The Peaceful Sleeper

An Intuitive Approach to Baby Sleep

Lawler, Chrissy

1. Edition March 2026
288 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd

ISBN: 978-1-394-32886-4

John Wiley & Sons

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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

"The Peaceful Sleeper provides a clear, easy-to-digest overview of infant sleep development that parents can actually use. Grounded in evidence-based research and developmental theory, the approach is refreshingly practical, from building strong sleep foundations in the first four months to thoughtfully introducing sleep training later on. As a pediatric sleep psychologist, this is the kind of guidance I would confidently recommend to the families I work with."
--Dr. Kara McRae Duraccio, Pediatric Psychologist

"Finally, a book that successfully tames the Wild West of sleep training! Chrissy Lawler acknowledges and explains the complexity of baby sleep while providing clear, accessible steps to make restful nights a reality in your home. And if that isn't enough, she'll have you laughing the whole way through."
--Larry J. Nelson, Ph.D., Professor at Brigham Young University, School of Family Life

"The Peaceful Sleeper offers exhausted parents a calm, evidence-based path through one of the most polarizing topics in modern parenting. With deep clinical expertise and real-life experience, Chrissy Lawler empowers families to build healthy sleep in a way that supports secure attachment, parental well-being, and the entire family system. This book replaces fear and confusion with clarity, confidence, and compassion."
--Dr. Morgan Cutlip, Author and Relationship Expert

Sleep is the thing that drives new parents crazy--and it's also the most important thing for your baby's growth and development. In The Peaceful Sleeper, therapist and sleep expert Chrissy Lawler gives straightforward, real-world guidance to teach your baby how to sleep soundly and independently. Because good sleep isn't luck--it's a skill your baby can learn.
--Sharon Mazel, Parenting Expert and Author of Bite-Sized Parenting: Your Baby's First Year

chrissy lawler, LMFT,is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 15 years of experience, as well as the owner, founder, and CEO of The Peaceful Sleeper, where she offers coaching, courses, and resources for parents to achieve better sleep and mental health for their babies and themselves.