What You'll Learn

This book offers a deeper understanding of infant sleep along with a toolkit of gentle strategies. Readers will discover why newborns wake frequently and how to respond without creating unsustainable habits, how to create a calming bedtime environment that signals sleep readiness, and gentle techniques for reducing night wakings as your child grows. It also covers when and how to transition from co-sleeping to independent sleep, how to manage common sleep disruptors like teething, illness, separation anxiety, and developmental leaps, and the role of nutrition and daily routines in promoting restful sleep. Practical ways to involve partners and siblings in nighttime care are also included.

Who Should Read This Book?

Nighttime Parenting is an invaluable resource for a wide Canadian audience. It is designed for new parents overwhelmed by conflicting sleep advice, offering clear, evidence-based guidance that respects both baby and parent needs. Parents of toddlers and preschoolers will find age-specific help for night terrors, bedtime resistance, and transitioning from crib to bed. Attachment-focused families practising babywearing, breastfeeding, or co-sleeping will find that the book validates and expands their approach. Grandparents and caregivers can learn the science behind modern attachment parenting to support family choices. Professionals such as paediatricians, child psychologists, lactation consultants, and early childhood educators will benefit from a research-backed, family-friendly perspective on infant sleep.

Key Features

This paperback edition brings together Dr. Sears' expertise in paediatrics and attachment parenting. Key features include:

• Author Credentials: William Sears, M.D., is a trusted paediatrician, co-founder of the attachment parenting philosophy, and author of over 30 parenting books. His clinical background and hands-on experience with thousands of families underpin every recommendation.
• Target Audience: Designed for parents of infants, toddlers, and young children seeking gentle sleep solutions. Also valuable for educators, therapists, and healthcare professionals interested in child development and sleep physiology.
• Core Topics: Covers infant sleep cycles, night waking, co-sleeping considerations, bedtime routines, and age-appropriate sleep expectations. Emphasizes understanding the biology of infant sleep rather than forcing a schedule.
• Format: Easy-to-read paperback with practical tips, case examples, and actionable advice. Suitable for quick reference during exhausting nights.

About the Author

Dr. William Sears is a board-certified paediatrician who has practised for over 40 years. He is the author of more than 40 books on parenting, child development, and family health. Along with his wife Martha Sears, R.N., he pioneered the attachment parenting philosophy, which emphasizes responsiveness, breastfeeding, babywearing, and co-sleeping. Dr. Sears has been a trusted resource for millions of parents worldwide and frequently contributes to parenting magazines and television programs. His medical expertise and compassionate approach make Nighttime Parenting a credible and reassuring guide for Canadian families.

What Makes This Sleep Book Different?

Most sleep books prescribe strict schedules or cry-it-out methods. Nighttime Parenting stands apart by acknowledging that babies are biologically designed to wake frequently. Dr. Sears explains the protective function of night wakings—reducing the risk of SIDS, ensuring adequate feeding, and strengthening the parent-child bond. Instead of fighting biology, this book helps parents work with their baby's natural rhythms. It explores how responsive nighttime care can actually lead to better sleep over time, as se attachment reduces anxiety and promotes self-regulation.

How Readers Have Responded

Canadian readers have praised the book for its reassuring tone and practical wisdom, noting that it helped them trust their instincts and feel more confident at night. Many appreciate that Dr. Sears normalizes common sleep struggles and offers alternatives to harsh sleep training. Parents frequently comment that the book's compassionate philosophy aligns with their values and leads to more peaceful nights.

Overview

Nighttime Parenting: How to Get Your Baby and Child to Sleep offers a compassionate, attachment-focused approach to infant and child sleep. Written by renowned paediatrician Dr. William Sears, this book challenges conventional sleep-training methods and instead emphasizes responsive parenting that respects both the child's needs and the family's well-being. With decades of clinical experience, Sears provides practical strategies for establishing healthy sleep patterns without resorting to cry-it-out techniques. Whether you are a new parent struggling with frequent night wakings or a caregiver seeking a more nurturing bedtime approach, this book delivers evidence-informed insights grounded in child psychology and developmental science.

This book is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your paediatrician or healthcare provider for concerns about your child's sleep or health.