It's Never Too Late To Sleep Train
The book
It's Never Too Late to Sleep Train
The Low-Stress Way to High-Quality Sleep for Babies, Kids, and Parents
Stop nighttime wakings, bedtime battles, and pre-dawn wake-up calls — for good. A practical, judgment-free plan from the director of the Yale Pediatric Sleep Center.
Also available as an ebook and audiobook.
Sound familiar?
Bedtime is an emotional tug of war, and you can't remember your last night of uninterrupted sleep.
Bedtime battles
Stalling, tears, and a two-hour routine that ends with everyone exhausted — except your child.
Night wakings
Your child can't fall asleep — or stay asleep — without you in the room, in the bed, or down the hall on call.
Pre-dawn wake-ups
The day starts at 5 a.m. whether you're ready or not, and naps never quite recover.
You haven't missed the window
Other sleep books offer contradictory advice, most of it aimed at infants — and none of it seems to stick. Your best intentions slip away each night at bedtime.
When Dr. Canapari became a father, he realized that even three years of 36-hour hospital shifts couldn't prepare him for the sleep deprivation of parenthood. Parents never get a break, and sleepless nights become the default because moms and dads don't know what else to do.
In It's Never Too Late to Sleep Train, he distills years of clinical research and experience into a simple, stress-free plan for parents of children six months through six years — and older. It was written especially for parents of preschool and school-age kids, who are usually left out of sleep training advice entirely.
And "cry it out" isn't the only way. There are many paths to better sleep — you can find one that fits your parenting values, and this book will help you do it.
Praise for the book
From pediatricians, sleep scientists, and exhausted parents.
"Dr. Canapari's book is the new gold standard when it comes to sleep advice for families… This book is perfect for helping any parent solve the most common childhood sleep problems."
"I wish I had this book when my children were toddlers! It is full of wonderful tips and practical advice and is fun to read… The title says it all."
"This book is like having a pediatric sleep expert on speed dial. Every parent will benefit from Dr. Canapari's sensible, science-backed advice… the practical way out of the cycle of overnight awakening and exhaustion."
"Of all the resources I've used in my profession (sleep related or not), this is one of the best… three weeks later he is going to bed in his crib and sleeping about 9 to 10 hours through the night!"
Meet the author
Craig Canapari, MD
Associate professor at the Yale School of Medicine, director of the Yale Pediatric Sleep Center, and attending physician at Yale New Haven Hospital. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. His site, DrCraigCanapari.com, is one of the world's most popular physician-led resources on children's sleep — millions of exhausted parents have turned to it for practical, gentle advice.
He lives outside New Haven with his wife and two sons.
Start tonight — free
Not sure which sleep training method fits your family?
Take the 2-minute quiz to find your child's best-fit method, or grab the free Sleep Training Starter Kit — both come with ongoing guidance by email.
Get your whole family the sleep they need
Available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook — and in seven languages.
Originally published September 2019. Last reviewed/updated by Dr. Craig Canapari, MD in July 2026