About “the dream sleeper”

With a simple and easy-to-follow plan for today’s fast-moving (and often sleep-deprived) parents, this book offers a new, modern approach to teaching babies how to sleep independently. The authors’ proven methods, prepared with a team of esteemed pediatric advisors, show anyone how to coach their baby to sleep through the night on his or her own. The importance of preparation, consistency, and patience is explained in a down-to-earth style.

A primer on the science of sleep
Instructions for setting up the sleeping environment and creating sleeping and eating schedules
Advice on identifying sleep associations and creating a support system
Checklists and strategies to implement the three-part plan

With respect for many styles of parenting, this step-by-step program includes methods for helping baby get a good night’s sleep.

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What's the funniest or strangest thing you’ve ever done while sleep deprived? Watch the book trailer above.

Book Outline

CHAPTER 1: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU START

The benefits of getting good sleep and a look at different philosophies on sleep. How to know whether your baby is ready for sleep teaching—and whether you are too.

CHAPTER 2: SLEEP SCIENCE 101

How sleep develops in children and the truth about night wakings. The science behind the reasons sleep is a learned skill—and the reason that going with your child’s natural sleep tendencies doesn’t work for a lot of babies. Also includes an overview of safe sleeping practices. An important chapter for all parents struggling with their child’s sleep issues.

CHAPTER 3: SETTING THE STAGE

Setting up your baby’s room to encourage better sleep and how to deal with unique or challenging sleep situations such as sharing a room.

CHAPTER 4: IDENTIFYING YOUR CHILD’S SLEEP ASSOCIATIONS

Sleep associations are one of the biggest barriers to sleep. What sleep associations are, the negative associations common in young children, and the more positive associations parents should try to incorporate into their baby’s sleep time.

CHAPTER 5: CREATING A DAYTIME SLEEPING AND EATING SCHEDULE

A guide to setting up the ideal eating and sleeping schedule, broken down by ages (birth to two months, two to four months, four to six months, six to fifteen months, fifteen months to three years).

CHAPTER 6: FIXING POTENTIAL FEEDING ISSUE

Examining and then maximizing your child’s feedings to quell fears of nighttime hunger and make sleep easier and more straightforward.

CHAPTER 7: SETTING UP A SUPPORT SYSTEM

Reasons that parents should be equal participants in the sleep teaching process and ideas for getting aligned.

CHAPTER 8: KEEPING EMOTIONAL ISSUES IN CHECK

Tips for managing your expectations of your child’s sleep, being the best sleep teacher you can be, and handling the guilt associated with hearing your child cry.

CHAPTER 9: CREATING YOUR LESSON PLAN

Picking the best day to begin, choosing a bedtime, deciding which room or place will work best to sleep-teach, teaching multiples, and emotionally preparing toddlers.

CHAPTER 10: THE FIRST TWENTY-FOUR HOURS

The meat of our proven approach for putting a baby down for the night, interpreting different types of cries, determining how to respond to your child while he or she learns, and what to expect throughout the first night.

CHAPTER 11: THE NEXT TWO WEEKS (INCLUDING NAPS)

The challenges associated with napping, what to do when a schedule isn’t working, and how to make modifications to your overall sleep plan.

CHAPTER 12: KEEPING IT GOING

Various issues that affect sleep, even in children who love sleep: dropping a nap, dealing with sickness or teething, travel disruptions, when to move your child to a toddler bed, and more.

Reviews

“Give your child and yourself the gift of a good night’s sleep. The Dream Sleeper is chock-full of useful strategies for sleep-deprived parents. Herman and Ryan put sleep in terms that today’s parents can relate to, offering compassion and empowerment with a side helping of humor.”
—Dr. Michele Borba, Today Show parenting expert and author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions: 101 Answers to Your Everyday Challenges and Wildest Worries

“Finally, a realistic and modern approach to helping baby sleep from two of the best sleep experts around. The Dream Sleeper is an invaluable guide with advice from real (and formerly sleep-deprived) moms and provides great anecdotes and tips for navigating all the baby sleep challenges that both new and experienced parents face. I wish I’d had this book when my babies were learning to sleep!”
—Carley Roney, cofounder and editor in chief, TheBump.com

“No need for stacks of books on the subject with Kira and Conner on your team! The Dream Sleeper offers every parent the knowledge, reassurance, and confidence needed for you and your new baby to navigate the challenging terrain of sleep.”
—Dr. Ingrid Schweiger, psychotherapist and author, Self-Esteem for a Lifetime

“Written in a supportive and engaging style, this book is brimming with sound advice and practical pointers. I would recommend this book to new parents as well as to those who are already bleary, teary, or weary eyed!”
—Andrew Adesman, MD, developmental pediatrician; author, BabyFacts: The Truth About Your Child’s Health from Newborn Through Preschool

“Our moms absolutely love Dream Team’s sleep advice. Kira and Conner are caring, down-to-earth, and their approach works. Our own kids are a testament to that.”
—Risa Goldberg and Leslie Venokur, founders, Big City Moms

“This is the sleep book parents have been hoping to find! Sleep is one of the most important issues families face, and now you’ll know just what to do—and feel good about it. The Dream Sleeper: A Three- Part Plan for Getting Your Baby to Love Sleep offers effective, comfort- ing solutions to the question, ‘How can I help my baby (and my family) to get good sleep?’”
—Alan Greene, MD, FAAP author, Raising Baby Green and Feeding Baby Green