Did someone say sleeeeeeep? I feel like I’ve hardly had any since we launched our very first e-book The Gift of Sleep last Friday. I must admit that on Friday night, after our The Gift of Sleep website had gone live, I gave myself the gift of wine. Followed by the gift of Hazelnut Fudge ice-cream.
Then I had a shower and washed my hair with facial scrub. Accidentally. That’s how tired I am.
I was asleep that night faster than you can say, “Joel Madden, you are Mayor of Hotsville ..Zzzzzzz.”
With this book and a smoochalicious 13-week-old baby sleeping in a basinette next to my bed … I know all about exhaustion. As do thousands of other parents. Parents who have been operating on less than four hours of broken sleep per night for years. Parents who are worn down. And worn out. That’s one of the reasons I agreed to help ‘Sleep Whisperer’ Elizabeth Sloane write The Gift of Sleep – because it’s about gently and lovingly teaching babies over 6 months how to self-soothe. And, as many of you know, I am fully aware of how precious babies are. But having spent six months working on this ebook with Elizabeth – I can tell you she’s the real deal. (For those interested she has formally trained as a Maternal Nurse’s Aid, has a Newborn Baby Health Certificate, has observed sleep study units and has twenty years of experience in helping thousands of babies learn to self-settle).
Is this book for everyone? No. As Kate Hunter so eloquently puts it, “Not all books are for all people. Vegetarians aren’t going to buy ‘101 Ways With Mince’.” Exactly! Only you know what works best for your baby and you. And if what you’re doing now with your baby or toddler works for you — keep going! But if, like many parents, you are not coping; if you’re getting up to your baby or toddler every 45 minutes to replug a dummy or to pat them and it is physically and emotionally taking a toll on you and your baby – The Gift of Sleep‘s gentle controlled-comforting program is another option for you to consider.
Just last night I got these emails from Bev, a mother of twin 10-month-old girls…
Bev from South Australia emailed us to say her 10 month old twins are already sleeping better thanks to The Gift of Sleep!First email came in at 8.15pm
“My husband and I are totally overwhelmed by the habits we have created for our twins. Last night we were up to them in excess of 20 times between us and they still ended up in our beds (yes separate beds to accommodate our need to have them close). I downloaded your book on Sunday after seeing an article in the paper and begged my husband to offer Elizabeth anything to come to our home to help us. But he said let’s try it ourselves first. So tonight that is what we have done. It is now 8.10 pm and after 35 and 40 minutes respectively both babies are asleep without dummy, music, feed and patting!”
Bev’s second email came in at 12.42am
“Hi Rebecca sorry it’s 12.30 twins just woke up. They have slept a whole 5 hours – not long in normal people’s lives but amazing in ours. Yes please use our story on website am more than happy for you to do so!”
Bev’s third email was sent 28 minutes later at 1.10am
“It is 12.58 after two resettles both babies asleep. No real crying – only whinging. Surprisingly the baby I thought would put up the most protest settled quickest. These are not my first children so you would think I would have no problems getting my babies to sleep but I did. It was probably a combination of knowing they are my last babies and slipping into old habits that I had used before (I know why would you fall into bad habits again?) I am amazed that THE GIFT OF SLEEP appears to be working … I would recommend and will be telling anyone who cares to listen that it does work and that you are never alone thanks to mothers like you three who care enough about other people you don’t even know to write this book.”
Those emails are very real. And THAT’S why we asked Elizabeth to give women everywhere access to The Gift of Sleep through this book. (PS. GO BEV!!!!)
One of the great things about releasing the book is that it meant I had to fly to Sydney recently to do a photoshoot and film some Q&A videos with Elizabeth and the Mamamia team. Here’s a snapshot of my two days in Sydney when I flew up there with Fin:
– Fin and I arrive at the location for the shoot.
– I become roadkill as Mia, Lana, Lucy, Nicky and Nat push me out of the way to get to Fin.
– At one point I hear Lana utter the words, “Give him back.”
– At another point Mia threatens to fire people if they don’t hand Fin over to her. Allegedly. *cough*
Enough from me. Here’s what’s been happening around the Mamamia Office recently.
So what’s happening in your world? And have you ever been so tired you washed your hair with facial scrub? (To find out more about The Gift of Sleep go to www.thegiftofsleep.com.au )
Top Comments
I thought I'd share a few testimonial we've just received. Here's one from Robyn:
Hi Bec, Elizabeth and Mia,
I don’t even know where to start. THANK YOU is probably the best place! Your The Gift of Sleep ebook release timing could not have been more perfect – my 6 month old son Hugo was a dummy addict. I’d breastfeed him to sleep each night, then pop the dummy in. He’d usually sleep through from 7.30pm til about 12.30am, then from that time til morning I would usually be up at least 3 or 4 times during the night, popping the dummy back in or breastfeeding him again to get him to fall back to sleep. In the 3 or so nights before your The Gift of Sleep - book was released I couldn’t get him to fall back to sleep so was bringing him into our bed, which is something we definitely did not want to encourage. When I saw the book was available, I bought it straight away and read it in one sitting late that night. We had a friend staying with us though, so we only started the Gift of Sleep program 3 nights ago. AMAZING! The first night was pretty trying on my Hugo and I – it took about 45 mins to get him to settle at the beginning, but we followed the steps perfectly and got there in the end. Then he woke at about 12.30am, and didn’t settle til almost 2am, however slept through until 7.30am! Day sleeps were good – only a few minutes of crying then off to sleep. The next night was easier – only 12 mins to get him off, then a period of only about 10 mins during the night where he was awake. Then last night at 7.30 he cried for a minute, then fell asleep. I heard him stir at 6am, then he put himself back to sleep! It’s now 7.30am and my little boy is waking up – I can hear him blowing raspberries in his cot through the monitor!
