3 Day Sleep Solution Review
As you can probably assume from the image I have chosen for my review of the 3 Day Sleep Solution program, this is yet another sleep training course using the “cry it out” method.
Before I get on my soap box about why allowing your child to “cry it out” is not something I endorse or practice in any way shape or form, I will attempt to review the 3 Day Sleep Solution as objectively as possible.
Like it says on the cover, “The Eight Steps To Getting Your Child To Sleep Through The Night And Take Great Naps”, Davis Ehrler provides step by step instructions for exhausted parents to navigate their way through the program. These Eight Steps is where I will focus my review.
Step #1 – Crib Preparation
Throughout this section, Davis covers things such as mobiles, toys, bumper pads, sheet colors and patterns and any other items that may serve as a distraction or stimulation to your baby’s senses. Okay, simple enough.
Step #2 – Eliminating All Sleep Crutches
This step is about crutches such as car rides, stroller rides, swings, rocking, feeding/nursing, swaddling and pacifiers and the steps to eliminate them.
Step #3 – Routines
Here she covers the importance of a consistent bedtime routine and offers times and actions to take for an “ideal routine”
Step #4 – Bed Times
In step 4, Davis covers the ideal bed times for various age groups ranging from 4-12 months, 12-18 months, 18 months – 2.5 years and so on.
Step #5, 6 & 7 – Crying and Effective Processing
Through out these three steps, Davis explains her A to Z theory as well as he take on why babies cry. She also outlines that you need to allow your baby to “process” (ie. cry) for at least one hour before going to console or comfort. This applies not only at bedtime but for night wakings as well.
Step #8 – Naps
Step 8 addresses similar steps like routine and such just applying them to a nap time ritual rather then a night time routine.
As far as the 3 Day Sleep Solution product you receive the written materials immediately after purchase in the form of 3 pdf files and then in a few days the physical materials arrive which includes the same written materials as well as the 2 DVD’s.
Now this is where I go off on my rant:
[flv:3-Day-Sleep-Solution-Review.flv 480 368]
The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night
Related posts:
- “The No Cry Sleep Solution” Review
- Using The No Cry Sleep Solution With Jeremiah
- Review – The 90 Minute Baby Sleep Program
- Review – Ed Dale’s 30 Day Challenge
- Review – The Baby Book by Dr. Sears
This is me, 9 months pregnant, with Evalee our first child. This is where my journey as a natural mom and organic enthusiast began. Check out my full About page to get the full story.
Hi Claudia,
First off, that is WAY too late of a bedtime for your little boy. At that age he should be in bed by 7pm at the latest. My DD is almost four and is in bed by 7:30pm.
Second, he should be napping at least once if not twice a day. If he is not, then he is OVER tired which contributes to night wakings.
Elizabeth Pantley’s No Cry Sleep Solution For Pre-Schoolers and Toddlers gets into all of this, you may want to grab a copy. Otherwise, feel free to contact me via private email to set up a time to talk. jray1175@gmail.com
Best,
Jess
I have a 21 month old boy that has terrible sleeping patterns. He sleeps 11 hours but wakes up 2-3 times during the night (crying, if I may add). He usually goes to sleep between 10pm-12am and wakes up between the same time, 10am-12pm. I would like to talk to you about the whole situation. I don’t know what to do and I need some advice. Please contact me, if you can. Thank you. Claudia Cuevas
First, Sorry it has taken so long for me to get back to you. With a new baby and a three year old, things are a little hectic to say the least!
It is a common misconception that babies only wake due to hunger and that their sleep will improve when they begin to eat solids, but it is really a matter of their system maturing and developing the ability to sleep without help.
The music may be starting to backfire or work against you at this point. I would try switching to white noise like a fan or air purifier. Also, a lovey of some sort may help.
You also want to look at her nap time sleep and be sure that she is getting enough sleep during the day. She could be overtired and therefor need more help to sleep at night and unable to stay asleep.
You would really benefit from reading the No Cry Sleep Solution. It really puts things in a perspective that makes sense. The plan she proposes can take a few weeks to kick in, so to speak, but is well worth it in the end. It would help you wean her from the swing.
Also, try to look at it as a good thing that she doesn’t need to nurse to sleep. That can get rough when you baby uses you as a pacifier which is what happened to me with my first baby.
