As a new parent, getting your child to sleep through the night can be one of the biggest challenges you face (1). There are a variety of sleep training techniques available, each with its own approach and philosophy. It can be overwhelming to try to figure out which method is best for your family, especially when you’re already exhausted from the sleepless nights.
Thankfully, there are many resources available to help you navigate the world of infant sleep. One of the best resources available is sleep training books. These books offer a wealth of information on the science of sleep, as well as practical advice and techniques for helping your child get the rest they need.
However, with so many sleep training books available, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why we’ve done the research for you and compiled a list of the best and most widely-used sleep training books. These books have helped countless parents around the world improve their child’s sleep, and they can do the same for you.
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Sleep Training Books Picks
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
- All-inclusive to explain and solve sleep issues in babies/kids of all ages
- Lots of example scenarios and problem-solving
- Info is all backed up by research
- Somewhat customizable to fit what you want
- You will have to be comfortable with crying it out. If you’re not, give the book a read and maybe it’ll change your mind or put you more at ease
Dr. Marc Weissbluth, a top pediatrician, has updated his method for treating sleep issues in children in the fourth edition of his book, “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.” This book offers a step-by-step plan for establishing healthy sleep habits that work within a child’s regular sleep cycles.
It includes the latest research on the prevention and treatment of sleep problems, common mistakes parents make, and different sleep needs for different temperaments. The book also covers topics such as stopping the crybaby syndrome, nightmares, bedwetting, and more.
The book provides ways to get babies to fall asleep according to their internal clock naturally and also addresses nap-resistant children and when to start sleep training. Plus, the importance of both night sleep and day sleep are discussed, as well as obstacles for working moms and children with sleep issues.
The father’s role in comforting children, the link between early sleep troubles and later problems, and the benefits and drawbacks of allowing kids to sleep in the family bed are also explored.
The Happiest Baby on the Block
- The diagrams are very easy to follow
- This book is invaluable for helping prevent shaken baby syndrome and other child abuse as well as SIDS
- Offers genuinely good advice
- Has really good ideas on how to calm a fussy baby
- It has a lot of repetition on some concepts
Dr. Harvey Karp has become a well-known baby specialist, sought after by millions of parents, including Hollywood celebrities, for his methods to soothe infants and promote better sleep. In his updated and edited work, you can learn the latest information on newborn sleep, bedsharing, nursing, swaddling, and SIDS risk. Dr. Karp’s approach is based on four groundbreaking ideas, which are explained in detail in his book.
The first idea is “The Fourth Trimester,” which suggests that newborns still require a womb-like environment even after birth. The second idea is “The Calming Reflex,” which is an innate “off switch” that all newborns are born with. The third idea is “The 5 S’s,” which are five simple techniques that parents can use to activate their baby’s remarkable soothing reflex. The fourth idea is “The Snuggle Cure,” which involves using the 5 S’s together to soothe even the fussiest babies.
Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems
- Proven method and you only need a few days
- The examples make complete sense and it gives exact steps to follow
- Not judgmental of parents’ expectations and capabilities
- Supported by scientific research
- Not for everybody (some parents are unable to let their child cry, even for a minute, without consoling them)
Dr. Ferber’s book provides parents with essential knowledge about the nature of sleep, the development of typical sleep and body cycles throughout childhood, and other related topics that incorporate the latest research. He covers the reasons for most sleep issues from infancy through adolescence and offers a variety of tested treatments for each, allowing you to select the approach that is most effective for you.
The book delves into various subjects in great detail, such as nighttime awakenings, trouble falling asleep, napping techniques, irregular sleep patterns, co-sleeping, sleepwalking, sleep terrors, difficulties setting boundaries, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and head banging. With this information, you can gain a better understanding of your child’s sleep issues and select the appropriate treatment.
The No-Cry Sleep Solution
- Supportive of crib sleeping, co-sleeping, breast and bottle feeding, and pacifier use
- Very gentle approaches to teaching your baby how to sleep
- Very easy to read, clear plans and suggestions, charts to help you explore what’s hindering sleep and keep track of progress
- Many different ideas and tips for various reasons your baby may be waking at night/not going to sleep/not napping well
- Definitely not a quick fix because most of the changes she suggests are very gradual
There are two opposing methods for getting newborns to sleep through the night: the Ferber method of letting the baby cry it out, and the approach of getting up as often as necessary. Elizabeth Pantley’s book, The No-Cry Sleep Solution, offers a third alternative for parents who are reluctant to let their baby cry it out but still want to get some sleep.
Pantley’s approach has been tested and proven successful by many parents and their newborns in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Her book provides practical solutions for naptime and nighttime issues, based on her research. The No-Cry Sleep Solution offers easy-to-follow instructions to help children fall asleep without crying like understanding a baby’s biological sleep rhythms.
Precious Little Sleep
- This author is a complete pro and has the humor of a pro comedian
- This book has many strategies
- She highlights the pros and cons of each and how they work at different ages
- Pretty fun to read
- Listen to the podcast. You will be so supported through this journey
This book offers practical guidance on how to teach your infant to sleep through the night. It presents evidence-based strategies that can be adapted to each circumstance, while also explaining the reasons behind newborns’ sleeping patterns in a witty and amusing manner.
The book covers a range of sleep challenges, including managing the difficult newborn phase, achieving consistent nighttime sleep, taking a break from feeding all night, dealing with sleep issues in older children, and managing daytime naps. The author provides useful solutions in an accessible and engaging way.
Twelve Hours’ Sleep by Twelve Weeks Old
- The idea of keeping the baby on a schedule is very helpful
- Guaranteed no nighttime wakings
- This book is an easy read
- The sooner you start training the better
- One of the central premises of the book is that your child must eat on a four-hour schedule, otherwise, they won’t sleep through the night
Suzy Giordano’s book provides an easy-to-read guide on how to get a healthy newborn to sleep through the night. Known as a “baby sleep expert” and an “underground legend in the Washington region,” Giordano promises to have any baby sleeping for twelve hours at night and three hours during the day by the time they are twelve weeks old using her “Limited-Crying Solution.”
The author, a mother of five children, has tested her sleep strategy with singletons, twins, triplets, newborns with special needs, and colicky babies, and it has never failed. This book is suitable for anyone, whether they are first-time parents, pregnant, or seeking a different approach with their second or third child.
The Baby Coach’s system includes regular feeding times and twelve hours of sleep at night and three hours of sleep during the day, offering peace of mind and taking both parent and child out of the sleep-deprived world.
On Becoming Babywise
- This book advises a system that is a middle ground between parents who try to set up their child on an alarm clock system and parents who just try to feed their baby every single time they cry
- The loose schedules set forth in the book are extremely helpful
- This book is also really good for newer mothers trying to learn how to figure out what is wrong when your baby cries
- As the book will tell you, babies must be taught to sleep
- A good read, but maybe anxiety-inducing
The sixth edition of On Becoming Babywise, authored by renowned physicians, Dr. Robert Bucknam and Gary Ezzo, has gained the support of over six million parents and has been translated into 20 other languages.
This book, which has been a go-to guide for new parents for more than 25 years, helps you synchronize your baby’s feeding, wake-up, and sleep cycles for a good night’s sleep. Dr. Bucknam and Ezzo explain how every newborn’s metabolism is governed by order and stability, and how parents like you can benefit from these biological tendencies.
Secrets of the Baby Whisperer
- Formatted well, suggestions are easy to understand and employ
- This is essentially a gentler version of cry it out
- Understand that your baby will cry, but this method allows it to happen in the comfort of your arms and the warmth of your presence
- This method (as with any other sleep training method) works, but it’s not for the faint of heart. It takes time, consistency, and persistence for results
- A bit of a condescending tone
The ground-breaking book, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, provides straightforward and approachable programs that teach new parents how to better care for their newborns. The book covers several topics, including the E.A.S.Y. method, S.L.O.W. technique, personality types, and Tracy’s Three Day Magic.
The E.A.S.Y. method guides how to get your baby to eat, play, and sleep on a schedule that will make life simpler and happier for everyone in the family. The S.L.O.W. technique teaches you how to decipher your baby’s signals so that your do not force-feed your baby when he or she needs a nap.
The book also covers personality types, and you can learn to determine which personality type your child belongs to, including Angel, Textbook, Touchy, Spirited, or Grumpy. Once you identify your child’s personality type, you can discover how to engage with that type most effectively.
Additionally, the book covers Tracy’s Three Day Magic, which teaches you how to quickly and permanently break harmful behaviors for both yourselves and your children.
Sweet Sleep
- Easy read and very helpful for creating a safe sleep environment
- Affirmative to the family
- Very comforting
- This book is empowering to parents who want to parent in a way that is natural, attached, and empathetic to their babies
- Pro-bed-sharing stance
Sweet Sleep is the ultimate guidebook for nursing families, providing essential information on both naps and nighttime. It is written in a comforting and nurturing tone, offering practical advice and research-based strategies to help families make informed decisions about their sleep arrangements.
If you’re a nursing mother who finds herself nursing her baby five times a night, you may be wondering where the safest place to nurse your baby is without worrying about them falling asleep. While you may have heard that sharing a bed with your baby can be dangerous, Sweet Sleep provides evidence-based ways to reduce the risks and ensure that everyone can rest easily.
Through the guidance of Sweet Sleep, you will discover that getting a good night’s sleep is not an impossible dream. You can learn how to make informed choices about where and how your family sleeps, and gain the knowledge and confidence you need to achieve a more peaceful and restful sleep routine for everyone involved.
The Sleepeasy Solution
- It works fast
- Easy to read and follow with light humor
- No judgments or long drawn-out theories
- Provides some sample sleep schedules for the age group
- Naps were only covered in a few paragraphs despite the writers admitting naps are much more challenging
The Sleepeasy Solution is a book that Hollywood’s top names rely on to tackle the same issue that all other parents face: how to get their children to sleep. The book is becoming increasingly popular among well-informed parents, whether they are on the red carpet or the soccer field.
The authors, Jennifer and Jill, are psychotherapists and sleep experts who have developed a technique for getting any child to sleep quickly, often within three nights. Their secret is that their approach addresses the emotional needs of both the parent and the child, including how to handle crying, which is a major reason why most other sleep methods fail.
In this much-needed, family-friendly guide, exhausted parents will learn how to set their own sleep goals that are best for their family’s schedule and style. It also includes thorough sections dedicated to each stage of a baby’s and toddler’s development, as well as solutions to unique situations such as traveling, daylight saving time, transitioning to a “big kid bed,” and managing multiples.
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What Age Is Best For Sleep Training?
Most pediatricians recommend waiting until a baby is at least 4 months old before starting sleep training (2). This is because younger babies have not yet developed a regular sleep-wake cycle, and their sleep needs are constantly changing.
At around 4 to 6 months, babies are better able to self-soothe and have longer stretches of sleep at night. They are also more receptive to learning new sleep habits.
In addition, New research suggests that parents need not worry about causing harm to their children by letting them cry during sleep training (3). In fact, babies who undergo sleep training are just as likely to develop a secure attachment as those who don’t.
Do Babies Eventually Learn To Sleep On Their Own?
Yes, babies do eventually learn to sleep on their own. As they grow and develop, they become more capable of self-soothing and sleeping for longer periods. This usually happens gradually over time, and the timeline can vary from baby to baby.
