Hi all

I recently wrote a detailed blog post about all the sleep solutions we tried, and what finally worked for us. If you're interested, you can find it here.
I just happened across Clarie's blog a few days ago when I was searching for information about the risks of baby going over full term - ironically I read Grace's story on your blog, and also some posts by Kelly, so I can be sure that everyone is legit!!

I'm expecting my first bub any day now. MIL gave me "Dream Baby" a few months ago and once I got sick of reading pregnancy books I started wading through the 750 page tome. It was fascinating reading I must say.

I think her methods make a HUGE amount of common sense, and she has so many rave reviews. For me reading it pre-bub, the 'sleep training' part of it is a minor element, hundreds of pages of the book are designed to develop such great communication with bub that you don't need to resort to any training, crying or otherwise. I LOVE the communication recommendations, and the 'respect' element.

I have done buckets of reading think it is very much the 'middle ground' between the parenting extremes (and I don't judge either 'extreme', only note that there are extremes of the spectrum!).

It is worth noting that Sheyne does not recommend any kind of routine management before bub is 6 months of age. But I'm really excited about being able to implement the techniques from an early age with my new bub to be and establishing the communication flow to help bub make relaxed transitions through the day. Role play with a teddy is a fab idea to in order to get bub comfortable with what's happening.

One issue that I may have is that I am very keen to go the baby led solids route. Although Sheyne does not address this directly I would imagine that that is not something she'd be keen on. No, I reflect on this and realise I'm wrong, it's not that she wouldn't be keen on it. She would say - firstly, if it works for you and bub then that is fine and don't change a thing; secondly, if it's not working for you then maybe you should look at changing it, and here's how you do it - communication, position, role play etc.

Yep I highly recommend the book, it is loooong and repetitive but just writing this post has made me realise that the theories have actually sunk in and can be used in all sorts of situations! Hopefully I will still be a fan in another 12 months time :P

Cheers