’s Guide to Sleep Training for Your Child

Satya — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:26:00 GMT

“The Idiot’s Guide to Sleep Training for Your Child” by Melissa M. Burnham and Jennifer Lawler gives the reader an easy-to-understand overview of the different techniques that can be used to help children sleep. It covers everything from infant sleep habits to those of teenagers, and includes valuable scientific information about different age groups and types of kids, including special needs children.

Some readers might find this book so easy to read that they are unable to focus, as it is sometimes repetitive and so simple it can be exhausting. Stick with it, though, in order to learn everything each sleep method has to offer. The authors particularly emphasize Ferber’s “cry it out” method, as well as a section at the end for “new age” techniques like meditation, yoga, tai chi, Feng Shui and other alternatives.

While the resounding message of the book is to follow routines and rituals at bedtime, it also sheds light on common sleep issues that may require a doctor’s evaluation.

For a parent needing relief from a child who won’t sleep, “The Idiot’s Guide to Sleep Training” is reassuring and helpful without leaving you hanging because one method didn’t work. It won’t leave you an expert on any one sleep technique, but it provides a good place to start and showcases every available option. Pick up a copy here.

mommymedia : infant sleep

The Happiest Baby on the Block

The Idiot’s Guide to Sleep Training for Your Child