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The Peaceful Sleeper: An Intuitive Approach to Baby Sleep
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
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.
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.
- GenresParenting
288 pages, Paperback
Published March 24, 2026
About the author
Chrissy Lawler
5 books9 followersChristine Lawler, LMFT, is a licensed therapist with over 15 years of experience. As the founder of The Peaceful Sleeper, she has guided more than 400,000 families worldwide to better rest and stronger mental health through her evidence-based, research-backed approach to infant sleep. Featured on Good Morning America, Newsweek, and Better Homes & Gardens, Christine has worked with corporations, executives, professional athletes and celebrities. A mom of four, she combines clinical expertise with real-life parenting experience, offering parents practical, compassionate tools that deliver proven results in helping babies (and their families) sleep soundly.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 3, 2026
As a family medicine doctor, I will definitely be recommending this to parents. I really appreciated the myth debunking on “sleep training” and the evidence based approach with research to back up the 10 minute method!! There is nothing I can’t stand more than the mom-shaming when it comes to sleep training and the heroic mindset of sacrificing your own sleep and mental health. Only thing that Chrissy did not consider/address is when baby is sleeping in parents room in their crib (AAP recommends until 6-12 months) and when you are breastfeeding and still need to nurse every 5-6 hours to keep milk supply up making sleeping through the night for breastfed babies difficult.
May 25, 2026
Loved this book! Such a great balanced, flexible, and evidence-based approach to sleep training. Lots of helpful tips for parenting in general too!
March 26, 2026
As a first-time mom, I didn’t realize just how overwhelming the postpartum phase would be—especially when it came to sleep. Everyone tells you “sleep when the baby sleeps,” but no one really prepares you for the hormonal shifts, the anxiety, or how deeply sleep deprivation can affect your mental and emotional state. That’s why The Peaceful Sleeper felt like such a lifesaver for me.
This book didn’t just give me strategies for getting my baby to sleep—it helped me understand why sleep is so important for both my baby and myself. It validated so many of the feelings I was having during postpartum, especially the emotional ups and downs that can make you feel like you’re doing something wrong when you’re actually just adjusting to a huge life change.
What I loved most is how normal it made everything feel. It reassured me that struggling doesn’t mean failing—it means you’re learning. The guidance is realistic, supportive, and not overly rigid, which made it feel doable instead of overwhelming.
Because of this book, I started to see sleep as something essential, not optional—for my baby’s development and for my own well-being as a mom. It helped create structure in a time that felt chaotic, and honestly, it gave me confidence in my parenting.
If you’re a first-time mom trying to navigate postpartum emotions and exhausted from sleepless nights, I can’t recommend this enough. It truly supports both baby and parents in getting the rest they need—and that changes everything.
This book didn’t just give me strategies for getting my baby to sleep—it helped me understand why sleep is so important for both my baby and myself. It validated so many of the feelings I was having during postpartum, especially the emotional ups and downs that can make you feel like you’re doing something wrong when you’re actually just adjusting to a huge life change.
What I loved most is how normal it made everything feel. It reassured me that struggling doesn’t mean failing—it means you’re learning. The guidance is realistic, supportive, and not overly rigid, which made it feel doable instead of overwhelming.
Because of this book, I started to see sleep as something essential, not optional—for my baby’s development and for my own well-being as a mom. It helped create structure in a time that felt chaotic, and honestly, it gave me confidence in my parenting.
If you’re a first-time mom trying to navigate postpartum emotions and exhausted from sleepless nights, I can’t recommend this enough. It truly supports both baby and parents in getting the rest they need—and that changes everything.
March 24, 2026
We have three boys, and for years we’ve followed Chrissy and The Peaceful Sleeper on Instagram. Out of all the parenting and sleep advice out there, her guidance was the only stuff that really worked for us.
What I appreciate most is that her approach never felt harsh, rigid, or disconnected from real family life. It is thoughtful, practical, intuitive, and grounded in a real understanding of both sleep and child development. That balance is rare. She helps parents get the sleep everyone needs, while also respecting the bond between parent and child. That is exactly what parents and kids need.
