BOOKS
Okay, so there’s nothing quite as liberating as throwing away the baby guide books (or using them to prop up your little one’s cot when at 3 weeks you suddenly discover that they have infant reflux and cannot sleep lying flat on their back as at least one of us has experienced). We know that there are times when you really do need some ideas on sleep to get you through the night, or maybe once in a while you’re just desperate to go crazy on Amazon. So, may we suggest:
Mr Co-Sleep gives his recommendations for getting a better nights sleep. On the upside of having disturbed sleep due to breastfeeding a lot at night - chapter 10 explores how it’s likely to have a contraceptive effect. One wonders if it’s because we’re too tired to hot it up in the bedroom. Or on the couch if your baby has taken over your bed.
I always longed for my baby to look as relaxed as the baby on the cover of this book. Pantley personalises the approach to encouraging sleep rather than giving a rule book or one size fits all solution. It won’t happen overnight, but just maybe one day …
Here are a few excerpts from her book
You can also download the sleep logs suggested in her book on her website
What Mothers Do (Especially When It Looks Like Nothing) by Naomi Stadlen
This book contains a chapter called So Tired I Could Die. Needless to say it is my kind of book. Impressively, Stadlen gives no advice at all, which is apparently why she had a hard time getting it published. How could there be a market for a book that doesn’t tell you how to improve your baby? In my opinion this is THE most helpful book about being a mother. Insights gleaned from years of facilitating ‘Mothers Talking’ groups, Stadlen’s book is a wonderful account of what it means to be a mother and how praiseworthy our sleepless nights are. May not help you get more sleep, but may make you feel better about it and realise you are not alone.
You might be able to get it delivered more quickly if you order through the Active Birth Centre
Three In A Bed: The Benefits of Sleeping With Your Baby by Deborah Jackson
If you are co-sleeping or thinking about co-sleeping this is a lovely book about the benefits of cuddling up with your baby at night and the practicalities of doing so.
If you decide at some point that you need to take your child’s sleep matters into your own hands, this book describes the most popular ways of encouraging sleep, some gentle, some not so gentle. Quite a practical guide, it talks about routine, naps, sleep cycles and sleep solutions. I found it an informative book, but to be honest I could only apply it when the little man seemed good and ready, there was no rushing it.
BREASTFEEDING HELPLINES
Need someone to remind you that your baby feeding every hour at night IS normal? If you need any kind of advice or information about breastfeeding, these are the wonderful people to call.
Breastfeeding Network Supporterline 0870 900 8787
NCT Breastfeeding Line 0870 444 8708
La Leche League Helpline 0845 120 2918
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers Hotline 08444 122 949
SLINGS AND THINGS
Baby won’t sleep in their cot? Screams when you put them down? I found the best solution for this was to carry carry carry. I promise they get better though mine still loves to be carried (but doesn’t NEED to be carried anymore)! I have used a Kari-Me (great for little ones), Calin Bleu (do a lovely summer gauze material sling) and Ergo (cool for mums and dads on the go) and there are plenty of slings out there for every taste.
CO-SLEEPING
