Save our sleep: a parents' guide towards happy, sleeping babies from birth to two years

by Tizzie Hall

Libro usado en buenas condiciones, por su antiguedad podria contener señales normales de uso

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Family

259 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2008

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much like Gina Ford's "Contented Little Baby Book" this is a book that promotes a strict routine to help your baby sleep through the night. And like Gina Ford there are plenty of people out there willing to tell you in no uncertain terms that this book is the baby Bible, that it changed their life etc etc. I however am not one of them.

A bit of background to why I bought this book... My baby has been a great sleeper, sleeping completely through the night until morning from 2 months old but hit 8 months and has been waking in the night wanting to be in my arms. It could be teething, it could be the well documented '8 month regression' - either way I was keen to read a variety of books to see how I could effectively help my baby (and therefore myself!) back to sleep. Did this book help me? No. In fact it guilted me into believing (temporarily) that I had made all kinds of terrible parenting errors that will cause havoc with my child's sleep. I had to remind myself if he's been sleeping through for the last 6 months chances are I was doing more things right than I was doing wrong!

I think the first point to note is that Tizzie is not a paediatrician or a midwife or even a nurse. She's done studies in psychology and has had an interest in babies and worked with babies from a young age. So whilst she has advice to offer, I'm not 100% convinced that she's truly the authority on baby sleep. What Tizzie does have is a presence in the media and baby show circuit, a slick website and online store offering further products and services (at a premium cost of course) - clever woman.

I have absolutely no problem with routine and there is definitely plenty to like about the routine Tizzie offers. She alsohas some good background information about baby sleep cycles, nutrition, SIDS and safe sleeping etc (much like most other books about baby care).

What I have a problem with is the idea of a baby 'self settling' which this book is ALL ABOUT. According to this book once the baby's immediate needs are met (fed, burped, changed etc) the baby should be popped in the cot, awake and allowed to self settle to sleep. Correct me if I'm wrong but the reason most parents are out buying a book is because their child WON'T self settle to sleep after their immediate needs are met?

So if you're after a book of settling techniques this is most certainly NOT for you as it doesn't contain much in the way of helping your baby to sleep except for constantly reminding the reader that you MUST stick to the routine.

This is also not for you if you don't agree with a baby 'crying it out' aka 'controlled crying'. I'm sure there are millions of parents out there who have tried every other trick in the book and have had to resort to controlled crying but I don't think you'd find a single parent who found the process easy and stress free. At one point Tizzie suggests that babies can learn to vomit during the 'self settling' process to get attention from their parent. That's the point at which I decided I would take advice from this book with a grain of salt. Last time I checked getting so worked up that you are able to vomit is a pretty damn awful experience. I HIGHLY doubt there's a baby on the planet crafty enough to emotionally manipulate their parents with a bedtime scream to the point of vomiting act.

So in short whilst there is some good background information in this book I wouldn't recommend it, just as I wouldn't necessarily recommend Gina Ford. The routines are probably good for a first time parent to peruse so they have an idea of how to structure a day with a baby but I wouldn't get swept up in Tizzie fever and believe everything you read.

In addition to reading this or as an alternative I would recommend Pinky McKay's "Sleeping like a Baby" or the "No Cry Sleep Solution". Gentler more practical advice for settling and case studies that make your situation feel positively normal!

[Susin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated this book. All opinion based, no fact whatsoever and no references. The writing style was terrible and grating to read. Not to mention contradictory advice throughout, as well as subjects which needed explaining that were skipped over, and others that were broken down in unnecessary, minute detail. Inconsistent information and an unpleasant read from an author who isn't remotely qualified to be writing it in the first place. Straight in the bin!

[Lisa Lou · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disgraceful advice! Truly appalled! If I see this title at the library I turn the book around to save other vulnerable families being subjected to Tizzy's horrible methods. I wish I could give it minus stars. Tizzy would have us treat tiny infants like a major inconvenience or problem to be solved & her advice regarding infant feeding goes against WHO recommendations, let alone her unsafe sleep space instructions that are completely at odds with current SIDS guidelines. Just say no!

[Sam Usher · Rating 1 out of 5]

This woman clearly hates babies. Her "routines" are rigid and cruel. This book is dangerous to new mums and their babies.

[Bathsheba · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worth a single star. This book recommends damaging strategies (refer to The Science of Parenting for specific information). Bin, burn or bury under unpopular titles on the bookstore shelves.

[Natalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are a lot of things I would like to say about this book, but instead will just comment that I found the routines ridiculously rigid and the strictness that is emphasised left me feeling afraid to even attempt. A lot of importance was put on not 'cherry picking' bits and pieces of advice/ideas. That is what I did do, and I would like to tell parents that is what they should do if it feels right.

[Belinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Silly me for thinking THIS book would be any more helpful than other sleep books. For one thing, I was looking for actual advice on gently teaching my 8 month old to sleep after a life of being held to sleep. This book gave no such advice. The author makes herself sound caring by suggesting settling only when baby is "emotional crying" (rather than whinging/protesting) and this sounded ok. But she is assuming all babies simply protest and then drift off. She gives no suggestions for situations where 99 percent of crying is "emotional" as was the case with my baby. Following the advice of never ignoring emotional crying, the method failed before it even began as my son never simply protested and was therefore never allowed to fall asleep alone. I also found it incredibly lazy of the author to simply say "praise your baby for going to sleep in the first place even if they wake after one sleep cycle". I'm sure many parents would buy the book looking for solutions on catnapping and this seems like useless advice to me. Don't waste your money on this one.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before i read this book I'd heard mixed reviews - some loved and some absolutely hate this book. I also heard a lot of untrue things (eg she never recommends control crying). If you take as a general guiding principle I think it actually really helps a new mum understand eg how much her baby needs to eat approx as they grow, common issues, and really helped me know how to introduce solids etc. She's very practical which I appreciated.

[Laura Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the right person this book is a god-send, to someone else it's just a waste of time that you could have spent sleeping.
I enjoyed this book because it was a lot of common sense, but I honestly can say that you need to read this with an open mind and take only what works for you for this to be a good 'baby bible'.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit too prescriptive for my liking, no room for flexibility - babies don't all fit into her rigid schedule, they don't always fall asleep when they should and they don't sleep for a predictable amount of time at every sleep. Plus I hate the idea of waking a happily sleeping baby just to feed them at a particular time. Call me crazy but I think being responsive to their needs is the most important - feed them when they're hungry and put them to bed when they're tired.

[Cass | booksandspots · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok so I don't like that this book basically implies "if your baby doesn't sleep, it's your fault as a parent". As a first time mum, it doesn't help give you any confidence.

The information is biased based on Tizzie's own experiences, is repetitive and lacks any medical references, but I still found some of it to be insightful. However I do love the idea of a routine and believe most babies benefit from this, so I'll be trying the 7pm bed time.

[kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this negative 100 stars, I would.

THIS IS ABUSE.

Babies are not capable of manipulation.

Saying an infant will vomit and soil itself to manipulate you into holding it is the most astonishing thing I’ve ever seen.

This is so dangerous and I cannot even believe it was published.

I’m disgusted.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book reconfirmed what I already knew - parenting books just aren't for me.

I found this book incredibly boring after the initial chapters. It's very much a how-to with anecdotes sprinkled in. It was recommended to me and I know it's a controversial book due to the rigidity of the routines, so I was intrigued to know what all the drama was about. I think if you're going to read any parenting book and take it as gospel that's probably a mistake.

I was able to learn a few interesting snippets, and I'm all for routine as I know that humans in general are happier on routines, but I'd prefer to figure out what works best for us as we go (especially in the early weeks and months). Believe me, I want a happy, sleeping baby and I know a routine will help with that. But this one size fits all doesn't really jive with how I envision myself as a mother.

I say with any parenting book, ignore the things you don't agree with, and take on the advice you find useful. I didn't find it at all outrageous, just knew where to listen and where to skim. I think with newborns needing feeds every 3-4 hours a routine is probably inevitable anyway, but lifestyles don't always allow for such rigidity.

[Panagiota Zarkos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall this book was a success for us, it can come across confusing and not clear in the beginning especially being a first time mum with almost zero sleep. One thing every reader needs to understand is that you need to adapt the routines and method to your baby, every baby is different, learning your baby takes time and there will be trial and error but I believe her concept works. I believe Tizzie has a natural ability in understanding babies, and it can be hard putting all of your experiences into one small book hence why she has included case studies so possibly you may be able to relate to some and adjust the routine. We didn't have any sleep regressions thankfully which I believe has a lot to do with self soothing:)
P.S we had a very difficult baby, screamed constantly so I know this book worked and helped us

[Pixie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The start of this book had some helpful information. But the routine is very strict and I do not believe allows for leaps and other reasons to why babies wake.

[Nick Thorne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve only read a few baby books. Can’t say I got much from this one. I do like the idea of the 7pm bedtime and eventually giving routines to our baby is something we will do. That’s mostly what this book is about. The author is not a health professional and it really shows. She makes the numerous statements that are clearly just correlations that could mean anything. Typical correlation is not causation. For example - “puppies can understand the work ‘walk’ so to get your baby to bottle feed it helps to tell your baby what you are doing”. I got no problem in talking to my baby but her many opinions like this are simply unfounded. The routines are also extremely confusing and misleading. At first glance it looks like there is no night feeds so sounds awesome I will get a good sleep - then every routine there is the below note of ‘night feeds - when your baby wakes during the night feed it for however long it needs’ well that’s no different to demand feeding. She also has some different opinions to the WHO, raising children’s website and red nose SIDS guide. I don’t see why I should trust her opinions over these organizations.
Probably better to spend your time reading another baby book.

