The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan: a practical guide to sleep-rich and stress-free parenting from recognised sleep guru Alison Scott-Wright

by Alison Scott-Wright

Packed with tips, hints and reminders, case studies, at-a-glance charts and a daily journal to help you keep track of your baby's progress, The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan is a step-by-step, must-have manual to ensure sleep for you and your baby. For over twenty-five years, recognised sleep guru Alison Scott-Wright has been working 'hands-on' with families, sharing her knowledge with her clients and, most importantly, bringing sleep to thousands of homes. Now she is sharing her expertise with you...'I was so thankful for this book. It made a HUGE difference.' -- Giovanna Fletcher'I wish I had read this book sooner, I tell every new mum about it!' -- Millie MackintoshThe Sensational Baby Sleep Plan is changing parents' ***** 'This book is a Godsend . . . simple, supportive and easy to apply.'***** 'Literally changes our lives . . . absolutely invaluable advice.'***** 'This books now allows our little one to enjoy her sleep . . . She is a happy content smiley baby now and so are mummy and daddy!'*********************************************************************************************The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan gives * Realistic, easy to follow advice and guidance* Sensible feeding plans that can be tailored to suit the individual* Simple explanations of how to interpret different cries* Useful tips to encourage belief and trust in their parental instincts* Solutions to common issues and problems, as well as in-depth explanations on how to cope with reflux and dietary related colic.* Happy babies that sleep through the night and have structured naps from around 2 months.Baby care consultant Alison Scott-Wright takes the stress and tension out of those early weeks and offers the ultimate plan that will ensure your baby sleeps soundly during the day, and for a full 12 hours during the night from around 8-10 weeks, without the need for night feeds!And for when you're ready to move on to the next stage in sleep-filled The Sensational Toddler Sleep Plan!

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[aliya fareed · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the actual f*** did I just read? This author condones leaving a newborn baby to cry alone each night. She also frequently gives advice which is contrary to the W.H.O’s. Truly horrifying. Terrible terrible terrible advice

[Areti Theofilopoulou · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m so glad I didn’t actually buy this book and that a friend lent it to me (thanks Marion) because I would be crying over the money spent. Here are just a few of the reasons it actually made me feel annoyed:
1) it’s written poorly, like a telemarketing ad. About half of the book basically repeats that this is the best plan out there, that the author is the sleep fairy etc.
2) the book goes against NHS and WHO recommendations on safe sleep and lowering the risk of SIDS without offering *any* evidence. It recommends putting babies to sleep on their stomach, in their own room, using cardiorespiratory monitors, diluting their formula and giving them water, all from birth. If it were to back any of these recommendations with evidence from peer-reviewed research, it might have been useful. But the author dangerously recommends all of this by saying that this is the right approach ‘in her opinion’ and based on ‘her experience’. Ok, and in my opinion, if you hop around a fire on a full moon while cradling a cat, your baby will be the happiest and speak from week 2. True story, my 14 cousins will confirm.
3) the book suggests that babies are manipulative and that you need to control them or they will control you
4) it also suggests removing any sleeping aids, not feeding them during the night etc and just letting them cry, and to just go in the room every now and then and inform them in a serious way that it’s ’sleepy time’.
5) a parent asks whether it is ok to change a baby’s sleep time to 8pm instead of 7pm because the Dad returns home from work at 7pm and the author replied that no, and that the Dad should think about whose interests that would serve. But surely it is in children’s interests to spend time with their Dads too and to bond with them!
To be fair, the book has some helpful tips on feeding but these can be found pretty much anywhere. Overall, 1 star

[Roop Gill Axelsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fairly conventional wisdom on infant sleep cycles coupled with some fairly spicy suggestions around routine and regiment. Like with any parenting book, one ought to take what suits their needs.

Apart from the content, the form of the book is also a touch preachy with all the self-promotion. Like with any parenting book, the book spends more time justifying its claims than explaining them.

Three stars for the practical guidance and structure offered by this book.

[Mr.L.Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hope it works! 3 stars whilst results pending.

[Victor Porras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ignore the handwringing reviews from people who haven't tried it: this works and your child will spend much less time crying overall if you follow this book.

