The 10 Best Sleep Training Books of 2020

Best for Newborns: The Happiest Baby on the Block

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In this landmark book by Dr. Harvey Karp, he shares his revolutionary techniques for soothing newborn babies and increasing their sleep. He explains concepts such as the “fourth trimester”, during which infants still desire a womblike atmosphere to feel safe and soothed, and the 5 S’s—swaddling, side/stomach position, shushing, swinging, and sucking—which are five easy steps to calming even the fussiest babies. With insights into infant sleep, bedsharing, breastfeeding, and swaddling, this book is packed with sensible and practical advice to help your little one become the happiest, and hopefully most well-rested, baby on the block.

While this book isn't necessarily a sleep training book, it will help you calm a fussy baby in no time. Many first time parents have found this book very useful and use many of the tips for their next children as well.

Best for First Year: Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child

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Another perennial favorite in the sleep category, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, combines the latest research with practical tips to help parents get their kids to sleep with ease. Renowned pediatrician Dr. Marc Weissbluth outlines his groundbreaking approach to solving kids’ sleep problems—which he commonly associates with babies being overtired. The whole theory is a baby who sleeps will be happier (and so will Mom and Dad!). He also addresses many of common issues that parents face, including how to handle nap-resistant kids, bedwetting, nightmares, and how to get kids to fall asleep on their own.

Dr. Weissbluth does recommend cry it out, as the fastest method for sleep training so if you are against this method you might want to try another book selection from our list.

Best Emotional Support: The Sleepeasy Solution

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Sleep training can be hard for both parents and baby. This book helps explain what developmental changes your baby is going through from around five months (when they recommend starting training) through five years. This book will walk you through the steps on how to get your baby to fall asleep by themselves with what method you are comfortable with (fading or extinction). It will also help address weaning from nighttime feeds with minimal crying and how to address stuff like teething, sickness, separation anxiety, and any other sleep disruptions that will occur over the years.

This book has been followed by many celebrities including Ben Stiller, Conan O'Brien and more!

Best for Twins: 12 Hours’ Sleep by 12 Weeks Old

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If you have twins, you’ve got double the reasons for getting your babies on a sleep schedule – pronto! Parents of multiples (and singles!) swear by the methods in this incredibly popular book, which explains how to get your baby (or babies!) to sleep for 12 hours a night by the age of 12 weeks old.

Baby sleep guru Suzy Giordano’s straightforward system of regular feeding times and decreased milk volume consumed at night can be used successfully with any baby, including colicky ones. Her step-by-step method, which was originally developed for newborn multiples, not only helps babies get the sleep they need, but also results in regular feeding times and hours-long naps during the day.

Some parents critique that this book might be a little too intense for their parenting style and this method could be tough for breastfeeding moms. As with any sleep training, please consult with your pediatrician before starting.

Best for Toddlers: Sleeping Through the Night

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Trying to get a toddler to sleep through the night presents its own unique challenges and obstacles, so you’ll want a book with advice that’s specific for their age. In Sleeping Through the Night, sleep expert Dr. Jodi A. Mindell offers practical tips and techniques for bedtime, rather than middle-of-the-night sleep training. With a supportive and encouraging approach, she demystifies baby and toddler sleep issues and offers the best and most successful strategies based on years of research. Her sensible advice helps parents understand how to help kids fall asleep and stay asleep and details practical steps for moving your baby into his own room.

Best Cry It Out: Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems

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While some parents cringe at the idea, the cry it out (CIO) method is successfully used by many parents and CIO doesn't have long-term behavioral effects, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In his best-selling book, one of the best-known CIO experts, pediatrician Dr. Richard Ferber, explains how parents can use the method to teach babies how to self-soothe and get themselves to sleep on their own. In addition to his advice on the Ferber method, he covers many other sleeping issues including bedtime difficulties and nighttime wakings, effective strategies for naps, sleep schedule abnormalities, co-sleeping, sleep terrors and sleepwalking, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and bed-wetting.

Best for Breastfeeding: The No-Cry Sleep Solution

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If you don’t want to try the CIO approach, The No-Cry Sleep Solution may be the right tool for you. This research-backed method helps parents determine and work with baby’s biological sleep rhythms and develop a customized plan to get their baby to sleep through the night. Parenting educator and mom of four Elizabeth Pantley helps parents understand common sleep obstacles and gives step-by-step advice on how to teach their baby to fall asleep without breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or using a pacifier. While her approach takes a lot of time and effort, she believes the gentle and gradual no-cry method meets a baby’s needs.

Best Gentle: Secrets of the Baby Whisperer

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Dubbed "The Baby Whisperer" by thousands of grateful families that she has helped, baby and sleep expert Tracy Hogg shares her groundbreaking and gentle approach to sleep training. She details a step-by-step program on how to get baby to eat, play, and sleep on a schedule and eventually learn to put himself to sleep on his own. Hogg helps parents develop insight into their baby’s temperament by sharing her secrets on how to interpret what your baby is trying to tell you, how to identify your baby’s personality type, and the best way to interact with that type. With down-to-earth and reassuring advice, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer gives parents the knowledge and confidence they need to help their baby develop good sleep habits.

Best Classic: On Becoming Babywise

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This book has truly stood the test of time, as one of the leading infant management guides for the past two decades. Author Robert Bucknam, M.D., a leading pediatrician, and co-author Gary Ezzo offer methods to help parents successfully and naturally synchronize their baby's feeding time, wake time, and nighttime cycles so you can get them on a general schedule. They also address issues that may affect babies’ sleep, such as colic and reflux. Their common-sense approach results in happy, healthy babies who are sleeping through the night on average between seven and nine weeks of age.

This book does involve sleep learning earlier than recommended so please check with your pediatrician before starting.

Best Quick-Reference: Moms on Call

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If you’re looking for an easy-to-follow, reality-based sleep training plan, Moms on Call may be the guide for you. Written by two pediatric nurse moms with over 20 years of experience and eight kids between them, it includes step-by-step guidelines for getting babies on a routine and sleeping through the night. It’s packed with other practical, helpful advice on everything you need to know about caring for babies in the first six months. Presented in a concise and straightforward format, Moms on Call is the perfect reference guide for sleep-deprived parents, so they can get information quickly right when they need it.