Book Reviews
Yvette O’Dowd has been a passionate reader since childhood. Her first pregnancy in the early 1980s saw her consuming the local library collection of books about pregnancy, childbirth, child development and child care. Having ignited a life-long interest in these subjects, Yvette went on to work at Merrily Merrily Enterprises [the retail arm of the Nursing Mothers’ Association of Australia (now known as The Australian Breastfeeding Association)] from 1995 - 2000. This included the recommendation and sale of books on breastfeeding and human lactation, parenting and related titles to both parents and health professionals.
From 2008 - 2013, Yvette ran The Breastfeeding Centre In Dandenong, Victoria - the Victorian Branch Office of the Australian Breastfeeding Association. Here she curated and maintained an extensive library of books available to both members and volunteers. When establishing the Southern Natural Parenting Network in 2014, Yvette had a vision of a collection of books available to members and the wider community, establishing a community library on wheels available at meets and events. Yvette’ family are resigned to her extensive personal collection! (Thank goodness for the digital revolution!)
Yvette also has a passion for children’s books - particularly picture books - and her collection expanded as her family has. Books for children about babies are of particular interest. Stay tuned for review soon!
Browse Yvette’s recommendations:
Boobin' All Day Boobin' All Night: A Gentle Approach To Sleep For Breastfeeding Families
This book offers a gentle, breastfeeding-friendly approach to infant sleep, grounded in biological norms and real-life experiences. Lactation consultant Meg Nagle challenges the mainstream obsession with sleep training and embraces night-time parenting as an extension of the breastfeeding relationship.
Sleeping Like a Baby
This title explores normal infant sleep through a gentle, biologically informed lens. Rejecting sleep training and rigid schedules, Pinky McKay offers advice on responsive night-time parenting, co-sleeping, sleep regressions, and balancing adult rest with baby needs.
Nighttime Parenting: How to Get Your Baby and Child to Sleep
This early work by Dr. William Sears offers a foundational perspective on infant and toddler sleep through the lens of attachment parenting. It addresses the biological and emotional aspects of children's sleep, emphasizing the importance of responsiveness and connection during nighttime hours. The book discusses topics such as co-sleeping, night nursing, and the developmental nature of sleep patterns, aiming to help parents understand and support their child's sleep needs without resorting to rigid training methods.
Three in the Bed: The Benefits of Sleeping with Your Children
This thoughtful book explores the cultural, emotional, and biological reasons why families throughout history and around the world have shared sleep. Deborah Jackson draws on anthropological insight, parenting experiences, and scientific evidence to advocate for co-sleeping as a natural, nurturing, and safe choice when done responsibly.
How Babies Sleep
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.
Let’s Talk About Your New Baby’s Sleep
In this compassionate and evidence-based book, paediatric nurse and IBCLC Lyndsey Hookway gently unpacks the realities of infant sleep. She challenges myths, reassures parents that frequent waking is normal, and offers practical strategies grounded in responsive care. The book also addresses parental wellbeing, safe sleep environments, and how to tune into your baby’s needs.
Why Your Baby’s Sleep Matters
This compact and informative book offers an evidence-based, gentle perspective on infant sleep. Ockwell-Smith explains why babies sleep the way they do and helps parents understand what’s normal, what’s not, and how to respond compassionately.
Safe Infant Sleep
Written by a pioneering anthropologist and sleep researcher, this book explores the biological and cultural roots of infant sleep. McKenna explains the science behind cosleeping and breastfeeding, dismantling myths and promoting informed, family-centred choices.
The Gentle Sleep Book
A gentle, biologically normal approach to infant and toddler sleep. This book provides age-appropriate expectations, tips for better sleep without crying-it-out, and reassurance that frequent waking is not a parenting failure but a developmental stage.
Sweet Sleep – La Leche League International
This comprehensive book supports breastfeeding families in understanding infant sleep, with a strong focus on safe bedsharing practices. It blends practical advice, real stories, and evidence-based research to help families sleep more peacefully while protecting the breastfeeding relationship.