[Claudia · Rating 1 out of 5]

My mum brought this for me as it was her holy grail. Many of the information is unsafe and goes against evidence based research, and safe standards. The author has no real qualifications that relate to health of babies.
I like the idea of a routine for parents sanity especially when returning to work for babies to learn however the methods behind how to get the routine to work are unorthodox and against best practices.

[Preili Pipar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kelle uni sellega nüüd päästetakse…?!?

[Taylor Platten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely I am counting this toward my reading goal.

[Nicky G · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not recommend this book for first time parents. Actually, any parent. This book gave me the advice that my child would just eat and sleep to this schedule from the word go. Boy, totally false! My baby was a newborn and wanted to eat every 2 hours, wanted endless cuddles during their awake time, and wouldn’t self settle in the cot from birth. I actually developed post natal anxiety because my baby “wasn’t doing what the book said!”. I genuinely thought there was something wrong with my daughter and I was a bad mum. As a first time mum, I didn’t know any different, so yes, I was ignorant.
I ended up completing Dr Golly’s online sleep program and that was so much better for my baby and I.

[Laura C · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish reading it as the information contradicted what was taught in classes and in What to Expect the First Year. Author not in the medical profession. Also information what not realistic...6.55pm put baby down in cot
7.00pm baby will be asleep
Times were too specific even to follow as an adult let alone a baby. For this to work you have to follow times exactly which isn't realistic unless you don't go out and no one ever comes over or calls. Doctors appointments are meant to be made around your babies eating and sleeping times. No idea which amazing doctor the author goes to where there's so many options available for appointments and appointment times are never running late.

[June Benefield · Rating 1 out of 5]

After a few depressing chapters describing how my life will turn into an obsessive compulsive clock watching, stricter than the military regime of feeding and sleeping I decided this wasn't worth my time reading any further. Some people might like this book but it wasn't for me.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book really helpful as a first time mum and it worked really well for me, my son and our family.
However, I found the author's voice to be quite arrogant and condescending. If you can get past that, though, it's well worth giving it a go!

[Charlotte Princi · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s so much controversy to this book and I often wonder if those with a negative opinion have really given it a good go with full understanding of this holistic approach, including following an important bedding and feeding guide.

For me, this book saves more than sleep. It saves mine and my husbands sanity, which in turned helps our marriage and helps us to be the best parents we can be.

I love SOS because it’s created in such a way that I can understand my child’s needs better, and therefore i’m able to fulfil them. I know if somethings not quite right, I know if they are hungry, tired, thirsty etc because of these routines. It helps take a lot of the guess work out. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still some troubleshooting every now and then but it’s so much easier to process eliminate.

I think there’s a big misunderstanding around the bedding guide, and what red nose says.
Red Nose states “Make up baby’s bed so baby sleeps at the bottom of the cot and the blankets can only reach as far as baby’s chest, ensuring baby cannot move down during sleep and get his/her head covered by bedding.” This is the same as what Tizzie recommends and using 100% cotton/bamboo breathable materials, cocooned over baby (not tucked in). Her blankets and products are second to none in quality, and all TOG rated so again - takes lots of the guessing out.

I have friends who are so amazed that my children get put to bed and just go to sleep. We can actually go on holidays and they’ll sleep in their portacot. Others have never seen a baby or a toddler just sleep on their back before (again, exactly what Red Nose wants - back sleeping). My toddler now asks me to put more blankets on, “pull them up mummy I want to be comfy”.

Tizzie runs a SOS seconds page if you can’t afford to buy her products new, and she also offers zip pay. On top of that, there’s a fantastic FREE support group that Tizzie herself and her team run to help anyone in need who’s struggling with something SOS.

I can honestly say that Tizzie and her team genuinely want to help everyone have babies who sleep safely and well, as the utmost priority and in turn, we’re all better parents because of it. Thank you Tizzie!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buy this book!!