We started sleep training at 8 weeks and now at 11 weeks we have a baby who goes to sleep with <5 minutes of fussing and sleeps 10 hours straight. She self-soothes with her hand (in a Love-to-dream swaddle).

Probably the most valuable part of this book is telling you that it is possible to sleep train a baby this young. The other very valuable tip is to have a bedtime routine.

I do think that the author focuses too much on reflux, it doesn't need to be mentioned every other page, but that's not a big deal.

"This is a battle of wills - and one which you MUST win!"

[Ria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I miss sleep, so let's see how we get on with this! Lots of useful ideas and strategies, wish us luck...

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t start the strategies in this book with a newborn but rather with my 3.5 month old infant as she was starting to show signs of sleep regression and was becoming too reliant on the pacifier to get back to sleep in the middle of the night. I started with feeding her more in the day and gradually dropping the night feed and then moved on to the sleep training starting with day naps. I was skeptical at first, and it was hard, but I stuck with it for 3 days and by the 4th day she was soothing herself to sleep with minimal crying and putting herself back to sleep at night! I probably went in to comfort her at lower crying levels than the author recommended, but it worked for us. I tried other sleep training methods and this one got us through with a baby who sleeps through the night and is becoming a better napper.

[Holly · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could leave no stars I would. This book contains advice that goes directly against safe sleep guidelines which is dangerous and irresponsible of the writer. Other advise in this book goes against recommendations by many governing bodies like the NHS and WHO on how to care for babies in general. Also crying methods and sleep training like this teach your baby you will not respond when they are upset but it won’t help them to actually ‘self-soothe’. What really happens is called learned helplessness and you should learn about it before undertaking any advice given in this book (you most likely won’t use this method once you have researched it). The only reason books like this make it to publication is because this sector is unregulated and the promise of sleep to sleep deprived parents can make someone a lot of money.

[Alexandra Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like any baby guide or help book, it is worth approaching the material with an open mind and taking from it what you need and ignoring the bits you don’t. I will be taking some tips, among which is the rough guideline for a sleeping and eating routine which I have already implemented and can see some results.

[Song Wenfei · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would not suggest parents to follow this book's advice until their baby is 6 months old, but I do suggest parents who are suffering with baby sleep regression to follow the sleep part when their child reach to 6 months old. My baby starts to have sleep regression at 6 month, he only could sleep when we hug him, and couldn't sleep more than half an hour for the daytime. As we all know, sleeping is so important to a young baby, so I decided to so something for it. And that is the time we introduce the sensational sleep plan, also named " cry it out " plan. The first day, my baby cried for 45 minutes, then I gave up. The second day, he cried for 30 minutes, then fall asleep for 20 minutes. The third day, 20 minutes crying. And the fourth day, he cried for 10 minutes, then fall asleep. The fifth day, no cry, call asleep by himself 5 minutes after I say: " it is the sleeping time, mom love you and wish you a good sleep and a nice dream". For the daytime, he also gets better, now he could sleep for more than half an hour, sometimes even sleep for 1.5 hour. I would say the method is indeed sound cruel, so if you want to try it, you need to be really strictly with the plan and need the whole caring group follow the same strategy. One more thing I would like to say, please dont stop the night feeding as the book mentioned, if your baby need, provide it.

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alison’s book is an absolute MUST READ for all expectant parents, and parents of children who aren’t sleeping well. I was lucky enough to be recommended it while pregnant with my first child.
Her information about sleeping and feeding is invaluable and, thanks to all Alison’s advice, my two oldest children were sleeping through the night (7pm - 7am) by 10 weeks old. I have recommended her book to lots of friends and family over the past 4 years too and they have all had the same sleeping success.
I have recently had a third baby who has silent reflux and cow’s milk allergy symptoms. I got in touch with Alison for advice before our 6-8 weeks GP check and she responded extremely quickly and was incredibly helpful, filling me with the confidence I needed to ensure all my concerns were addressed in the doctor’s appointment. It is so reassuring to know that we can be in touch with her for consultations should we need more help over the coming weeks.
I have also found Alison’s Instagram page @magic_sleep_fairy full of helpful and reassuring information.
I will be forever grateful for Alison, her books and her advice and couldn’t recommend her more highly. Buy this book for any expectant parents! It is the most useful and important gift that they will receive.

