How Babies Sleep: A Factful Guide to the First 365 Days and Nights

by Professor Helen L. Ball

The definitive new science and data-led guide on baby sleep for new parents from director of the University Durham Sleep & Infancy Centre, Professor Helen L. Ball.

‘As compassionate as it is clinically rigorous . . . a myth-busting, parent-respecting, evidence-soaked call to rethink everything we think we know about infant sleep.’
Guddi Singh, British Medical Journal

‘Clearly written and engaging, with really useful suggestions that will help manage parents’ expectations and anxiety . . . 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

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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.

How Babies Sleep 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.

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What parents are

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'The only sleep book parents need.'

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'This book is insightful, reassuring, and empowering. A definite 10/10.'

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'You need this in your home . . . I intend to gift this book to any future pregnant women.'

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'A validating and paradigm shifting book for parents - I’ll be recommending it to everyone I know who is due to go through the newborn period!'

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'This is a fantastic resource for anyone caring for a baby. It's honest and frank, but most importantly backed by science and not just opinion . . . It would make my list of top five books for parents.'

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'As a first-time mum I found this book so helpful and interesting, it's really helped me understand what to expect and how I can support my baby in a healthy and loving way.'

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Health, Psychology, Childrens, Ebooks, Anthropology

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 29, 2025

Reviews

[Marisa Gaudet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should literally be a mandated read for all new parents! As a postpartum doula, I see that my clients are mostly taken aback and have a hard time adjusting when they don’t know what infant sleep is biologically supposed to look like. This book lays it all out without fear. I will be recommending to all my clients from here on out!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited when I heard that the wonderful Prof Helen Ball was writing a book about infant sleep for parents! Her research work and advocacy have been pivotal for my PhD in infant sleep, and now that I have a baby of my own, this book landed for me in the most reassuring way. This is the one book I would want every parent or parent-to-be to read about infant sleep.

[Jennie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've already listened to this twice as a first time parent of a 3 month old.
Extremely reassuring and makes complete intuitive sense.
Thank you for writing this.

[Jonelle Lund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every new parent, pediatrician, nurse, doula, IBCLC or anyone else that cares for newborns should be required to read this book! Phenomenal explanation of how newborn’s brains work!

[Carla Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you, like I did when I found this book, are desperately searching for answers for your baby’s sleep problems: PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. Before you spend your hard-earned money on a sleep consultant’s foolproof guide or invest in products that promise to be the solution to all your sleep troubles - READ THIS BOOK!!!
I genuinely cannot give enough praise to Prof Helen Ball for the incredible guide she has produced in this book.
If her intention was to help new parents understand their babies’ sleep and feel calmer and more reassured about the challenges they may face - then she has certainly accomplished that goal with this reader!
I found the entire book incredibly insightful. It is based entirely on science but is written in an easy-to-understand, matter-of-fact way. There are no guarantees, promises, or promotions of what works and what doesn’t. Rather, Prof Ball offers what evidence sleep science and research cases have found to be true, and the reassurance that you as parent should do what works best for YOU.
I learned so much about baby biology as well as how society has shaped how we view and handle baby sleep matters.
I have come out the other end of this book feeling like I can tackle any sleep-related issue I may face for the next several months/years of my baby’s life.
Thank you so much, Prof Ball. This was quite literally a life-changing read. I will never stop recommending this to other parents.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had read this before I had my baby, but reading this felt very reassuring. This book has super useful, scientifically backed information and tips about infant sleep that helps to cut out the noise out there about this topic on the internet and social media. Written more like a popular science book than a parental help book, but still very accessible and intuitive without feeling pushy. I loved the anthropological and historial exploration of how Western sleep practises developed and how this might not be aligned with what an infant needs biologically or evolutionarily, as well as the in-depth exploration about the varying risk factors for SIDS and how infant and maternal care will benefit from more nuance around this. Will be recommending this to all my expecting and future expecting friends!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be a requirement for all new parents—helps with sleep expectations in the first year of life. Has helped me tremendously.

[Court]

I enjoyed reading this, and I especially liked the way the author presented different topics / research. It didn’t feel like she was trying to push any particular methods on parents, but instead was presenting the findings of research and allowing you to come to your own conclusions.

I did appreciate how she expressed that it can be beneficial to try out various approaches for sleep because some things will work for certain parents and babies, but also you gotta be flexible because what works one day may not work the next.

I also feel like she stressed the importance of understanding that what’s “normal” for baby sleep can vary so much and there really aren’t set timelines, because truly every baby is going to be so different. It takes off a lot of pressure that you might feel from being on social media or even just from talking to other moms about how their baby was sleeping x amount of hours by x age. If you have too high of expectations or compare yourself/your baby to others, it will likely only end in frustration.

It was also nice that she sprinkled in some of her personal experiences as a mother, because that’s always cool to hear about too! But yeah overall would recommend reading this if you’re pregnant or have a newborn or if you’re just intrigued by baby sleep research.

