Abstract: Described herein is a device (100) for inducing and maintaining sleep in which one of a number of sleep programs can be selected in accordance with the requirement of a user, in addition, a background can be selected by the user which forms part of the program. The device (100) includes a display (120) and a control panel (130) mounted in a housing (110). Individual sleep programs are selected using the control panel (130) and the display (120). The device (100) includes processing unit (140) connected to a memory (150) and a driver (160) for a pair of speakers (170, 175) through which the selected sleep program is played to the user.