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Good Nights
The Happy Parents' Guide to the Family Bed (and a Peaceful Night Sleep!)
by Jay Gordon, M.D., and Maria Goodavage
New
parents are currently choosing what they feel is the kindest,
easiest, and most natural way to get their babies to sleep: in
their bed. It's something humans have been doing since... well,
since the beginning of time. Yet, in some circles, co-sleeping
(also known as the family bed) is a new concept. And for some,
it seems very confusing and controversial.
Put your concerns
about the family bed to rest. Dr. Gordon and Maria Goodavage have
written a creative and easy-to-use guide on safety, coping with
criticism, and even keeping the spark in your marriage. With warmth
and humor, the authors of Good
Nights: The Happy Parent's Guide to the Family Bed, give
you everything you need in order to thrive, and at times, simply
survive with the family bed. They have taken a comprehensive look
at scientific research, surprising benefits, safety, sound sleep,
sex, saying good-bye and more. And in the process, dispel myths
and worries, give sound direction and advice and help you overcome
obstacles.
Chapter five,
Sex in the Laundry Room, explains how to keep the sizzle
in your sex life. Just being a parent can make it difficult to
keep sex alive and active. The authors share surprising, fun,
humorous tips on how to take the "boring" out and put
the :creative" in. Who said it has to be between the sheets?
Read
more here.
I found the
chapter on Critical Support enlightening, encouraging and entertaining.
"An
important tool to possess for coping with criticism is a deep
confidence in what you are doing. (An added benefit of confidence
is that the more confident you are, the less guff you're likely
to get -- and the less you're likely to take, too!)"
But since
most people don't just wake up one morning and truly change their
outlook by saying, "Starting today, I'm going to be confident,"
the authors bring us some suggestions that will help us feel "positively
unflappable."
They suggest
that we surround ourselves with supportive people. Be careful
who we tell about the family bed if we are sensitive to criticism,
but at the same time, we should know we're not alone. More and
more parents are chosing co-sleeping. We're encouraged to try
to understand that our critics probably don't understand. They
mean well, but "they have momentum and old habits on their
side." Chapter six is filled with suggestions such as above
that will herald an abundance of support and knowledge.
The old question,
"How do we get them out of our bed" is tackled in chapter
seven, A Farewell to Arms and Legs. Eighteen terrific transition
tips will help make weaning from the family bed gentle and smooth.
Chapter eight
shares reassuring reading from real bedtime bedders (parents and
kids!). Most encouraging are the many success stories from those
who have shared the family bed from one child through the next.
Sarah, age 21 writes, "I strongly believe that I am the person
I am today because of where I slept...." Testimonies from
the graduates!
To Purchase:
• Good Nights: The Happy Parent's Guide to the Family Bed at Amazon.com
• Good Nights: The Happy Parent's Guide to the Family Bed at Amazon UK
• Good Nights: The Happy Parent's Guide to the Family Bed at Amazon Canada
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