Sorry I couldn’t be of more help to you…I am not on my game 100% right now as I am dealing with newborn sleep issues at the moment.
All the best and I hope you can get some sleep soon.
Hi Jess, thanks for the information on “3 Day Sleep”. I was reading their website, and it gives no indication that it is a variation of “Cry It Out”, which I am COMPLETELY AGAINST. So it would have been a big waste of money for me to get it.
My daughter is 10 months old, has never been a good sleeper, but I am afraid that it is getting worse in some respects. For several months when she was younger (like 4-6 months or even younger than that), she would nurse, then I could lay her down in her crib (travel crib actually) in our room, pat her while she fussed a little bit, and she would go on to sleep. She did not fall asleep every time she nursed, like my son had when he was nursing. I considered it a problem that I did not have nursing as a sure-fire method to get her to sleep. She later began to fall asleep more while nursing. It got so bad, be started putting her in the swing to go to sleep, and she would sleep for maybe 4 hrs, but if the swing stopped, she’d wake up. Well, the motor died (we bought it 3 yrs ago for our first son), so luckily she will now stay asleep after it has stopped. We have to swing her ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF THE SWING MOTION, when it bumps, and that is the only way she will go to sleep in the swing. Oh, and the music on the swing is on too, and that helps. Many nights, I will nurse for a few minutes, and she starts to fuss and push away. I don’t think I am producing as much milk, as she is eating a good bit of solids. We make sure to feed her good before bed (solids I mean). When she starts to fuss and push away, I then try to just rock her and pat her to sleep. But her crying escalates. We have a soothing song playing all night, hoping that sound will soothe her (our son has a sound machine with ocean waves, but she seemed to respond better to music when she was younger). My husband says, “let me just swing her to sleep”. So I give up and hand her over. last night he swung her to sleep, then put her in her crib, and she slept for 2 hrs. then I nursed her back to sleep, put her back in her crib, she slept for 2 hrs. Then I couldn’t get her to go back to sleep for an hour (nursing). Finally I got her back to sleep in the swing, and she slept for at least a last 4 hrs.
I have never heard of a baby who will not go to sleep with Mommy rocking her, but will go to sleep banging in the swing. Help!! You seem very knowledgeable from the info I’ve read here. I’ve tried to give you all the info I can so you can give me some tips.
Again, thanks for saving me the money I may have spent to buy 3DaySleep, since I would not have been comfortable with the recommendations to let her cry.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Nancy
Frances,
It sounds like you need to go back to the drawing board a bit, maybe re-read the relevant parts of the No Cry Sleep Solution as a refresher and re-enforcer of the philosophy.
First, I would start by keeping a sleep journal. Write down when he goes down and when he wakes…trust me you will see a pattern eventually. Evalee was all over the map too when I started so just trust me on this. Get a little notebook and write down when he wakes, when he goes down, how he went down (nursing, rocking etc) and when he ate.
Second, try a different object as a lovey. What is he drawn to? I purchased one of those Snoedels for Evalee (from the NCSS) and she wanted nothing to do with it. I noticed that she really like this one knitted blanket we got as a gift. I asked my MIL to make a little version of it, about 10in by 10in, and she still uses it to this day (she is 3 and a half). Does he have a little stuffed animal he likes? Try to find something, anything to replace you as a comfort tool.
Third, try introducing some white noise rather than music. A fan or something that makes pure white noise. Music can be stimulating rather than soothing.
Fourth, lighting. What is the light quality in his room. He may need complete darkness to sleep. We had to put room darkening shades on Evalee’s windows to get her to nap.
Fifth, now bear with me on this one…but have you considered co-sleeping? Just to get him to sleep for now and then once you do have a schedule, routine etc introduce the crib. Just a thought. You may be surprised. And if it means you all getting the much needed sleep you all need, why not?
Sixth, do NOT let him nurse to sleep. Tickle his feet, chin, whatever to keep him just slightly awake. Try to follow the wake, eat, play sleep pattern.
Seventh, not that you want to read yet another book but this one is an easy read and really helpful: “The 90-minute Baby Sleep Program” by Polly Moore, PHD. I am using this method along with the NCSS with my newborn (I had a baby boy Xmas morning) and so far so good.
