There’s a new phenomenon in parenting literature that combines satire, nostalgia and belly laughs. It’s called “Go the F**k to Sleep” by Adam Mansbach.

This book sold more than 50,000 copies in pre-orders alone and, according to Amazon, has become “the secret anthem of tired parents everywhere” since its release in June.

Why? Because we’ve all been there. We know what it’s like to be up all night, walking the floors, trying to make soothing sounds with the hair dryer or vacuum, completely strung out, wondering why our babies won’t conk out when that’s all we want to do.

“It’s what goes on in your head. What you would like to say but can’t,” says Deborah Pedrick, who has made a career out of helping exhausted parents get some Zs.

This child sleep consultant from Stamford believes that night-time issues can affect an entire family’s lifestyle. And we’re not just talking about newborns. Oftentimes sleep problems persist with toddlers and older children who get into a nightmare pattern.

Years ago, after being inspired by her pediatrician, Mark Weissbluth, who wrote “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child,” Pedrick created http://www.familysleep.com, which breaks down and simplifies expert advice. Pedrick also consults with moms and dads in their home.

“It’s my job to find out their philosophy because one method might work for one family and not for another,” she says. A mother herself, she looks at the sleep environment, nap schedule and, most importantly, the bedtime routine. “Kids are going to bed too late,” she believes.

My Ben wouldn’t sleep through the night for two years. Two years. I became a snappish maniac who was buying every how-to tome and DVD on the market, but nothing seemed to work. I beat myself up, thinking: “My older son slept OK, why won’t Ben?”

Pedrick says every child’s personality is different. She claims to help moms clarify the confusion and sift through the sea of information.

“When you try so many different things, you might not give the right thing enough time,” she says.

Eventually, I gave up, figuring that he’d have a solid night when his body was ready. But, Pedrick says, based on her experience, that line of reasoning is wrong.

“All kids can sleep. We’ve always found a solution,” she says. “It’s so rewarding to get families happy and healthy and sleeping well.”

If you’re not offended by expletives, go onto You Tube and listen to Samuel L. Jackson read a snippet of this hilarious book. Maybe I find it so entertaining because of my “been there, done that” history.

Times have changed, and he now sleeps fine but remains entirely stubborn in other areas. Perhaps I should collaborate on a sequel called “Sit the F*** Down and Eat What’s on Your F***ing Plate.” Now that’s a best-seller just waiting to happen.

>>To contribute your own adventures in motherhood, or to read more from Fox CT reporter Sarah Cody and freelancer Teresa Pelham, go to http://www.ctnow.com/mommyminute.

Original Article can be found here:  http://www.ctnow.com/lifestyle/parenting/mommy-minute/hc-mommy-minute-20110815,0,6604284.story?track=rss

Warring parents affect the sleep of their adopted infants, a new research has found .

We know that marital problems have an impact on child functioning, and we know that sleep is a big problem for parents, said Jenae M. Neiderhiser, professor of psychology, Penn State.

We know that marital problems have an impact on child functioning, and we know that sleep is a big problem for parents, said Jenae M. Neiderhiser, professor of psychology, Penn State.

New parents often report sleep as being the most problematic of their child’s behavior. Neiderhiser and colleagues found that poor sleep patterns in children from ages 9 to 18 months are likely influenced by conflict in their parents” marriage.

New parents often report sleep as being the most problematic of their child’s behavior. Neiderhiser and colleagues found that poor sleep patterns in children from ages 9 to 18 months are likely influenced by conflict in their parents” marriage.

The researchers interviewed 357 sets of adoptive parents both together and separately, assessing their own habits and emotions as well as their children’s behaviors. The parents were interviewed twice–first when their children were 9 months old, and again at 18 months.

The researchers interviewed 357 sets of adoptive parents both together and separately, assessing their own habits and emotions as well as their children’s behaviors. The parents were interviewed twice–first when their children were 9 months old, and again at 18 months.

Parents were asked a series of questions, such as Have you or your partner seriously suggested the idea of divorce?

Parents were asked a series of questions, such as Have you or your partner seriously suggested the idea of divorce?

Then they were asked to describe their child’s behavior at bedtime, by rating several behaviors listed in the survey, such as child needs parent in room to fall asleep or child struggles at bedtime.

Then they were asked to describe their child’s behavior at bedtime, by rating several behaviors listed in the survey, such as child needs parent in room to fall asleep or child struggles at bedtime.

The researchers showed that marital conflict in the first survey at 9 months predicted that the child would be more likely to have sleep problems at the time of the second survey at 18 months. However, if the child had sleep problems at 9 months, the parents were not more likely to have marital stress at 18 months.

The researchers showed that marital conflict in the first survey at 9 months predicted that the child would be more likely to have sleep problems at the time of the second survey at 18 months. However, if the child had sleep problems at 9 months, the parents were not more likely to have marital stress at 18 months.

The study was recently published in the journal Child Development.