1. Soundly Sleeping Alone
The Ferber Method of baby sleep training centers around teaching your child to fall asleep on his own beginning at about four to six months of age. Dr. Richard Feber, a pediatrician and director of the Children's Sleep Center in Boston, created this often-misunderstood method of sleep training. His book "Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems," has made him a leading expert on children's sleep since it was published in 1985.
2. Teach Tot to Self-soothe
The method begins with establishing a bedtime routine, such as a warm bath, story, song, a last feeding and cuddling with Mom or Dad. It's important to lay the child in her crib when she's tired but not asleep, to give her the experience of falling asleep on her own. Once the child masters this, he is less likely to cry when he wakes at night, and will have the skills to put himself back to sleep.
3. Waiting and Wailing
The method is based on what Ferber terms as progressive waiting. If your child cries when you leave the room, give her five minutes to settle down on her own. After that, go in and console her for a few moments, but don't pick her up. If she cries again, wait 10 minutes before re-entering, 15 minutes the next time. The child should not be allowed to cry more than 15 minutes the first night. On subsequent nights, wait 10 minutes before re-entering the room the first time, and don't let them cry more than 20 minutes without being consoled. Continue with that pattern as needed. Most children fall asleep during one of these intervals, and the method usually works within a few days to a week.
4. Tailor to Individual Tastes
This method of sleep training isn't a magic formula; it will work well for some families, but not for others. A lot depends on the temperament of the baby. It's important to recognize when the Ferber sleep method isn't working, and research some alternative methods of sleep training instead. Many families find a modified version of the method, such as staying with the first night's schedule for an entire week, can be an easier on the parents and the child.
5. Cry It Out
Ferberizing your child does have its critics. Some refer to this method of sleep training as "cry it out" meaning that the child is left to cry until he falls asleep in exhaustion. Critics believe this has the potential to cause long-term emotional damage to the child. But Ferber never advocates leaving your baby alone, crying inconsolably, for an undetermined period of time.