I know this is a lot so I hope its not too much. Let me know how you make out. Whatever you do, give it at least 2 weeks. Create a routine and stick with it.
Good luck,
Jess
Hi Jess,
Thanks for the quick feedback!
i did try to introduce a lovey but it never worked… i still breastfeed with the lovey beside us but he doesn’t really go for it… i;ve evn slept with it and then put it in his crib. his daytime naps are horrible.. since day one he never slept longer than 20 min catnaps… and he always had to be swaddled.. especially at night till about 4 months old. onle recently has he been napping longer about 40-60 min… but usually 40 on the nose.. and he gets very cranky around 6-630 and sometimes catnaps at that time too. his bedtime routine starts with a bath… however… we were only giving baths every second night… because i was unsure if we should do it everynight… as he enjoys it but maybe too much… he gets excited … then we put on his pj’s and read a few books and then feed and the bed… and we play some soft music during the story and feeding.
i know i lack a REAL routine… even during the day… but i don’t know how to KEEP a routine when he is never the same… he doesn’t wake at the same time to start his day and he never sleeps at the same time for his naps or for the same amount of time… so i usually just go by his cues… but this means our routine is lacking… and i don’t know how to fix that??
ok… thanks for listening!
Frances
Hi Frances,
I am going to reply to you via private email but I wanted to comment here as well for the benefit of future readers…
I know it can feel like it but, a 5 and 1/2 month old is not capable of manipulation. I also know the temptation of the formula vs breast milk debate.
All he/she can do is tell you as best he/she can what she needs and that is through crying. It sounds like although you found some success with the No Cry Sleep Solution initially, you may need to revisit its principles for your baby’s new stage in life.
I have a few questions for you before I can offer too much advice:
1. Does your son have a lovey (other than the pacifier)?
2. How is his daytime sleep/naps?
3. What is the time like leading up to bedtime, what sort of routine have you created to signal time for sleep?
From what you have shared so far, it sounds like you have a “high need” baby. He needs your contact. Have you tried wearing him in a sling or wrap during the day to give him some more mommy contact time? Or is he in daycare now? Like I said, tell me more about your situation, what has changed other than his (and your) lack of sleep.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Jess
Hi Jess,
I stumbled upon your site looking for sleep tips for my 5 and 1/2 month old. I appreciated your blog however i already read the no-cry sleep solution and i did think it was working. i went from 3 night time feedings to picking him up and rocking him to putting the pacifier back in his mouth without picking him up till about 6am… which i thought was amazing… but now something is different… he wakes all the time and his longest stretch is only about 2 and a half hours. i started formula also and i think that was helping him sleep longer… but not anymore! My husband thinks we need to let him cry because the baby seems to manipulate us… when we pick him up he immediately stops crying and falls asleep and then we have a hard time putting him back in his crib… he cries the moment he feels like we are moving him away from our body. Anyways, i’m a VERY patient person but i’m starting to feel like something has got to give because i’m just sooo exhausted… and so is my baby who was NEVER a good sleeper.
any thoughts would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Frances
Hi Sandy,
I will reply to you via private email.
Jess
I just stumbled across this piece you submitted about the “cry it out” method. I have to say that you have re-assured me that letting your child scream is a harsh way to go about things.
My daughter is now 5 months old, she’ll be six months on the 29th. Since my husband and I brought her home from the hospital she had been sleeping threw the night. Lucky to say the least… up until recently. Over the last month or so she has been waking up during the night. Usually only once or twice, but since I have been back to work since this new pattern of hers is exhausting me.
Typically when she wakes up the first time, I go…put the nook in her mouth, place my hand on her till she falls back to sleep. Then about an hour or 2 later, she rises again and really demands a meal. So I give in.
Now here is the deal… recently I started her on solids, thinking “oh maybe she is going threw a growth spert”… So I would give her some cereal and some fruits in the morning with about 5-6 oz or milk. Then milk (8 oz) for the rest of the day. Unfortunatelty… this has not “cured” the issue because she is still waking up during the night.
My husband is I guess you could say a “closet” advocate for the “cry it out” method, where as for me, I just can’t see myself letting my child scream in distress until there is no other resort for their small bodies BUT to exhaust themselves into sleep. I just feel as though this method is cruel and just forms a DISTRUST…that really, your child DEPENDS on from the moment of conception.
