The Best Baby Sleep Books for Peaceful Nights
These books help you build healthy sleep habits for your baby so you can both get the rest you need.
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If there’s one category of new parenthood that’s talked about the most, it’s probably sleep. How much sleep—or how little—both your baby and your entire family are getting is really important for everyone’s health and wellness, so it makes sense that there would be a ton of books out there for helping your baby develop a regular, healthy sleep schedule.
But even with all those resources, you’re likely too tired to evaluate them all on your own. So we’ve done it for you! Whether you’re looking for a baby-led approach or considering sleep training methods, and whether you want to dive in before your baby is born or you’re already deep in the trenches of sleep deprivation, these are the best, most popular books that parents turn to when they’re in need of baby sleep info and a plan for better sleep.
Best for Overall Baby Care
Written by two pediatric nurses, this book has been a long-time favorite of new parents navigating not just baby sleep, but the basics of baby care overall. “Moms on Call was what I lived by,” says Christie M., a mom of three (including twins). Featuring a balance of science and emotion, the authors lay out how to get your newborn on a schedule in easy-to-follow steps that keep tired new parents in mind. The schedules are tailored to your baby’s age and provide a great starting point to work off of if you’re looking to add a little structure to your baby’s days—and nights.
Keep in mind: If you’re only looking for sleep advice, you’ll have to sift through the information and take what you need.
Best for Extra Fussy Babies
Swaddling, side/stomach positioning in your arms, shushing, swinging and sucking—these are the magical five S’s that you’ll learn about in this bestselling book from Dr. Harvey Karp, pediatrician and inventor of the Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet. Also covered are insights around infant sleep, bedsharing, breastfeeding, swaddling and SIDS.
Happiest Baby is a quick read packed with helpful takeaways on baby sleep, especially during those first few months. “I would not have mentally survived the first three months of my baby’s life without the 5 S’s,” says Robin M. in their review. You won’t get a specific plan for helping your baby sleep here, but you will get tons of useful info on how to calm your crying baby and ultimately build healthy sleep habits.
Best for a Sense of Humor
Just as funny as it is informative (don’t be surprised if you laugh out loud multiple times), this book was born from the popular sleep site by sleep expert Alexis Dubief. It’s smart, funny and filled with flexible, evidence-based tools to help you teach your child how to fall asleep—and stay asleep—without your help. “Precious Little Sleep was great and a helpful reference through different stages and regressions!” says Joel H., a dad of twins.
Also covered are naps, night weaning and toddler/preschool sleep issues. This is one of our all-time favorite sleep resources to recommend to new parents who are looking for a gentle and approachable sleep training method.
Best for Science Lovers
This is another one that comes highly recommended by Babylist parents (including more twin parents—an especially strong testimonial, since they need twice the help with sleep!), and tons of reviews call it “life changing” and “life saving.”
Dr. Weissbluth is credited with coining the term “sleep training,” and his approach is pretty different from many other major methods. Weissbluth’s method focuses on helping your baby fall asleep according to their natural rhythms for both nighttime sleep and daytime naps, rather than imposing a schedule on them. It’s an all-encompassing resource that helps you understand the science behind sleep and chart a path toward independent sleep.
Best for Gentle Sleep Training
Written by two psychotherapists and sleep specialists who’ve helped Hollywood families (and regular families, too) get more sleep, this method finds a happy medium between cry-it-out and no-cry solutions. Many parents who read this book (or attended their in-person classes) appreciated that it focuses on the emotional aspects of teaching your child to sleep, making it a great choice for anyone who’s curious about sleep training but maybe also a little wary. “I did Jill [Spivack]’s parent group in LA and loved her and the book,” says Liz P.
Best for Baby-Led Sleep “Training”
Another long-time parent favorite, The Happy Sleeper is centered around the notion that science says that babies are built to sleep. “The Happy Sleeper was my bible,” says Shannon R., mom of one. The book’s goal is to teach you how to get out of your child’s way and let their innate ability to sleep shine through while balancing a nurturing yet structured approach.
Best for Schedule Lovers
From La Leche League International, this comprehensive sleep guide is written specifically for nursing families. Breastfeeding on demand often means taking a more baby-led approach to schedules and sleep, so this book is filled with valuable insights on safe sleep, sleep information for every age, how to guide your baby toward longer stretches of sleep when they’re ready and much more. One parent said in their review that this book was “a godsend,” while several others said it “calmed their nerves” around the unique sleep needs of nursing parents.
