How Babies Sleep
A Factful Guide to the First 365 Days and Nights
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3 months free
How Babies Sleep
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Narrated by:
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Professor Helen L. Ball
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
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.
‘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
‘Finally — the baby sleep book all new parents actually need.’ Amanda Ruggeri, award-winning science and parenting journalist
‘A refreshingly clear and nonjudgmental guide to the universal yet daunting challenge of infant sleep... Invaluable' Guddi Singh, paediatric doctor and presenter of BBC's of Babies: Their Wonderful World
© Helen L. Ball 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025
Listeners also enjoyed...
The book adopts an academic yet accessible tone, offering a well-researched critique of the evidence on infant sleep. What makes it especially compelling is the thoughtful blend of scholarly insight with personal anecdotes, which add warmth and relatability—particularly for those navigating the early days of parenthood.
Professor Ball traces the historical and cultural shifts in infant sleep practices, linking them to broader patterns in newborn care and even mortality. This historical lens adds depth and context, making the book both informative and thought-provoking.
The practical advice sprinkled throughout is valuable for both parents and midwives. The book equips healthcare professionals with evidence-based guidance, while also empowering parents to make informed choices about sleep arrangements that work for their family.
After listening, I not only feel more confident in my own parenting decisions around sleep but also better prepared to support and advise parents in my professional role.
useful read for new parents and midwives
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