I seems like my internet access is a lot more sparse than I had planned. So all those posts that I almost finished? They're not getting finshed very quickly. What with 2 three-year olds running rampant and actually requiring parenting (the nerve… on MY vacation) and a husband who seems to believe that computer time isn't all that romantic, I'm less likely to post as frequently as I planned for the next couple of weeks.
But I did want to ask those of you who have read our book, Bedtiming, whether you wish there was something in there that wasn't or if you'd make any changes if you could. We just got word that we've sold the rights to the book in the States. That means we have a shot of changing things somewhat if we want. I'd love to hear from some of you…
1. What do you wish was in there that wasn't?
2. What did you find unclear that we might be able to explain better?
3. What do you wish we had left out of the book?
We'd appreciate any feedback you have! Thanks! (And I'll try to post something more substantive ASAP).
I promise I will look over the book this weekend and come back with an answer to your questions, but I just wanted to say Hooray! that you’ll be published in the US. I have wanted to recommend this book to so many people but I felt bad they would have to pay extra shipping. I would especially like to tell the mean NP at our pediatrician’s office about it, since she heaped scorn on me at our 4-month appt when I told her we hadn’t started sleep training yet. “It will only get harder from here,” she said. Now I can tell her, NOT TRUE! It will first get easier, and THEN it will get harder. And I’ll have the book to back me up!
So anyway, thanks for all your help so far and congratulations on the sale!
Hey there
I’m an American that actually ordered the book from Amazon.ca.
I think, if you could, include information about night weaning. You’re the first person I’ve ever seen mention it.
You might have gone more in depth into the different sleep training methods – some good tips to make each work well.
Honestly though, I love the book and keep rereading different sections to help learn about my LO.
I agree with idahogirl. Nightweaning and the information on sleep training methods. Boy this is great news I can’t wait to share this resource with others. My daughter sleeps well now, but the book is still a great resource to read up on her new developments.
I third the nightweaning, particularly any thoughts or studies on nightweaning older children (toddlers). I would also say that the book would read better if there were not so many technical references in the text. For me, the discussion of different developmental psychologists and approaches was interesting, but I had a hard time keeping straight who said what. I’d like to see endnotes and bibliography for that part. In all fairness, my husband wholeheartedly disagrees with me about that, and thinks the beginning is too conversational…but I LOVE that part, so don’t change it, please!
Congratulations, by the way…I too have wanted to recommend it to readers in the US, but reluctant because of the limited availability.
I haven’t seen the book yet (waiting for the shipping) but I wanted to make sure that the study you mentioned – that despite all the drama and loud noises, no sleep training method was shown to be any better overall than others – you posted about it here and it was very helpful, so I wanted to make sure it’s in the US book so that I can show it to everyone…
Thank you all for you words of support and suggestions for changes. I will definitely bring up with our US editor the ideas of adding the night-weaning part and elaborating the sleep-training methods.
@Kelly: I had to giggle at your comment. Guess who was in charge mostly of the “technical” parts and who focused on that first chapter more? Yeah, Marc and I have slightly different writing styles and although we did a lot of co-editing each other’s work, I still find it very easy to distinguish who wrote what sometimes. If you think those 2 chapters that are more theoretical are dense now, you should have seen it before I got my “red pen” out and took out half of it…
@fahmi: yes, that study is referenced in the book. Absolutely.
We’re nightweaning our 11.5 month old right now and I’d agree with others on that suggestion. We’re hoping that night weaning with Jay Gordon’s plan will work as sleep-training (I am using the term the way you do — to include no-cry programs or those with a strong parental presence). Gordon’s on line and pretty easy to follow.
I’d also add a little bit (more) on how parents are most likely to be stressed out and needing to sleep train during the exact times when it is most likely to be more challenging or unsuccessful and that there is more likely to be some relief when sleep training is more likely to be successful.
Lazy, tired, crying averse parents such as myself are likely to miss early windows because sleep naturally improves during some of them — for us sleep was not great, but better than before. So helping parents see that sleep training while sleep is naturally improving makes sense would help.
I like the research material, btw.
Great point, Melina! I’ll add it.