This book literally saved us. My daughter was basically a demon child for her first 9 weeks of life. She screamed constantly, had colic, would only rest if we held her in our arms and bounced her a certain way, never smiled, and I was feeding her every hour or so. I had reached the end of my limit and hated myself as a mum and hated her and then felt terrible for hating a newborn. One of my friends suggested this book to me and introduced me to the idea of sleep training. I had no idea it was even a thing before that! I immediately bought this book and read the whole thing in a day. Then I copied out the schedule for our daughter's age and stuck it on the fridge and followed it religiously. It took 2 weeks, and a lot of tears (most of them mine), until she started sleeping through the night, but we got there!
This book does not condone the "Cry it out" method; instead, it's about learning that your child's cries are different for different needs and listening for which cry is which. I learnt very quickly which cry was an emotional cry and which one was a temper tantrum.
My daughter is turning 3 in two weeks and she has slept through the night 7pm-8am pretty much every night since we applied the methods from this book. She also still naps from 1-3pm most days.
We started my son (he's almost 2) on the sleep scheduling from birth and I have never had to put him to sleep. He also sleeps 7pm-8am and naps 1-3:30pm every day.
I can't recommend this book more highly. I also bought a physical copy which I lend it to my expecting friends so that they won't be ignorant of sleep training like I was.
The only two things that aren't completely positive that I have to say about this book is that the author is a bit extreme over the risk of SIDS and uses the issue to push her own products on readers. And the author recommends starting infants on food at 4 months old. I ignored that for both of my children as I didn't feel that they were ready for solids and neither did their paediatrician.
Other than that, this book works. Buy it!!

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Save Our Sleep offers a structured, no-nonsense approach to infant sleep that has helped many exhausted parents find some order in the chaos. The revised edition updates some advice and reflects evolving views on baby care, and while it contains genuinely useful tools, especially for parents craving routine, it won’t be for everyone. The tone and strictness may feel too rigid for some families, but if you're looking for a clear plan, there’s plenty to take from it.

What I Liked:
- The book provides detailed routines and guidance that can help establish predictable sleep patterns, especially in the early months.
- Hall’s confidence come through clearly, she offers practical solutions to real, day-to-day challenges.
- There’s value in the emphasis on consistency, especially for first-time parents looking for structure.

What I Didn’t:
- The tone can come off as overly prescriptive or inflexible, it sometimes leaves little room for parental instinct or variation.
- Not all advice aligns with current evidence or every parenting philosophy, particularly around feeding and self-settling.
- Some families might find the routines too intense or anxiety-inducing, especially during unpredictable developmental phases.

[Benji · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was loaned this book by someone who personally found success using the routines for older babies as a guide. Unfortunately for me, this book grated from the start and I'm glad it wasn't my first look into baby sleep. The author refers to their experience and states opinions as though they are fact, when much of the advice isn't based on evidence and even goes against current safety standards at times (please look up official safe sleep and car/pram recommendations independently of this book if you do plan to use it). The routines for older babies seem fine but similar to other ones readily available, as with much of the general information. I also found her writing style pretentious and lacking in both understanding and acknowledgement of some of the realities of early parenthood, the result of which felt quite judgemental.

[Freya Weston · Rating 3 out of 5]

But of a controversial read.
Things I liked:
• really comprehensive routines
• lots of solution-izng throughout - so tizzie actually anticipates problems you might have and then suggests solutions which could come in handy.
Things I’m not sure about;
• I’m not sure what the difference between tizzie’s self settling methods and control crying are but they seem pretty similar and kind of intense- she talks about it in the sense of winning a battle with your kid which I’m not sure is right 😂
• there seems to be a large amount of information in the book which isn’t referenced/ I assume comes from tizzie’s experience (not sure what her credentials are other than being good with babies
Conclusion:
• probably will investigate other sleep programs/routines before I commit to using tizzie hall’s methods but overall wasn’t a bad read

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ick. Routine is working well but do not appreciate medical advice from a non-medical person!
For my edition, things I marked as helpful:
• bedtime ritual page 67 onwards
• daily routines pg 112 (yes, the purpose of the book is more than 100 pages in 🤔🙄😒)
• self-settling times/procedure (but she doesn’t believe in “controlled crying”)

It’s as if this author and the author of the other highly recommended book I read (Midwife Cath) are directly attacking each other and their processes.
For the bedtime routine, I prefer cath’s version of 10/11pm bedtime, at least for a newborn, as the 7 o’clock bus means our baby doesn’t sleep through… but seven hours from 11pm (when we go to bed) is a much nicer stretch than 7 hrs from 7pm (only because our baby doesn’t take a huge dream feed, she she’s up much sooner)

[Sunshine Biskaps · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a load of unhelpful, unrealistic, bias, uneducated, under-researched information by an individual who is clear unqualified to give such information. Tizzie Hall was the neighbourhood baby-sitter. She’s not a midwife, a nurse, nor a paediatrician, so it baffles me that she’s such a celebrity in the realm of baby-raising. Her regimented routine is too strict and does not allow for any flexibility. We all know that babies cry/ wake/ get sleepy when they want. We can not put such a stringent schedule on them.

I know that there are people who rave about this approach and it’s worked for them, but it’s a no-go for me. Would suggest people to read this book and take what they want from it. As for me, there was too many suggestions without any sound evidence backing up the claims.