The Peaceful Sleeper

Straightforward, loving, science-based approach to teach your baby how to get a good night’s sleep Written by renowned family therapist and sleep coach Chrissy Lawler, The Peaceful Sleeper offers an attachment-based, research-backed approach to baby sleep, ending the heated online debate of “sleep-training.” With the understanding that knowing how to help your baby get good sleep can be overwhelming given the loud, contradictory voices doling out advice, Lawler relies on a flexible and personalized approach to share solutions that work for you and your family. Readers will find insights on how to: Use clues from your baby, plus science, to determine the best approach to sleep, allowing you to get results (and more sleep!) as quickly and efficiently as possible Cut through the noise of misinformation on controversial topics like the cry-it-out method Rise above frustrating platitudes like “babies will be babies; just endure it until they’re older, and it might get better” Manage sleep after sleep training, and navigate challenges like regressions, teething/illness, and schedule changes (like dropping naps) The Peaceful Sleeper is a must-read resource for new and expecting parents who need trusted support to improve their baby’s sleep as well as their own sleep and mental health. The book is also invaluable for experienced parents who struggled with sleep with their older children during the newborn phase and are looking for a new approach to sleep training.

Acknowledgments xi About the Author xiii Introduction xv PART I PARENTING IN THE MODERN AGE 1 1 What Exactly Is Sleep Training? 3 2 Everyone Is an Expert (and Everything Is on Fire!) 9 3 Debunking the Myths 17 PART II SLEEP IS LIFE 29 4 Why Quality Sleep Matters for Baby 31 5 Why Quality Sleep Matters for Parents 41 6 Why Quality Baby Sleep Matters for the Rest of the Family 51 PART III SLEEP TRAINING IN THE OVERALL PARENTING PICTURE 55 7 Secure Attachment 57 8 The Gifts of Independence, Resilience, and Self-Soothing 69 9 The Zone of Proximal Development 77 PART IV ESTABLISHING A STRONG SLEEP FOUNDATION (0–4 MONTHS) 83 10 Understanding Newborn Sleep 85 11 Feeding and Timing 93 12 Calming Strategies and Treating Discomfort 109 PART V SLEEP TRAINING 125 13 The Importance of Four Months and Teaching Independent Sleep 127 14 The 10-Minute Method 135 15 Naps 153 16 Sleeping Through the Night 163 17 The Other Three Methods and Special Considerations 175 PART VI LIFE AFTER SLEEP TRAINING 191 18 Scheduling 193 19 Sleep After Sleep Training 201 20 Nap Trapped: When Sacrifice Backfires 207 Conclusion 221 Appendix 1: How to Choose Your Approach to Sleep Training 223 Appendix 2: Creating a Sleep Log 227 Appendix 3: Sleep Training Twins 235 Notes 241 Index 263