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The Happy Sleeper

The Science-Backed Guide to Helping Your Baby Get a Good Night's Sleep-Newborn to School Age

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The Happy Sleeper

Written by: Heather Turgeon MFT, Julie Wright MFT, Daniel J. Siegel - introduction M.D.
Narrated by: Heather Turgeon MFT, Julie Wright MFT
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About this listen

 UPDATED IN 2024

Many parents feel pressured to "train" babies and young children to sleep. But kids don't need to be trained to sleep--they're built to sleep. Sleep issues arise when parents (with the best of intentions) over-help or "helicopter parent" at night, overshadowing their baby's innate biological ability to sleep well. In The Happy Sleeper, child sleep experts Heather Turgeon and Julie Wright show parents how to be sensitive and nurturing, but also clear and structured so that babies and little kids develop the self-soothing skills they need to:





  • fall asleep independently
  • establish a full, 11-12 hour night of sleep
  • take regular, healthy naps
  • grow into natural, optimal sleep patterns for day and night.

The Happy Sleeper is a research-based guide to helping children do what comes naturally--sleep through the night.

The Happy Sleeper features a foreword by neuropsychiatrist and popular parenting expert Dr. Daniel Siegel, author of Parenting from the Inside Out and the New York Times bestseller Brainstorm.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF of worksheets and charts from the book. Infants & Toddlers Parenting & Families Personal Development Physical Illness & Disease Relationships School-Age Children Sleep Disorders Health Toddler Infant Happiness Helping Baby Sleep

What the critics say

"Clear a space on your bookshelf! You'll be consulting this friendly, research-based guide to the blessings of sleep for you and your little ones for many years to come."
—Adele Faber, co-author of How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

“Compassionate, courageous, and creative. . . Heather Turgeon and Julie Wright have written a user-friendly, scientifically-informed, practical guide that provides the information and intention you need to cultivate healthy sleeping habits not only for your child, but for yourself as well! Give your children the relationship security they need while also providing them the structure they require to sleep well and thrive.”
—from the foreword by Daniel J. Siegel, MD, New York Times-bestselling author of Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain

“An important resource for parents seeking to give their children a lifetime of quality sleep. Good sleep habits are vital to child development and overall health, and The Happy Sleeper offers real-world strategies for getting children the sleep they need.”
—David M. Cloud, CEO, National Sleep Foundation

“Solid information on children’s brain development and physiology supports a clear and systematic “attunement” philosophy that strikes a happy balance between “cry it out” and “over-helping.” Turgeon and Wright’s compassionate but firm system reminds parents that even the smallest infants are already learners, and to be cognizant of what they want to teach.”
—Publishers Weekly
All stars
Most relevant
The book did a fair job of covering the sleep wave. I left with many unanswered questions due though. I think the authors glossed over how children typically react and didn't spend time painting a detailed picture of normalcy. What should I expect? What signals that the methods doesn't work? Or perhaps the method is infallible?

Fair coverage, left with unanswered questions

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audio book a are great for busy commuting moms like me, in less than 1 week I was done with the book. I started the sleep wave on Friday for my 1 year old that would wake every 2 hours and he slept all night long! So happy I got this book!

my baby slept all night!

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This informative book was very helpful in helping me to understand my new baby’s sleep, and how I could help her to sleep better using scientific research and a loving coaching approach. I highly recommend!

Very informative and helpful read.

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I haven’t finished listening yet, but it would be helpful if the chapters matched up with the book chapters/what they are saying. And if the Audible chapters were titled.

Wish was a bit better.

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Here it is: instead of going gradually with the visits to your crying baby, go on a flat rate every 5 minutes. Leave her crying and repeat. That's it!
What a waste of time and energy for a sleep deprived mom. I really had my hopes with this book, but not at my baby's expense and stress.
What they provide is a "selective science studies" of course, that's what sells.
If you really want to try this NOT guilt free method, go to YouTube and watch a 4 min video of Ferber method (just adjust the visits every 5 min) and save your time and money.
If you want a more nurturing science based caring methods, go with "Sweet Sleep by La Leche League" or "Baby Sleep by Marc Lewis"

Same Ferber method with a little make-up

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I bought the book thinking it was truly a gentle sleep training approach. However, it’s just the Ferber method with 5 minute intervals and no touching just voice prompt and leave. I like the story telling and routine ideas, but when it came to the approach for how to help get your child to sleep it falls short. Honestly wanted to give it a chance but it doesn’t sit well with me as being gentle.

Promise falls short on being gentle

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Was so excited to listen to this just to find its essentially sleep training advice at its core

Just another sugar coated sleep training book

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