I honestly feel like I have a new little boy. He really does seem happier and more content, and has a much bigger appetite now! I gave him lots more food yesterday and he wolfed it down, must be to do with all the sleep he is now getting – and the fact that he’s no longer getting milk during the night. Also we are now 3 days dummy-free and that is amazing!!! I realise now that I had been abusing the dummy, and feeling like I needed it more than he did. So in the last 2 days I didn’t even bother taking it to places where I thought I’d need it – the shops, a doctors appointment – and he was perfect, didn’t ”need” it at all.
For what it’s worth, I don’t care if these methods are or aren’t similar to those advocated by Tizzie Hall or Gina Ford (or any other author for that matter) – I haven’t bought those books, but I found your Gift of Sleep format the best – a quick simple read (that’s all it should be), that I can read on my Kindle and iPad/iPhone late at night.
I can’t thank you all enough. The Gift of Sleep program is so easy to follow and it has worked for us. Next step for me – dealing with my massive boobs in the morning that aren’t used to not feeding during the night!
Robyn xxx
Here's another testimonial from a mum called Sam ...
Hi Mia, Bec, and Elizabeth,
I need to thank the three of you for changing my life. Last week when you released 'The Gift of Sleep' I was at the point of breaking down. Again. I was feeding my daughter to sleep for every night, nap, and every time she woke up during the night. It had worked well for 8 months, but for the last month she wasn't having a bar of it. Every sleep was a fight. I was constantly trying to shove my boob in her mouth, she was constantly trying to do anything but eat, I was going insane.
Every feed was lasting for at least forty five minutes, thirty minutes of that would be a fight. I knew it wasn't working, I knew I needed to do something else, but I didn't know what, or how. This combined with some old issues that had reared their head resulted in a lovely diagnosis of post-natal depression.
Then, you released 'The Gift of Sleep'. I never thought that controlled comforting was something I would do, until I tried it. My little girl fell asleep within half an hour that first night, and slept until 6 the next morning. She has only woken up twice during the night over the last week. For the last three days there isn't even grizzling before she falls asleep. She babbles to herself for about two minutes and then is asleep. It's amazing!
We are both more rested. We are both more relaxed. My hubby is no longer on tenterhooks wondering when I will snap/melt down next. I now enjoy my little girl again.
I can't believe how much my life has changed in just a week. I honestly can't express just how thankful I am. I don't know how I would have survived another night with no sleep. You've saved my family.
Thank you, I owe you more than you'll ever know.
With love,
Sam.
And here's a testimonial from Jacqui (which came in a few days ago) ...
Dear Elizabeth, Rebecca and Mia,
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I've just finished night 3 of the GIft of Sleep program with my 21 month old daughter, Ava. And I want to cry... I'm so relieved! She is going to sleep on her own, without her bottle (her previous addiction!) and soothing herself back to sleep when she wakes during the night.
I downloaded your The Gift of Sleep book on Monday after reading about it in Mia's column (thanks Mia - love your work!). I was at wits end. I work full-time, as does my husband who travels for work. So sleep is precious. Ava has not been sleeping well since last August and we've tried everything... or so we thought. She was waking 3 to 4 times per night. I figured hey, I'm smart, surely I can fix this... Well no I couldn't and that just made me feel worse. I'd actually become quite ill and rundown. Besides being just well, plain grumpy!
And for the price of my weekly coffees, your The Gift of Sleep book has solved the sleeping crisis. Ava is eating better. Breakfast had previously been a battle. And yes, it is only day 4, but I know that we have a happier and brighter little girl. Even though she was always happy. She just seems happier in herself. And I feel human!!!
And even though The Gift of Sleep suggests having support at home to get through it, I didn't as my husband was away (he is a pilot) as were my parents. I say this not to brag, but to say to all the Mum's out there thinking about it, YOU CAN DO IT! Yes it is a challenge, but the improvements are immediate and enough to get you through the next day and the next. I couldn't put it off another day so I just started and it worked!
I had so much more energy last night that I baked a cake and painted my nails... Now that hasn't happened in a very long time!
Thanks again... I'm off to wipe my happy tears!
Jacqui xoxo
Wasn't sure the right place to post this but is anyone else having trouble with some of the links in the daily newsletter? It's been happening for a few days now for me.
ie I can click on a few of them but not Rick's about online dating profiles or the same sex video, Jessica Marais' baby or the liposuction/Bob Katter article.
I'm on Chrome and use gmail. Maybe that's stuffing me up somehow?