TGF Rated Book Review: The No-Cry Nap Solution by Elizabeth Pantley

I have been a huge fan of Elizabeth Pantley for several years. I first discovered her books when my eldest daughter was a baby. They were very easy to read (important when you have a baby and no time to do anything!) and the techniques were perfect for me – very gentle and loving. So I couldn’t wait to review Elizabeth’s latest book, The No-Cry Nap Solution.

Testers: Me and my two daughters aged 22 months and 4 and a half years.

Concept: The No-Cry Nap Solution is written for all parents of children from new-born up to pre-schoolers, and beyond. The book helps parents who are struggling to get their babies and children to nap well during the day, whether it’s problems with how and where they nap, or problems with short naps or even refusing naps altogether.

The book follows the format of Elizabeth’s other sleep books. The first few chapters look at the problems you may be having and then there are several sleep logs that you can fill in to monitor your child’s sleep and see if there are any patterns. She stresses that you don’t have to use these charts, but they can be useful. Once you have decided what changes you would like to make e.g. child sleeping in a cot rather than napping on your lap, encouraging your child to take longer naps, etc.  then there are detailed chapters on each problem, which outline lots of different solutions for you to try.

As it says in the title, all the solutions are No-Cry ideas. There are no suggestions of controlled crying or similar methods, which is why I found the book so useful. The solutions are designed to be adapted to fit you and the needs of your child, and you can take your time and try as many or as few as you like.

In Use: The book is very clear to use and begins with a very interesting section on why naps are so important. I found this part particularly interesting, especially as my daughter is now nearly 2, and we are sometimes so busy that she misses her nap during the day. Having learnt just how important daytime sleep is for her health and well-being, I try really hard to make sure she has a good sleep every day now.

I found the sections on older children the most useful. My eldest daughter no longer needs naps, but sometimes she seems really tired after nursery and can be quite grumpy! There is a great section in the book all about creating a ‘Hush Hour’. I found this very interesting and as soon as I read it realised that it would work perfectly for her.

The ‘Hush Hour’ involves creating a special place and time so that your child can relax and recharge their batteries without actually napping. There are lots of ideas for encouraging children to relax and they have worked really well with my eldest daughter. Although we don’t have a Hush Hour every day, I am hoping that this is a routine we can use more and more so that when my daughter starts school in September, she’ll be able to have some ‘chill-out’ time at home so that she doesn’t get too tired.

I also think this will work for my youngest daughter too. I know it won’t be long before she starts having days where she doesn’t need naps. I’m hoping that having a Hush Hour every day will help bridge the gap between the nap and no-nap phase. I also think it will good for both of them to learn how to take time out and relax during the day – I think a lot of adults could benefit from a Hush Hour too, and I’m certainly hoping to relax with my daughters too sometimes!

Positives: This book really makes you feel good as a parent and Elizabeth Pantley has a wonderful way of writing that makes you realise that you are not alone – many parents have the same sleep problems as you! I also find her very reassuring and trust that the ideas will work.

The best thing about the book is that it covers so many nap-time issues and offers many, many different solutions for them. There is no ‘one size fits all approach’ here. Elizabeth understands that all children are different. So many parenting books are far too prescriptive, but this book gently guides you through all the possible problems and helps you find the solutions that work best for you and your child.

Any negatives: None. I enjoyed reading this book and found it very useful.

Where can I buy it: The No-Cry Nap Solution can be bought from our Amazon store for £7.49

Overall: I would definitely recommend this book. For all new parents, it provides a wealth of information on baby naps and will enable you to help your baby have the daytme sleep that both he (and you!) need. For older babies and children there are lots of really good ideas – if you have trouble with naps, then you’re sure to find a solution to help you.

Verdict: 5/5

Related posts:

1. TGF Rated Review: The No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution by Elizabeth Pantley
2. TGF Rated Review: Big Book Little Book Cardboard Box
3. TGF Rated Review: Green Your Home Book by Sarah Beeny
4. TGF Rated Book Review: My Bump & Me by Myleene Klass
5. TGF Rated Review: Hope and the Magic Martian Childrens Book

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