Getting a baby to sleep through the night is one of the first major challenges faced by many new parents. Most full-term, healthy infants are physically capable of sleeping through the night by four to six months of age. One method many parents try is known as the Ferber method, a regimen of sleep training initially developed by Dr. Richard Ferber. The goal of the Ferber method is to help babies learn how to soothe themselves to sleep and to develop the ability to re-settle themselves if they wake up during the night.
Step 1
Help baby get ready for sleep by creating a bedtime routine or continuing an existing one. Sleep routines help condition baby to expect bedtime. Some common events included in bedtime routines include a bath, feeding, story and cuddle.
Step 2
Put baby to bed in a crib in his own room while he is sleepy but still awake. This is important because he needs to learn to fall asleep on his own.
Step 3
On the first night, wait five minutes before going in to comfort your baby when she cries. Do not pick her up out of the crib. Reassure her calmly and quickly and leave the room. If she continues crying, wait 10 minutes before going in to her. If she is still crying, wait 15 minutes. If she continues crying, go into her at 15-minute intervals for the rest of the night.
Step 4
On the second night, wait 10 minutes before going in to settle your baby the first time. At the second interval, wait 15 minutes. At the third interval and any subsequent intervals for the rest of the night, wait 20 minutes before going in to him.
Step 5
Wait 15 minutes at the first interval on the third night. Lengthen the second interval to 20 minutes before going in to her. For the third interval and any ones that follow, wait for 25 minutes.
Tips and Warnings
- Be consistent. Once you begin this method, you need to respond to bedtime and night wakings the same way every night. Make sure both parents are committed to the method. Allow baby to sleep with something that smells like Mom.
- Parents who are very uncomfortable hearing their babies cry may have difficulty with this regimen and might prefer to try a gentler method. Breastfeeding mothers may not want to allow their babies to sleep through an entire night without feeding for the sake of maintaining an adequate milk supply. Do not try this method with children younger than four months.