This book captures what has made Chrissy’s advice so valuable to our family over the years. She has a way of taking something that can feel overwhelming and emotional and making it feel clear, manageable, and hopeful. Instead of just offering generic tips, she gives parents a framework they can actually use with confidence.
As parents of three, we know firsthand how important good sleep is for the whole family. Better sleep changes everything: moods, patience, connection, energy, and the overall peace of the household. Chrissy’s advice helped us get there in a way that felt sustainable and consistent with how we wanted to parent.
If you are exhausted, confused by conflicting advice, or just looking for an approach that is both effective and humane, I highly recommend this book.
What I appreciate most is that her approach never felt harsh, rigid, or disconnected from real family life. It is thoughtful, practical, intuitive, and grounded in a real understanding of both sleep and child development. That balance is rare. She helps parents get the sleep everyone needs, while also respecting the bond between parent and child. That is exactly what parents and kids need.
This book captures what has made Chrissy’s advice so valuable to our family over the years. She has a way of taking something that can feel overwhelming and emotional and making it feel clear, manageable, and hopeful. Instead of just offering generic tips, she gives parents a framework they can actually use with confidence.
As parents of three, we know firsthand how important good sleep is for the whole family. Better sleep changes everything: moods, patience, connection, energy, and the overall peace of the household. Chrissy’s advice helped us get there in a way that felt sustainable and consistent with how we wanted to parent.
If you are exhausted, confused by conflicting advice, or just looking for an approach that is both effective and humane, I highly recommend this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have been following Chrissy Lawler’s methods for my own children’s sleep for many years and I’m loving reading through her new book! After having my first baby, I looked into several “baby sleep experts” and what drew me to The Peaceful Sleeper method in the first place was the non “mom shaming,” data driven and intuitive approach to supporting my baby’s development with sleep. Chrissy taught me basic sleep principles, and showed me a flexible approach to guiding my babies to learning greater independence with their own sleep. And I *needed* that flexibility!! She preaches that there is no “one size fits all approach to learning,” and my experiences with my two babies reflects that. I loved that I had a solid plan to start teaching my kids, but then knew how to pivot and when to pivot based on what I learned from Chrissy regarding protest (what’s productive, what’s indicative that they need help). I had one child who was pretty “text book” with learning and another who was so much more sensitive and needed more support from me through the process. In both situations I felt empowered to support them exactly as they needed because of what I had learned from Chrissy. The Peaceful Sleeper is the most holistic, down to earth, flexible and non shaming approach to baby sleep available! Thank you, Chrissy, for saving my mental health post partum!!
March 25, 2026
If you’re in the thick of baby sleep struggles (or even just trying to prepare ahead of time), this book is such a helpful and reassuring guide.
What I loved most about The Peaceful Sleeper is how balanced it is. Chrissy Lawler doesn’t push a rigid method or make you feel like there’s only one “right” way to do things. Instead, she gives you a clear framework while encouraging you to really understand your baby and make decisions that work for your family.
She also does a great job addressing the fears so many parents have around sleep training. The way she breaks down the research around crying, attachment, emotional development, and more is truly helpful, especially if you’ve ever felt conflicted or guilty about wanting better sleep.
The book is incredibly practical, too. The sample schedules, feeding guidance, and step-by-step approach make it easy to actually implement what you’re learning (which, let’s be honest, is what every tired parent needs).
But more than anything, this book feels supportive. It acknowledges how hard this stage is while also reminding you that better sleep is possible and that getting there doesn’t have to feel harsh or overwhelming.
Definitely a resource I’d recommend to any parent navigating baby sleep.
What I loved most about The Peaceful Sleeper is how balanced it is. Chrissy Lawler doesn’t push a rigid method or make you feel like there’s only one “right” way to do things. Instead, she gives you a clear framework while encouraging you to really understand your baby and make decisions that work for your family.
