What is the Ferber method?

Question

I have been hearing a lot about it latley on YA and I was just wondering what it is and how to apply it?

I have a 10 month old son. So im just wondering what this Ferber method is all about?

Answer 1

The Ferber method is a method for teaching babies to sleep through the night. It is described in a book called "Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems" by Dr. Richard Ferber.

The general idea is that babies need to learn to fall asleep on their own in their cribs. Then, when they wake up during the night, they know how to go back to sleep without your help. To apply the method, you put your child in his crib at bedtime and leave. If he cries, go back in at intervals (starting with 5 minutes) and comfort him, but don't let him fall asleep while you're there because the whole point is for him to learn to fall asleep without you. Each night you increase the intervals so you are waiting a longer time between going in a comforting him.

Most people say the first 3 nights or so are really bad, and the babies cry for a long time before falling asleep, but after a few nights they have learned and are able to go asleep on their own.

Obviously, it's controversial. Some people swear by it, others feel it's cruel.

Personally, I have a child who had severe sleep problems, and we had some limited success with the Ferber method, but it did not work as well as I had hoped. I suspect the people who criticize it the most never lived for 4 months on 4 hours of sleep a night (in 2 hour blocks if I was lucky) due to a child with ongoing severe sleep issues.

It's tough to summarize a whole book into a few paragraphs, so if you are thinking about trying it I suggest you read the book first. I found it very informative about sleep in general, even if the method didn't work well for us.

There are other methods out there for teaching babies to sleep, so if you don't like the idea of Ferber, check out your local bookstore - you'll find a whole section of books on the topic, with many different philosophies represented.

Answer 2

The Ferber method is teaching a baby to self soothe themselves to sleep after the age of six months. If done properly, it is very effective. The baby will cry (not scream) at first until they realize they aren't going to be coddled. Eventually (within a day or two depending on age of baby) they will go to bed without a sound. Keep in mind that it only works if done correctly.

People against the Ferber method are just lazy. That's why they say it is cruel. They don't understand that a baby is crying because they are tired and don't know how to sleep on their own. For some parents it is just easier to stick them in bed with them (and risk SIDS) or put a TV in their room and make them fall asleep to Spongebob.

Answer 3

The Ferber method, overall, is not going to your baby when he or she cries for attention to teach him or her independence.

I think that it's a HORRID way to teach a child independence.

**EDIT**

To the fifth answerer:

You don't have to put your child to sleep to spongebob, genius. When a baby under one-year old cries, though, it's important to make sure that nothing is wrong. It doesn't mean that one has to sleep with their baby.

I think that the Ferber method is lazy, truth be told. To me, "Ferber Method" = "I don't want to wake up at two in the morning with my own kid because I want to sleep".

And, Lord only knows what kind of psychological damage that does to the child later in life. I'm sure you don't care, though. Hell, you GOT eight hours a sleep a night, while the rest of us fretted to make sure our children were okay.

Answer 4

It's a parent-lead way of "training" a baby to sleep by leaving them to cry.

Cruel and unnecessary. Babies learn to sleep through the night on their own when they are ready.....just like other developmental milestones.

ETA:
Cosleeping, when done safely, DECREASES the risk of SIDS.

Answer 5

Essentially it teaches a baby to put himself/herself to sleep.

Answer 6

please look at this article before trying crying it out
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/handout2.asp

It's very controversial now in days, you are a parent day and night! How would you like to be alone and upset all night?