In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret Salty interviews Dr. Helen Ball, Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Infancy and Sleep Centre at Durham University in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Ball is one of the world’s leading researchers on infant sleep and parent–infant nighttime behavior. Her work bridges anthropology, public health, and clinical practice, offering an evidence-based understanding of what “normal” infant sleep truly looks like—and why so much of modern sleep advice clashes with biology.

Together, they discuss Dr. Ball’s new book, How Babies Sleep, which explores the evolution, science, and culture of infant sleep across the world. Dr. Ball challenges long-standing myths about “good sleepers,” sheds light on the risks and realities of common practices like bedsharing and sleep training, and highlights how social expectations shape parental stress and decision-making.

She also shares practical, research-based insights for lactation consultants and health professionals supporting families as they navigate infant sleep, feeding, and nighttime care—emphasizing empathy, evidence, and cultural awareness.

They discuss:

• How How Babies Sleep reframes the narrative around “normal” infant sleep
• The cultural roots of Western sleep expectations
• Why frequent night waking is biologically typical—and protective
• How breastfeeding and sleep are deeply intertwined
• What anthropological research reveals about co-sleeping across cultures
• Common misconceptions about bedsharing safety
• Supporting families to make informed, individualized sleep choices
• The importance of aligning sleep advice with human biology and family context

👩‍🏫 Guest Info

Dr. Helen L. Ball

Professor of Anthropology, Durham University

Director, Infancy and Sleep Centre

📘 Book: How Babies Sleep (Pinter & Martin, 2025)

🌐 Website: https://www.dur.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/durham-infancy-sleep-centre/

📝 Connect with Margaret

📬 Email: [email protected]

📸 Instagram: @margaretsalty

📘 Facebook: Margaret Salty

🎙️ Podcast: Behind the Latch

Hosted by: Margaret Salty

Music by: The Magnifiers – My Time Traveling Machine

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