Sleeping Through the Night, Revised Edition by Jodi A. Mindell Summary

Sleeping Through the Night, Revised Edition provides evidence-based strategies to help infants, toddlers, and their families improve sleep patterns. Dr. Jodi A. Mindell emphasizes bedtime routines over middle-of-the-night interventions, offering step-by-step methods, case studies, and coping techniques for parents. The book addresses common challenges like night waking and bedtime resistance while highlighting the importance of consistency and family support.

This book is ideal for parents and caregivers struggling with children’s sleep issues, particularly those with infants or toddlers experiencing frequent night awakenings or bedtime resistance. It also benefits pediatric professionals seeking research-backed sleep solutions, as 25% of young children face sleep-related challenges.

Yes, the book is praised for its clear, actionable advice and compassionate approach. Reviews highlight its effectiveness in reducing parental stress and improving sleep patterns through structured routines and gradual training methods. Dr. Mindell’s methods are supported by clinical research and real-world success stories.

Key strategies include establishing consistent bedtime routines, using gradual "check-and-console" methods to encourage self-soothing, and minimizing nighttime interventions. Dr. Mindell prioritizes resolving bedtime struggles first, which often leads to longer stretches of uninterrupted sleep.

Unlike other guides, this book focuses on bedtime techniques rather than middle-of-the-night training. It also emphasizes family-wide coping strategies and includes practical tips for managing parental stress during the process.

Yes, the book features case studies and quotes from parents who’ve successfully implemented Dr. Mindell’s methods. These examples illustrate solutions for issues like nap refusal, night feedings, and early wake-ups.

It tackles frequent night waking, difficulty falling asleep independently, bedtime resistance, and inconsistent nap schedules. The book also covers transitions like moving from a crib to a bed or dropping pacifiers.

Some parents find Dr. Mindell’s "gentle" methods still involve controlled crying, which may not align with attachment parenting principles. Others note results depend on consistent implementation, which can be challenging during setbacks.

Dr. Mindell is a clinical psychologist, associate director of the Sleep Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and professor at Saint Joseph’s University. She has authored over 25 papers on pediatric sleep and chairs the Pediatric Sleep Council.

Critical lessons include the importance of predictable bedtime routines, teaching self-soothing skills, and addressing sleep associations (e.g., rocking or feeding to sleep). The book also stresses parental teamwork and managing expectations during training.

The methods apply to infants as young as 4–6 months up to toddlers aged 3–4 years. Specific advice is tailored to developmental stages, including weaning night feedings and transitioning to toddler beds.

While not its primary focus, Dr. Mindell references cross-cultural sleep patterns in her research and acknowledges variations in co-sleeping or bedtime routines. Her strategies are adaptable to diverse family preferences.