Sleep issue...

[Pearl1]

Can anyone recommend a book re: baby's sleep?

Our little one is 8 weeks old. I need to figure out how to get her to bed earlier in the evenings. Typically, she won't go down before 1a-2a. After that, she's a great sleeper -- sleeping until ~9a most mornings (with a few feedings in there).

It's hard to stay up that late, but doable while I'm home. I have to go back to work in 4 weeks though and there's no way I can stay up until 2a, get up at 6a, and work a full day. How can I push her schedule back a few hours? (Say 10p to 6a)?

Any suggestions for books/methods/etc would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

~ Sarah

(x-posted in Oct DDC)

[Llyra]

The No Cry Sleep Solution is an excellent resource. So is Dr. Sears' book on sleep; I can't recall the title.

[RiverSky]

Your baby is way too young to be forced to sleep one way or another, but the thing is, that things can change drastically and naturally in 3-4 weeks at this age. Totally. Don't stress about it, just nap when baby naps and let that be that. Once you are at work, again, if baby stays up until 2am, try to take a half hour nap at lunch, then as soon as you get home, nap while baby nurses, have your partner (assuming you have one) make dinner and wake you when the food is ready, etc., and possibly nap again between 10 and midnight. Very, very few babies less than 6 months old sleep for 8 hours a night with no waking (from 10-6am), so perhaps if you don't hope for that, but try to get as much rest as you can, cuddling with your babe, then you can feel rested enough to be able to handle the rest.

[FREEmom1120]

the late bedtimes are so normal at that age, and they change pretty quickly! The 90 minute Baby Sleep program does not have so many great tips on getting a baby to sleep (recommends CIO after 6 mo ), but it does a great job explaining the science of baby sleep for different stages.