Sleepless in America: Is Your Child Misbehaving...or Missing Sleep?

By Mary Sheedy Kurcinka

Book Overview

From the author of Raising
Your Spirited Child, the award-winning bestseller that has helped millions,
a pioneering, research-based guide for parents to help their children get the
sleep they need.

Does your child refuse
to cooperate in the morning? Does he or she get into trouble for not listening?
Are you finding that your child resists sleep and "loses it" over
seemingly insignificant issues?

You are not alone. An
estimated 69 percent of American infants, children, and teens are sleep
deprived. Studies have shown that sleep deficits can contribute to
hyperactivity, distraction, forgetfulness, learning problems, illness,
accidents, and disruptive behaviors. Often what our misbehaving kids really need
isn't more "consequences" or more medication, but more sleep.

Sleepless in America offers weary and frustrated parents a helping hand and an
exciting new approach to managing challenging behaviors by integrating research
on stress, sleep, and temperament with practical strategies. Dr. Mary has
helped millions with her effective parenting tips and insights, and her five-step
approach enables parents to help their "tired and wired" children get
the sleep they so desperately need.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006073602X
• ISBN13: 9780060736026
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Finally!!

Finally, a book about getting your child to sleep that offers realistic solutions to very common problems. Kurcinka's style is so conversational and so practical, you almost feel as if you're taking one of her parenting workshops. She doesn't blame or scold... simply put, she gets you to figure out what's important to your family, and then how to go about getting it. It's been almost a week since I reinstituted nap time for my almost 3-year-old (who'd given up naps a long time ago) and already she is sleeping much better at night. This from a child who visibly stiffens at the very mention of "nap" or "sleep" of any kind. I highly recommend this valuable book.

good food for thought

Unlike other books on childhood sleep, this one doesn't suggest that there is one solution. Mary Sheedy Kurcinka follows her other books on Spirited Children and power struggles up with an effective book about sleep whose topics are appropriate for kids and adults of all ages. I'm reading it after I had an infant so I skipped the section on infant sleep. This is a book worth checking out for ways to analyze what's going on in your daily life and how to make changes so that everyones sleep and mood improves. It isn't a simple solution as in if you follow x, y and z then your child will instantly sleep as much as you want them to.

serenity prayer for sleep-deprived parents

This book is a great resource for parents who are struggling to get their kids to sleep each night. The advice is pratical, specific and can be customized to fit each family. I like the anecdotal writing style and I love Mary Sheedy Kurcinka's tone--she challenges parents to become more present to their children while never making us feel bad about where we're at. She consistently writes with humility, compassion, candor and grace.

Great, Practical Resource to Help Families Sleep!

I highly recommend this book to parents with children of all ages! It's truly transformed our nights (and days!) from one of bedtime and wake up battles to one where peace prevails most of the day and bedtime has become a positive time to connect:) The book is written in a style that is easy, quick, and enjoyable to read and is full of practical tips, assessments, and advice. I'm a Mom of two active school-age boys and an infant son and have found this book EXTREMELY helpful and practical for all 3 of them (and surprisingly me, too!). Little did I know that my 8-year-old who was arguing through his day, melting down through homework and dinner, yet seemed full of energy at night-was actually so exhausted from the school, sport, and activity schedules we were keeping that he was barely functioning! With the step-wise, practical, witty advice in this book, I was able to make some minor changes in our routines and adjust a few decisions which have yielded GREAT results in a short time. He's much happier throughout the day because he's sleeping better and more regularly. The author guides us to determine what works best for our own family, then shows us HOW to implement her step-wise approach to sleep, and to avoid undermining our own efforts with decisions we make during the day! There's a great section detailing how different temperament traits affect sleep-a MUST READ for parents of spirited children. It also provided great recommendations for helping our infant son to sleep without watching a timer while he cried! Plus sections on time changes, vacations, holidays... Finally, a truly definitive resource on helping families to sleep!

Sleepless in America

I have been working with young children and their families for over 20 years and am pleased that there is finally a book that clearly illustrates the link between childrens misbehavior and the lack of sleep. Our kids are crying out for more rest but often our busy lives keep us from noticing these behaviors. I have read every other book this author has written and would read more if she had another. She gives us time tested strategies and tools, easy and simply explained ideas to implement a positive sleep environment all day long. She shares humorous and real life stories from the hundreds of parents she has worked with. Filling in the sleep chart has been extremely insightful. I also found the red zone/green zone information helpful in quickly assessing all family members levels of tension. I am so glad someone finally has written a friendly, helpful, humorous book on sleep that doesn't encourage kids crying it out or abandoning our young children at night. Instead, she gives us tools to use all day long to make nap time and bedtime rewarding and peaceful for everyone. Parents will read this book and know they are doing a great job!