Are you looking for a way to get better sleep for both you and your infant? Maybe, you've heard of the Ferber method, but are unsure of how to implement it into the lives of your family. 

You may also have heard some controversial opinions about the Ferber method, so may be apprehensive about deploying it in your house hold. 

So, the first thing to establish is what the Ferber method is. It is a popular sleep-training technique that teaches babies to self-sooth and fall asleep independently. It was developed by Dr. Richard Ferber who is a pediatrician and the director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at the Children's Hospital in Boston. In 1985, he wrote Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems that was updated in 2006. This book contained a detailed method for allowing babies to cry for a certain amount of time before comforting them. 

Continue reading to learn more about how this method works, and if it's the best method for your baby.

What is the Ferber Method? 

The Ferber method is a graduated extinction method that was designed to help babies learn how to self-sooth and fall back asleep on their own. However, the Ferber method is actually different from the cry-it-out method, or extinction-sleep training. The idea behind that was not to spoil a child by picking them up every time that they cried. However, the Ferber Method is different because you actually are supposed to check on your child at gradually increasing time levels. 

How does the Ferber method work? 

Implementing the Ferber method is not as complex as one may think. The first step is to set a bedtime routine. Place your drowsy infant down in a crib while they are still awake. This step is important because this is how they learn to put themselves to sleep instead of having someone hold or rock them to sleep. If they begin to cry, it's okay. Let them cry for a short amount of time that gradually increases overtime. For the first night, wait three minutes before returning to the room to briefly comfort them and then put them back in the bed. 

Comforting your baby could be in terms of patting your baby or talking to them in a soothing voice. However, comforting does not include picking them up, feeding them, or turning on the light. The reassurance should last only a minute or two to show them your face for a comforting feeling. 

Leave the room again for a bit longer - like 5 minutes - to let your child cry. This progressive waiting technique is helpful for providing children reassurance so they don't feel abandoned while also giving them enough time to calm themselves down. Again, you can comfort them in the same way as mentioned above and then leave after a couple of minutes. 

You can repeat this at extended periods of time - 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes - all until your child goes back to sleep on their own without you being in the room. If your child cries during the middle of the night, you can repeat this same process to help them go back to sleep. 

On the second day, repeat this but extend the waiting period. Wait 5 minutes the first time and then 10 minutes the second time. On the third day, begin at 10 minutes and then 12 minutes on the fourth night, and then 15 minutes on the fifteenth night. 

The idea behind this is that the child will eventually learn that mom or dad is not going to pick them up because they are crying, and they will learn to self-soothe back to sleep on their own. For a better layout, please look at the chart below. 

When to start Ferberizing your baby? 

The problem that some parents may face when learning how to Ferberize is that they start to early, and therefore it doesn't work. This can lead to them abandoning the technique and not finding any sleep solutions. 

The best window for Ferberizing your baby is 4 to 6 months old. You can even try it up to age 2, but it becomes more difficult the older your child is. This is due to the fact that it takes a while for babies' circadian-rhythms to align with night and day. Therefore, they have no idea when it's daytime and when it's nighttime. In addition to this, younger babies need more frequent feedings, every 2-3 hours for the first couple of months. Therefore, you can't really sleep train them to sleep through the night if it's important for them to be fed so often. 

The hardest nights of the Ferber method, normally, are the second and third night. This is known as the "extinction burst". This is where the crying is generally going to improve after three or four days of this method. 

It can be hard to listen to your baby cry, especially for new parents. It will feel unnatural to ignore your child and let them cry, but it's important for teaching self-management. There has been no research that links emotional scarring to the Ferber method. 

Tips for Ferber Sleep Training Success

The best tip for making the Ferber method work is consistency. This process should take a few days or a week, but should not extend to weeks and weeks if you are doing it correctly. If it's dragging out, ensure that everyone caring for your child is on the same page about the plan. Picking up the baby and rocking them to make them feel better can prolong the process. There can be a lot of guilt about behavior modification, and you can feel like you're doing the wrong thing by letting your child cry. However, there will be some improvement along the way if you can trust the process. 

Other tips for success include: 

• Having a bedtime routine that helps prepare your child for bed. This includes giving them a bath, reading books, or other soothing activities within the first couple of months. This can help coach your child into learning what bedtime is supposed to look like. 
• Avoid sleep training during big life changes. If your child is teething, if you're moving, or if they are getting a new caregiver, then these stresses could interfere with your child's sleep too much for you to be successful in implementing this method. 
• If your baby still has nighttime feedings, then follow the Ferber method for helping them fall asleep afterwards. 
• Put your infant in the crib while they're still awake, but drowsy. If you put them down while they are already sleeping, then they won't recognize their surroundings when they wake up to make it harder to self-sooth. Imagine going to sleep and then waking up in a completely different place. Scary, right? That's how it is for babies. 
• Implement the Ferber method for all sleeping periods, including naps. Naps should take place in the crib as well to help children get more comfortable in that sleeping environment. 

Making new changes can be hard. If you are having trouble getting your baby to sleep, and you would like more information about sleeping techniques, then talk with your pediatrician or a sleep health expert. Please click the orange button below to talk to one of our sleep health experts as soon as possible.

https://www.parents.com/baby/sleep/basics/the-ferber-method-explained/