I guess where I am going with this whole thing is… before I go and buy this book, maybe YOU could give me some sound advice! My email should show up for you to see if you would like to contact me there, PLEASE FEEL FREE!!!!
-Sandy
Hi Rani,
Being that your daughter is 3 and I can only assume she can communicate with you…have you just come right out and asked her why she doesn’t like her new bed?
What was the transition? From crib/toddler size bed to a twin, full? Is the bed just a mattress on the floor? Tell me what her original sleep environment was like and how it has changed. Try and look at it from a 3 year old perspective. The time of 3 is also the time of fears. Does she have a lovey or “friend” to help comfort her? Have you tried a night light?
I want to help you and am more than willing to talk through all of this with you but you need to give me more insight.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Hi Jess my daughter is Jas also she is 3 I have read the book no cry sleep my daughter was a great sleeper until now she is three and just got into her big girl bed I am a fulltime working mother my hubby works nights she has not let me sleep in days I have slept with ehr rocked her read to her let he cry it out everything and still no good result please help!!!
Hi Kimberley,
Like I said to Rachelle, I think it is great your daughter responded so well to Davis’s method. And you too have a point that I did not try it myself.
But, I do not think that I am being harsh at all. In the printed review I simply state the facts of what the program contains. And in my video I share my experience as well as that of some of my family. I also quote. Dr. Sears information on the effect of the cry it out method.
My message to parents considering this method is to trust their instincts and to not do something out of desperation that they may regret. Every baby is different. There is no one size fits all method for anything in the world of parenting, as I am sure you know all too well.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion as am I. I am expecting my second child in Dec ‘09 and my plan is to follow the No Cry Sleep Solution again since that is what worked so well for my daughter.
To any parents who may be reading this thread, take all of these comments into consideration. If you feel your baby or toddler will respond well to Davis’s program, then by all means, give it a shot.
First let me say that I am a pretty green mom myself. We are all about organic and pure and letting our kids develop in their own ways. We also are a NON-corporal punishment household with no spanking and positive behavior support throughout the family so it is all about rewarding. We have a selective vaccination schedule and our kids pediatrician is Dr. Robert Sears!
I was initially TOTALLY against the cry it out method with my first daughter. She didn’t sleep for the first 9 months of life – NO KIDDING – 9 MONTHS of up every hour – My husband and I took shifts in the night to address the issue for this long and truth be told it took a toll on all of us – I read EVERY book out there including the one you recommend and I tried all the methods for weeks at a time to try to avoid the cry it out method.
A friend of mine recommended that I consult Davis and although I was hesitant and skeptical I called and followed her advice down to the simplest things – she was supportive and educational through the entire process and my child is now not only a GREAT sleeper but a Happy, well-developed, independent 3 year old. I consulted Davis again when our second daughter was born 9 months ago and within 8 weeks she was sleeping for 12 hours a night. We would NEVER let our children cry if they were hurt, scared, or ill and if I ever thought it would be detrimental to their development or psyche I would not have done it. I am a school psychologist and well educated in child development as well as what impacts parent’s behavior has on children.
For you to be so harsh on this method without having ever executing it yourself is not fair. I think it scares parents that may be in a situation like I was where no other solutions may have worked for them. I am sure the no cry solution works for many children but there ARE some that just need another way and this is NOT abusive in any form! I think you really need to educate yourself fully before you make sweeping statements about a method.
Hi Rachelle,
First of all let me say that I am very happy that you had positive results with the 3 Day Sleep Solution. And you certainly have a point in that I didn’t try the method out. Honestly, my daughter is almost 3 1/2 and is well beyond needing it thanks to the No Cry Sleep Solution. I was simply looking into something that parents were asking me about through my blog.
I feel you may have missed my point. I DO agree with the prep material Davis provides in preparing your baby for sleep. She absolutely provides sound advice in how to read sleepy signs, getting on the right schedule, the importance of naps and how to avoid using sleep crutches. I also like that fact that she cautions using her method until the baby is at least 3 months old.