[Breanna Steinmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deserves all of the flowers.
For starters, it’s fascinating. It explores baby sleep from multiple academic perspectives and there is so much densely packed into it. Secondly, Ball does data and statistics so well. I don’t think I’ve ever been more confident that what an author is presenting to me is well researched and factual. And finally, it cuts through all the noise, confusion, and nonsense that surrounds this topic which left me feeling confident and encouraged. I wish I would have read this before my baby was born!

[Noortje · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heel fijn boek! Goede uitgebreide uitleg over de biologie van slaap en ook mega handige praktische tips. Ook heel fijn dat ze uitlegt hoe je vooral moet doen wat voor jou werkt, en dat er geen one size fits all benadering is

[Kendra Schmid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book!!! So much valuable and interesting information about the biology of baby sleep, and what to actually expect in the first year of raising a child, their realistic needs and why they behave the way they do. Instead of seeing this as a problem with the baby, understanding why they are the way they are and focusing on strategies for parents to meet their own needs instead of putting the burden on babies to sleep in a way that is desirable to parents.

[Kara Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like all that I learned in this book, but I got tired of thinking and hyper fixating on baby sleep issues when they simply just get better with time. I needed a book on this topic to have helpful ways for me to improve my situation, not just let me know that yes baby sleep SUCKS and here’s why.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I was looking for: science backed but not boring, and most importantly it challenged and changed my attitude towards baby sleep completely. I hope I’ll go into this new journey with a more realistic view and compassion towards our little one.

[Sarah Sailer]

Really interesting!

[بدور · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best book I've read about baby sleep, helped me come into terms with my baby's ever-changing sleep patterns 🤹🏻‍♀️

[Taylor Clarke · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is what I get for taking book recs from Instagram

[Maddie Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

first half 4, second half 3

[Mary Kildare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll probably never shut up about this book!

[Marilou Meilleur · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’aurais vraiment aimé faire cette lecture avant l’arrivée de bébé! Ça m’aurait sauvé beaucoup de préoccupations et de stress inutiles causés par tous les commentaires de l’entourage sur le sommeil de bébé. Le livre m’a permis de revoir mes attentes (et de comprendre d’où elles provenaient) en plus de me valider dans mes interventions.

[Abbie Tollestrup · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

If you’re someone who needs some assurance about baby sleep and that it doesn’t need to be this crazy stressful thing, this book is really good and I really liked it. If you love sleep training, don’t read this book.

[Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This evidence-based guide challenges common myths about infant sleep and explains how and why babies sleep the way they do. Professor Helen Ball combines research from anthropology, biology, and parenting to offer realistic expectations and respectful support for families.

Why It’s Included:

It affirms natural infant sleep behaviours and encourages parents to trust their instincts rather than follow rigid routines. The book supports responsive parenting and safe co-sleeping, aligning closely with our sleep philosophy.

Who It’s For:

Highly recommended for expectant and new parents, as well as professionals supporting families with infant sleep concerns.

“Anticipating this book from the first announcement it was being written, reading it was everything I had hoped it would be. Professor Helen Ball draws upong all the very latest in infant sleep research to create the definitive guide for parents and those supporting them”

— Yvette O'Dowd

[Elizabeth Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Method: 🎧
Loved this. Made me feel much better at times that I needed to know I wasn’t doing anything wrong, and kept me company in the middle of the night for the bits that were going wrong anyway.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book... which seems long overdue... by an eminent (at least as far as I am concerned) researcher who moved into the field from primatology. The agenda is science and how babies *are*, not how we would like them to be.

But Helen Ball is also a mother, albeit one who seems to have been remarkably resistant to a lot of the pressures on new mothers (despite academia being notoriously unsupportive to mothers). Partly perhaps due to her intercontinental move (a good way to demonstrate the variations in practice which are about culture rather than biology) combined with her scientific and enquiring mind. She seems remarkably firm, whilst also being compassionate, understanding that the challenge is to meet the needs of babies when so much of the modern world pushes the other way, in the process squashing the real needs of parents, particularly mothers. She talks wryly about the differences between her babies.

[Tara Letch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me 4 months to slowly chip away at this 😅 who knew that reading a book about infant sleep while 2/3 of your own children are sleeping terribly could be so triggering.

This book is an amazing resource that I know I will continue to refer back to time and time again, both as a mum and a clinician providing sleep support to families. The content and research inside of this book was so validating. It confirms what we all instinctually know about our babies as mothers. 250 pages of permission to no longer adhere to the sleep guidelines dictated by old men, with no research backing them up. An important reminder that us and our babies aren’t broken, the rest of the world is. I wish every parent and carer of infants/young children could read this. Honestly the only sleep advice anyone could ever need - burn everything else!

[Sky Sun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for all new parents!!! A science-based, balanced and anthropological view on infant sleep. What the book has taught me: trust your instincts, trust your babies, manage your expectations, internet is not that helpful only anxiety inducing, and it will all get better.

[Linda (The Arizona Bookstagrammer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Grand Central Publishing @grandcentralpub and Helen L. Ball @basis_babysleepinfosource for this free book!
“How Babies Sleep: A Science-Based Guide to the First 365 Days and Nights ” by Helen L. Ball ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Science-based Child Development.