She also does a great job addressing the fears so many parents have around sleep training. The way she breaks down the research around crying, attachment, emotional development, and more is truly helpful, especially if you’ve ever felt conflicted or guilty about wanting better sleep.
The book is incredibly practical, too. The sample schedules, feeding guidance, and step-by-step approach make it easy to actually implement what you’re learning (which, let’s be honest, is what every tired parent needs).
But more than anything, this book feels supportive. It acknowledges how hard this stage is while also reminding you that better sleep is possible and that getting there doesn’t have to feel harsh or overwhelming.
Definitely a resource I’d recommend to any parent navigating baby sleep.
June 5, 2026
As a Pediatrician, I recommend this book to parents all the time. It is exhausting to have a new baby, and parents want to know how to help their child sleep through the night, in a way that feels safe, loving and effective. This book is practical and will sure to help. Chrissy strikes the much needed balance in this space—she is gentle, informative, light hearted and gives parents good direction. Her book offers helpful guidance to help young children learn the skills to sleep through the night.
April 16, 2026
Chrissy Lawler has been a great help to me, and to many moms, through her Instagram account. I am thrilled that she has now written a book! The Peaceful Sleeper will be a wonderful resource for moms in the years to come. Lawler gives strategies for laying a good sleep foundation for baby. And when baby is ready, Lawler has clear steps to follow for sleep training that are customizable to baby and to family needs. I recommend this book for all new moms!
June 24, 2026
I rated this 5 stars as soon as I finished it but I write this review now a week later, after implementing her techniques, as I watch the monitor of my 4.5 month old sleeping soundly at 10am for her first nap. I love how the book uses evidence-based research as well as personal insights and experiences. I also like how it's not rigid in its instructions–something doesn't work for your baby specifically? Here's other options.
Sleep training is something I speak passionately about because it truly changed my life (and my husband's, and my toddler's) once I got my oldest sleep trained. I swore I would never wait that long (15 months) again with my next child(ren). I read this book just before my second turned 4 months old. She was impossible to get down for naps very early on–like 1 month old. Even as a sleepy newborn, she didn't want to be rocked to sleep. It was to the point of bouncing and shaking her an ungodly amount as she screamed and finally fell asleep from exhaustion every. single. nap. After practicing the techniques in this book and tweaking according to my baby's needs, she goes down for bedtime sleep and naps independently. As we are still early in the process (one week) I have to make adjustments and it's not flawless, but there is a considerable difference than what I was dealing with before. The 4 month sleep regression isn't so dreaded because she has the tools she needs to fall asleep independently and connect sleep cycles.
I couldn't recommend this book enough. If you even think you might want to sleep train, or, if you are adamant that you never would want to, read this book. It might just make you see that sleep training isn't a blanket term for CIO and causing attachment issues with your infant. It could truly change your life.
Sleep training is something I speak passionately about because it truly changed my life (and my husband's, and my toddler's) once I got my oldest sleep trained. I swore I would never wait that long (15 months) again with my next child(ren). I read this book just before my second turned 4 months old. She was impossible to get down for naps very early on–like 1 month old. Even as a sleepy newborn, she didn't want to be rocked to sleep. It was to the point of bouncing and shaking her an ungodly amount as she screamed and finally fell asleep from exhaustion every. single. nap. After practicing the techniques in this book and tweaking according to my baby's needs, she goes down for bedtime sleep and naps independently. As we are still early in the process (one week) I have to make adjustments and it's not flawless, but there is a considerable difference than what I was dealing with before. The 4 month sleep regression isn't so dreaded because she has the tools she needs to fall asleep independently and connect sleep cycles.
I couldn't recommend this book enough. If you even think you might want to sleep train, or, if you are adamant that you never would want to, read this book. It might just make you see that sleep training isn't a blanket term for CIO and causing attachment issues with your infant. It could truly change your life.
March 28, 2026
Sleep is foundational for both babies and parents, yet so many of us are left trying to piece together advice from social media and Google. This book brings everything together in one place, backed by research and explained clearly. It gives you a path forward that feels both effective and aligned with how you want to parent.
