Infant Sleep: What do Doulas Need to Know?

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This talk discusses how concepts of ‘normal infant sleep’ differ within and between and between cultures, and across biological, medical, and social domains. Using a bio-anthropological perspective we will explore how and why babies sleep as they do, what happens when baby sleep needs conflict with those of parents, and how we might normalise expectations. We will explore parents’ perspectives and experiences on the relationship between feeding methods and sleep outcomes, and consider the tools and strategies available to help parents who are experiencing difficulties with infant sleep.

Helen Ball

BSc, MA, PhD

Durham Infancy & Sleep Centre, & Baby Sleep Information Source (BASIS), Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK

Professor Helen Ball researches the sleep ecology and behaviour of parents and babies, infant sleep development, and the discordance between biological and cultural views on sleep. Her research is used in national and international policy and practice guidelines on infant care, and was awarded the 2018 Queen’s Anniversary Prize.