[Fernanda Sá · Rating 4 out of 5]

Algumas dicas boas, mas no geral não apresenta nada de novo pra quem já pesquisou sobre rotina de sono. Não gostei como ela fala para introduzir água antes dos 6 meses e também sobre a importância de ter uma mamadeira por dia mesmo você amamentando. Acho que o bebê vai perceber que a mamadeira requer menos trabalho dele e vai acabar desistindo do peito, algo que ela não parece se incomodar muito, já que fala muito de formula também. Muito quadrada com horários e com resultados semanais...senti uma pressão grande.

[Tulasha · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book made me angry!

Wants you to sleep train a baby from day one, what the actual F!

Disregards all the SIDS advice by saying babies should sleep on their tummies or wedge on their side!

Tells mothers to water down an 8 week old baby’s feeds at night so that by the end of the week they are just drinking water.

This lady’s advice is DANGEROUS, please do not take it all

I true hate this book and it takes me a lot to say that about a book also I never leave reviews so this shows how angry I am!

[Nicola · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me. I can see the appeal for some parents and chapter 7 which discussed cows milk allergy and reflux difficulties was slightly interesting but basically said, 'if your baby has this, your fucked in terms of a sleep routine'. Skim read most of it and although I do think you have to consider safe sleep guidelines etc in consideration with your own personal judgement, felt some of the information could just be terribly unsafe.

[Michelle Fowles · Rating 1 out of 5]

Says it's not the cry it out method but it totally is! The book also tries to persuade breastfeeding mums to introduce formula, suggesting that breastfed babies don't sleep as well because they aren't full enough.
Goes against quite a lot of the Lullaby Trust sleep guidance too.
Worked for some of my friends but it's a hard no for me. If anything it has a detrimental effect on my mental health and had me questioning my parenting methods.

[Aimee Sharples · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great if your looking for some guidance or would like to know what to expect at the different stages. I do think all baby’s are different and you should adapt to your baby, as you know best.

[Pete Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book for first time parents.

[Alexandra Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good and easy to read comparative with other books.

[Janine Sinnott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book, really accessible and easy to digest. We have the routines ready - I hope they work 🤞

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to wait until I'd actually had a baby to rate this, seeing how much of the book's message was applicable and which elements were useful.

The book holds some quite clear and practical advice on how to help your baby (and, as a consequence, you) sleep better at night. Some of the advice which suggests that you let your baby cry for a minute or so is controversial, contested, and difficult for a caring parent to enforce. But you can just skip those bits - there are plenty of helpful tips that do not rely on this method.

The book loses a star for being verbose (it could have been a pamphlet), littered with long anecdotes, and for the little "Mum's the word" boxes scattered throughout the book which is basically back-of-the-book praise from random mothers. I've already bought the book. Why are you still trying to sell it to me in chapter 6?

The book also loses a star for being inadequately data-driven. The book makes a lot of claims about its proposed method: that it works and why. But it only backs this up with anecdotes from random mums and midwives' tales. Give me the data. Show me that the sleep plan works through controlled experiments. Tell me why it works, using the latest scientific baby theories (not theories made by babies, but theories about babies).

A small 3/5. Had it been a condensed, 30-page pamphlet, I would have given it a 4/5 (and I don't even like pamphlets that much).

That said: it has some very useful bits.

Edit: I have now had a baby for longer and read more books on sleeping. Consequently, I have lowered my rating by one star. It's just not very informative.

[Beth Flint · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some really good general information relating to sleep and feeding. At this point I will not be trying the plan as part of it entails using a bottle and watering down feeds and I am fully breastfeeding.
The text is laid out clearly and there are some interesting case studies to read.

[Vera · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dr. Eduard Estivill's book is a lot simpler and works in a very short time. I imagine this book is very good for babies with reflux, but other wise I wouldn't recommend it.

[Rosie Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very pro bottle feeding but otherwise some pretty sound advice. hoping some of it will be helpful once this growth spurt is over.