Baby sleep doesn’t need fixing—only our understanding of it! Infant sleep is terribly misunderstood, with parents and professionals trying to manipulate babies’ sleep to fit adult lives. Unfortunately, this creates a problem with babies’ biology commonly called ‘baby sleep problems’, which leads to infants being ‘treated’ using behavioural and clinical interventions. Instead, let’s harmonize our needs with those of our babies, and reject approaches that make us and babies uncomfortable. Safe, healthy infant sleep is critical to brain development and lifelong health.

Author Ball has written a science-based, empathetic book for parents of newborns who are trying to maintain a sleep routine. Her book combines cutting-edge science, anthropological insight, and practical advice. She describes the evolutionary reasons for how babies sleep, how cultural context influences our perceptions of baby sleep and professional advice, and clearly shows how families can understand their children’s individual sleep patterns and requirements, relax, and enjoy their babies who then receive the rest they need.

Dr. Ball is Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Durham Infancy & Sleep Centre. She pioneered the translation of academic research on infant sleep into evidence for use by parents and healthcare staff via BASIS – the Baby Sleep Information Source website. Durham University was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Ball’s research and outreach on parent-infant sleep. It’s clear, it’s hopeful, it’s a comforting survival guide, and it’s 5 stars from me 📚👩🏼‍🦳#babysleep #helenlball #howbabiessleep

[Elyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a baby boy who is just over two months old and this book was perfect for us (I actually wish I had read it before I had him). I really thought I would sleep train him because I am so obsessed with sleep and knew I would just want to get as much of it as possible in new parenthood. However, we have ended up doing almost all contact naps and co-sleeping (safely!) for about half the night and I can say that I feel pretty good. We, of course, will see lots of changes to his and our sleep throughout this first year but right now this works for us and this book really supported parents finding that. I loved that it is science and research backed (especially all the stuff about how sleep trained babies and parents only tend to get a negligible amount of sleep more than those who do not sleep train—if any difference does exist). I love knowing that our human biology makes babies want to sleep near us and find it cruel to imagine stamping out the innate desire to cry. I loved learning about how sleep regressions are not based in science and that things like snoos or sound machines are really not necessary. Babies really just need us, as calm adults (I also loved learning about how they pick up on our stress) and that we may just need extra support if the lack of sleep is too hard.

Side note: I also thought it was fascinating that historically (before the advent of electric light), humans slept in two sleep chunks, waking up in the middle of the night to read, chat quietly, etc, I find this really comforting when I’m up in the night.

[Alison Grant (Henry) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since having a baby this summer, I’ve been asked dozens of times about my baby’s sleep. Well-meaning friends and family constantly ask if baby is sleeping through the night, if baby has a sleep schedule, if we plan to sleep train, etc. All that to say, I’m experiencing firsthand our culture’s obsession with baby sleep.

This book was immensely helpful to read during the first few months of my child’s life. The author is clearly a leading voice in her field and beautifully presents scientific research & an anthropological perspective on baby sleep. She even includes just enough of her own experiences to make the book feel warm, gentle, and, at times, even humorous. I greatly appreciated the advice she shared most frequently in the book: there is no “right way” to manage my baby’s sleep— keeping safety in mind, I can experiment with things that work for my family and relax knowing that those practices may not work forever. When things no longer work, I have options and I can try something new that feels right to me as a mother.

I listened to this book on Libby (the author narrates it herself!) and loved it so much I just ordered a copy I can reference in the future or loan to friends. 100% recommend!

[BethReadsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

MUST-READ for new and expecting parents!!

The scientific and anthropological reality that is explored here is that babies’ sleep is not broken. Frequent wake ups are totally natural and we as a post-industrialised society are trying to force babies unnaturally to our modern sleeping patterns, which is bonkers and likely going to end in stress for everyone.

This book reassures parents that every baby is different, and to manage expectations regarding their sleep. Your baby isn’t broken, and the sleep trainers who tell you they are stand to gain a lot of money from vulnerable, tired parents (because although natural, sleep disruption is almost inevitable. Just roll with it).

Another key takeaway was that we were supposed to raise babies with constant community support, which Western society has removed. I found this hugely reassuring because I sometimes doubted myself for finding it often such an exhausting journey, but now it all makes sense.

A really grounded, logical, big-hearted read.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife and I were getting so anxious about our infant's sleep. It felt like we were getting so much conflicting advice and strategies that felt cruel and self serving over genuinely helpful. How Babies Sleep covers not only "traditional" infant advice, but takes the cultural anthropological lens to see how babies sleep across cultures and generations. What has worked for who? When were these considered proper and safe and when not?

Now in the year of our Lord Sobek 2026, the most anxiety inducing advice, don't let your baby sleep on their own, is easily modified with camera based baby monitors. But it's almost impossible to read this, or other similar parenting books, and not feel like you're doing something wrong. What Helen Ball manages to do over other titles is communicate this information in an effective, relatable, and adaptable manner that conveys what you should know without making you feel like a failure.