April 8, 2026
The peaceful sleeper made sleep training so approachable. It gave me a clear plan without feeling rigid. I wanted a road map but I also wanted yo be able to respond to my baby when i felt he needed.
I have used the peaceful sleeper methods for lots of friends. I will give this book to all my friends as they have babies!
I have used the peaceful sleeper methods for lots of friends. I will give this book to all my friends as they have babies!
May 7, 2026
Can I give a book 100 stars?? Because this deserves it!! After reading many sleep books and trying and failing at many approaches I feel like this is the best most comprehensive approach to sleep. I love how scientifically based it is, how realistic it is, and how empowering it is rather than judgmental. What a gift to parents, families, and our babies.
March 26, 2026
If you’re looking for a supportive, “sturdy leader”, tuned-in approach to parenting and SLEEP, this is it. It is comprehensive, clear, based on actual science, and teaches you, the parent, how to achieve your sleep goals in a way that works for your family. Highly recommend!
March 28, 2026
What makes this book stand out is the combination of research and practicality. The author clearly understands the science behind sleep, but also understands what it’s like to actually be a parent in the trenches. That combination makes the guidance feel both credible and doable.
April 2, 2026
I am so extremely grateful for The Peaceful Sleeper and the advice in this book. It doesn't push any extreme sleep training methods and instead helped us come up with the perfect approach to our baby's sleep. THANK YOU!! You have saved this tired mama!!
May 8, 2026
It works! I took her online course back in 2020 for my first child and this book was the perfect refresher for my third baby. Her tactics are easy to implement and perfectly adjustable for every need. This method is saving my sanity!!
Read
May 1, 2026Not officially read. Moved into read to keep Giveaway tag while getting off of my Want to Read Shelf.
August 5, 2026
Will move to five stars if it works
April 10, 2026
Chrissy Lawler is the only sleep training expert you need to help your baby sleep through the night. I used her approach with both of my babies and it was instrumental in how I learned properly about infant sleep. It helped me find structure during the day so I could set up my baby for good sleep at night. It just made sense when she explains it. Her advice helped me get my life back after my babies because when my baby is sleeping, I too got to sleep! Once I was sleeping again, I felt like I could tackle anything and everything life threw at me. Chrissy Lawler is a game changer!
Review of advance copy
Chrissy Lawler, MS, LMFT offers some relief for parents with her new book, The Peaceful Sleeper, An Intuitive Approach to Baby Sleep, an easy-to-digest guide to help your baby sleep. Lawler explores the science behind sleep patterns and explains why sleep is so important, for all of us. She offers a step-by-step method to help babies work toward independent sleep that parents will find both manageable and flexible.
While I'm not a new parent, I enjoyed this book. Yes, it validates many things I have done myself, but I also learned some new tips I look forward to sharing with my kids and using myself when Grandma-duty coincides with bedtime. Lawler uses her experience as a family therapist to explain why it is important to sleep train babies: quite simply, it is good for them, and also for the rest of their families. She shares her methods as a successful sleep coach while stressing that parents can and should adapt her program to meet their personal needs. She empowers parents, pointing out that all babies are different, even in the same family, and that these are not hard and fast “rules.”
While I'm not a new parent, I enjoyed this book. Yes, it validates many things I have done myself, but I also learned some new tips I look forward to sharing with my kids and using myself when Grandma-duty coincides with bedtime. Lawler uses her experience as a family therapist to explain why it is important to sleep train babies: quite simply, it is good for them, and also for the rest of their families. She shares her methods as a successful sleep coach while stressing that parents can and should adapt her program to meet their personal needs. She empowers parents, pointing out that all babies are different, even in the same family, and that these are not hard and fast “rules.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
Chrissy gives a holistic, kind, direct approach to how important sleep is to the whole family system. She makes baby sleep (which can feel extremely overwhelming) feel manageable and gives tactical tools to approach getting your whole family to sleep through the night. And she’s funny. :)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews