How Babies Sleep

The definitive new science and data-led guide on baby sleep for new parents from director of the University Durham Sleep & Infancy Centre, Professor Helen L. Ball.

‘As compassionate as it is clinically rigorous . . . a myth-busting, parent-respecting, evidence-soaked call to rethink everything we think we know about infant sleep.‘
Guddi Singh, British Medical Journal

‘Clearly written and engaging, with really useful suggestions that will help manage parents’ expectations and anxiety, How Babies Sleep is a must-read for anybody who wants to understand the first 365 days of a human life.‘
Russell Foster, neuroscientist and Sunday Times-bestselling author of Life Time

—-

How babies sleep is both exceedingly simple and excruciatingly complex. It is simple because it is based on a few straightforward biological principles that affect all babies the world over. It is complex because we have made it so.

Over the past century and a half, we have tried to manipulate baby sleep to fit with the rapidly changing nature of adult lives. The mismatch we have created with our babies’ biology is framed as ‘baby sleep problems’, and infants are often ‘treated’ using behavioural and clinical interventions. But it is not baby sleep that needs fixing – only our understanding of it.

In How Babies Sleep, pioneering and award-winning infant sleep researcher Professor Helen Ball brings together cutting-edge science, anthropological insight and practical advice to provide parents with everything they need to help them confidently – and sanely – navigate the first 365 night-times with a new baby. It will teach you how to harmonise your needs with those of your infant, and empower you to reject approaches that make you uncomfortable and experiment with strategies that work for you and your family.

——

‘Finally – the baby sleep book all new parents actually need.’ Amanda Ruggeri, award-winning science and parenting journalist

‘An accessible, intelligent account of the issues around baby sleep.’ Sue Gerhardt, psychotherapist and author of Why Love Matters

‘The most important voice we have to bring clarity.’ Greer Kirshenbaum, neuroscientist, doula, and author of The Nurture Revolution

‘A must-read . . . Compelling, reassuring, and empowering, it will change everything.’ Tiffany Belanger, author of Cosleepy

Author Biography

Helen L. Ball is Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Durham Infancy & Sleep Centre, Durham University. She pioneers the translation of academic research on infant sleep into evidence for use by parents and healthcare staff via BASIS – the Baby Sleep Information Source website. She serves as Associate Editor of the journal Sleep Health, Chair of the Lullaby Trust Grants Committee, and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board. In 2013 Helen received an award for Outstanding Impact in Society from the Economic and Social Research Council, and in 2018 Durham University was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for her research and outreach on parent-infant sleep.