Elizabeth Pantley’s No-Cry Sleep Solution

Elizabeth Pantley is the author of the groundbreaking book, The No-Cry Sleep Solution. This book, in a short time, has become a staple of any new parent’s bookshelf. It is an especial welcome to those of us unwilling to try the cruel, archaic “Cry It Out Method” popularized by Dr. Ferber. Yes, attachment parents can take heart that The No-Cry Sleep Solution is friendly to your baby’s needs, cues, as well as co-sleeping and breastfeeding. There is even a forward by Dr. William Sears!

This book isn’t just partial to attachment parenting. It has special sections for all sleeping and eating arrangements. Whether your baby co-sleeps, sleeps in the same room as you, or sleeps down the hall in a crib, there is a section for you. Also, there are specific instructions for bottle feeders, breast feeders, etc. This book is meant for anyone who wants his or her baby (and themselves) to start getting a good night’s sleep.

This gentle method is flexible to your tastes and situation. However, it does have its rules. First, Pantley recommends that you make a sleep log of your baby’s sleep/awake periods and when baby eats. This log will be taken every ten days throughout the process so you can observe what is working and what is not. Pantley is a big believer in a bedtime ritual and nap/bedtime schedule. However, this method isn’t hinged on a strict schedule; gentle, attachment parenting philosophies always apply.

What is really great about this book is that it doesn’t condemn any particular lifestyle choice- it merely suggests solutions for helping baby sleep. If you have put baby in the habit of nursing to sleep (like I had), the book doesn’t merely tell you this is a bad habit and it needs to stop. It only suggests practical solutions, without patronizing or judging. There is such a wealth of knowledge in this book that can be tapped by anyone in any sleep predicament.

Sleep deprivation can be so taxing on a parent’s quality of life. Rather than enjoying our baby, many of us are only thinking about the next nap or whether or not baby will stay down for the night. Stop longing for the days when you could sleep with ease and reclaim them! There are real solutions to real sleep problems in this book that have been tested and proven by millions. Best of all, it is respectful to the baby’s needs and is completely nurturing.