Crib Sheets

Anticipating the exhaustion of caring for a newborn and working full-time as an attorney, Elizabeth Gardner searched for books that could help her prepare. Surprisingly, she could not find any that focused on what expectant parents could do pre-baby to get more sleep post. During her son's first months, she was exhausted and frustrated that there seemed to be nothing to do except suffer and wait it out.

After a year of full-time litigation practice at a large San Diego law firm, she was fortunate to be able to leave to be a full-time mom. Anticipating that she would have more children, she formulated a plan to reduce new parent fatigue. When her second son was born in 1998, she was better prepared.

By the time her daughter was born in January 2002, her pre-baby preparation methods proved so effective that many of her friends and relatives commented on how surprisingly rested and productive she was; "What's your secret?" they asked. Rather than repeatedly advise, Elizabeth decided to write an expectant parent guide to give out. It was during this process that she realized she had the makings of a book. Thanks to her pre-baby preparation methods, she had ample free time to share what she learned by writing the first book in the Crib Sheets® series -- all while caring for a two-month-old baby, a three-year-old, and a five-year-old. Publication of her second book in the series is anticipated in 2007.

Elizabeth is a balance work and family specialist. Happily married for 21 years, she's the mother of three children under the age of ten. Her keen interest in the social dynamics of family led to her earning a B.A. in Sociology with high distinction from the University of Rochester in 1986. And after several successful years as a Computer Network Administrator at a number of large hi-tech companies, Elizabeth earned her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1995. The California State Bar acknowledged her commitment to the welfare of mothers and their children in 1994 by awarding her the Wiley M. Manuel Award -- for providing voluntary legal services to women battered by their husbands. Elizabeth has been a member of the California State Bar Association since 1996.

Although she considers her role as mom to be her most important job, Elizabeth is also an attorney and web site administrator. Her popular San Diego Playgrounds web site is a valuable community resource providing San Diego families with a free and complete listing of public playgrounds since 2002.