BUT, one thing that Davis does not take into account is baby’s personality. Not all people/babies are sleepers. My daughter was one of them. Even when I was utilizing the very principles that Davis recommends (all very similar to those in the No Cry Sleep Solution) my daughter was very distraught and would cry very, very hard. She was a high need baby. (Lucky me!)
Your babies sound like this method was perfect for them and their personality and probably took to it so well because you followed Davis’s advice to the letter.
Let me ask you, when you say your babies did not cry that long at all, how long is that exactly? Just curious. Also, did they immediately sleep through the night? Just for the sake of other readers considering this product.
At the end of the day, we all want what is best for our children but have to keep our own sleep needs in mind. I did not mean to come across in saying that the 3 Day Sleep Solution is BAD. I just wanted people to know that it is a CIO method and that it may not be right for all babies.
Thank you for your feedback.
Jess
I fully DO NOT agree with your ‘review’ on the 3 Day Sleep Solution. First of all, how can you really ‘review’ a product you didn’t even try?? I had BOTH my babies do the 3 Day Sleep Solution and it was THE BEST thing that could have ever happened in our family. Yes, they cried but NOT that much because if you follow Davis’ steps and suggestions, you will learn the ‘right time’ to put your baby down for bed/naps, knowing sleepy signs, etc….all these things help minimize ‘crying’ time AND usually, it only lasts a few days. My babies are in NO WAY traumatized….in fact it’s the opposite… people ALWAYS tell me , “Your babies are SOOOO happy” and my answer to them is, “3 Day Sleep Solution” – it’s because they sleep!!
Davis is right on w/her program – I could not disagree with you more.
Hi Scott,
Wow. First I would like to commend you and your wife for sticking it out this long without using the cry it out method. I know how tempting it is when things get to this point.
How verbal is your daughter at this stage? Can you ask her what her fears are? Are you using a lovey or cuddly friend, white noise, night lite etc? For instance, on nights when my daughter (3 yrs old) is having a tough time going to sleep (bed nap day, over stimulated etc) I go in, sit at the bottom of her bed and ask her what is wrong. Sometimes she just needs one more song, a 5 min back rub, a drink of water…something like that and I never hear another peep.
There could be a couple of things going on with your little pumpkin. From how you are describing it, it sounds fear based. Like she is afraid you guys are going to leave. If that is the case, try leaving the door cracked so she can hear you a bit. Also, if fear is the issue, does she have a lovey of doll of some sort to being her comfort in your absence?
When you say you “try routine”, do you stick to it? Routine is crucial when helping your child learn how to sleep independently.
Without getting more information its hard to lead you in any particular direction. I would be more than happy to chat with you and your wife on the phone some evening. Although I am not a “expert” on infant/toddler sleep, it is a subject that I have studied extensively (you should see my bookshelf) and love helping fellow parents find gentle ways to teach their kiddos to sleep through the night.
Let me know and best of luck.
Jess
I liked your review of the 3 day sleep solution. I could not get the sound to turn up very loud but got most of the information. I am trying to study the best methods for getting our 24 month old to sleep. She is in a full sized bed and we used to lay with her to get her to sleep after reading a book and singing songs. Now we have a good routine that she knows laid out for her and we read to her and sing but then stay in the room but will not lay there with her. We keep reassuring her that we are there but she takes 30-60 minutes to fall asleep, even though she is tired. After that she still wakes up 1-4 times per night, we try to go in and reassure her that she is fine but really wearing on us, she has never been a good sleeper and has probably only slept through the night a handful of times. We have talked to the Dr., she sees a chiropractor who is a friend of ours for minor adjustments with some success. I had thought about the cry it out method but now feel against it, but I am interested in trying a modified Ferber method that worked when she was in her crib – always check on her but delay 5 minutes each time. Most nights now my wife eventually gives in and starts sleeping with her by 4 or 5am and it seems counter productive. I know you are not an expert but noticed what you said at the end of the video and ask if you have any advice. We try routine, we try to comfort, but also want to reclaim part of our lives back and have time together before we need to sleep, we also have a second child on the way in January. Our daughter takes a 1-2 nap at daycare each day and goes to bed around 8:30 (actually falls asleep by 9 – 9:30) and gets out of bed by 7:00
any advice is helpful, I will continue to check out your site
thanks
[...] is a blog post that reviews the 3-day sleep solution, though the author is opposed to [...]