By Christy Sharer
Pantley, E. The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Newborns: Amazing Sleep from Day One – For Baby and You
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education; 1 edition (October 17, 2016) 352 pages
In her newest book, The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Newborns, Elizabeth Pantley offers scientific research and input from leading professionals, as well as practical suggestions and anecdotes to help parents better respond to their newborn’s sleep related needs and behaviors. Pantley continues her tradition of offering gentle approaches for parents to handle and prevent their newborn’s distress, and their own, specifically related to sleep patterns. The book contains helpful information about typical newborn sleep patterns, as well as other relevant topics such as safe sleep practices and strategies to help encourage healthy sleep. She also focuses on recognizing and responding to baby’s signals to prevent over tiring and overstimulation. The book presents a plethora of information about the relationship between newborn sleep and breastfeeding, acknowledging and supporting the important connection between these two functions in the early weeks of life.
Pantley’s approach recognizes the importance of following baby’s cues regarding sleeping and feeding, rather than imposing schedules. She clearly identifies that infants are not biologically wired to sleep through the night and therefore parents can benefit most from letting their infant take the lead. Some of the suggestions in the book emphasize creating helpful sleep routines and measures which aim to avoid patterns or habits that may lead to sleep issues later. One of the points in the book focuses on inhibiting the long-term reliance on the “suck to sleep” behavior, which she expresses can become problematic in later months or during toddlerhood, but she also frequently espouses the necessity to respond to baby’s hunger cues and the strong associations between feeding and sleep patterns. Pantley acknowledges that some parents will find this approach unnecessary. Throughout the book, there are 15 Keys to Amazing Sleep as well as “Key Points” which highlight the important concepts she seeks to emphasize, such as setting realistic expectations. Some of these revisit many of the same important messages, which is probably helpful to those sleep deprived parents who find themselves thumbing through the book
Editorial note:
This book talks about one of the more gentle approaches to managing infant sleep. Do keep in mind that no two babies or parents are the same, and what works for one may not work for another. Take what works for you, and leave the rest.
Christy Sharer
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