A Parent’s Guide to the Ferber Method of Sleep Training

Are you desperately craving sleep? A parent’s guide to the Ferber method of sleep training can be just what you need. Learn more about this approach, which teaches infants to self-soothe and fall asleep independently, providing relief for sleep-deprived parents.

Dr. Richard Ferber, a pediatrician, invented the Ferber approach. In his 1985 best-selling book Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems, which he updated in 2006, Dr. Ferber described his method of letting infants cry for a predetermined amount of time before comforting them.

The Ferber method (also known as “graduated extinction”) was developed to assist babies in learning to self-soothe and go asleep on their own or return to sleep independently if they awaken during the night.

However, the Ferber method is distinct from another popular practice known as extinction-sleep training (the cry-it-out method), which entails leaving your child to wail until they fall asleep. Never Too Late to Sleep Train author and director of the sleep medicine program at Yale School of Medicine Craig Canapari, M.D., argues that the cry-it-out technique was typical in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the general belief was that parents shouldn’t indulge their kids. The Ferber approach varies in that it entails increasing the frequency of checks on your youngster.

Learn more about the Ferber sleep training approach, how it operates, and when to begin “Ferberizing” your child by reading on.

The Ferber Method: How Does It Work?

While it may not sound simple, implementing the Ferber approach is extremely simple. After completing a predetermined bedtime routine, place your tired newborn in their crib while they are still awake, and then exit the room. Ferber advocates waiting three minutes the first night before returning to the room to console a child who is crying briefly.

The act of touching a baby or speaking in a soothing voice could be comforting. It should not require lifting them, feeding them, or turning on the light. This reassurance should not exceed two minutes.

Again, exit the room and allow your child to wail for an additional five minutes, as suggested by Ferber. Ferber refers to this strategy as “progressive waiting.” If required, re-enter the room and quickly soothe the patient before leaving while they are still awake. Repeat this process, but increase the wait time to 10 minutes, until the patient falls asleep without your presence. If your child awakens in the middle of the night, repeat this procedure to assist them in falling back asleep.

Allow your infant to cry for five minutes on the second day, ten minutes, and eventually twelve minutes. On day three, begin with 10 minutes, then 12 minutes, and finally 15 minutes. The theory is that after a few days of gradually extending the waiting time, most newborns would finally learn to fall asleep independently, knowing that their parents will not respond to their cries.

How Is the Ferber Method Performed?

Here is a chart from the Ferber technique outlining the appropriate check-in times:

Day 1

• First check-in: 3 minutes.
• The second check-in: 5 minutes.
• The third check-in: 10 minutes.
• Subsequent check-ins: 10 minutes.

Day 2

• First check-in: 5 minutes
• Second check-in:10 minutes for the
• Third check-in: 12 minutes
• Subsequent check-ins: 12 minutes

Day 3

• First check-in: 10 minutes
• Second check-in: 12 minutes.
• Third check-in: 15 minutes
• Subsequent check-ins: 15 minutes

Day 4

• First check-in: 12 minutes
• Second check-in: 15 minutes
• Third check-in: seventeen minutes
• Subsequent check-ins: 17 minutes

Day 5

• First check-in: 15 minutes
• Second check-in: 17 minutes
• Third check-in: 20 minutes
• Subsequent check-in after: 20 minutes

Day 6

• First check-in: 17 minutes
• Second check-in: 20 minutes
• Third check-in: 25 minutes
• Subsequent check-ins: 25 minutes

Day 7

• First check-in: 20 minutes
• Second check-in: 25 minutes
• Third check-in: 30 minutes
• Subsequent check-ins: 30 minutes

When May You Begin “Ferberizing” Your Infant?

According to Dr. Canapari, the optimal age to begin any sleep-training approach is between 4 and 6 months. “You can do that up to age 2, but as your child gets older, it becomes increasingly difficult,” he explains.

According to him, for most types of extinction-based sleep training, including the Ferber approach, the second or third night is when babies cry the most. This is known as an extinction burst, and it is typically when many parents abandon the strategy. “When you witness that extinction burst,” explains Dr. Canapari, “you are on the verge of progress. Typically, I would tell individuals that the crying would begin to subside three to four days following the intervention and will cease entirely within a week.”

Some parents find it terrible to let their infant cry, even for a few seconds. “Evolutionary data suggests that we are hardwired to respond to children’s cries,” explains Dr. Canapari. This is a really powerful urge that goes against our natural tendency to disregard it. However, professionals have not linked the Ferber approach to emotional trauma in infants.

Are There Any Success Tips for Ferber Sleep Training?

Consistency is crucial to the success of the Ferber technique, as it is with many other child-rearing strategies. According to Dr. Canapari, the process should take a few days or a week, not weeks and weeks. If things seem to be taking too long, check in with your spouse to make sure you’re both on the same page. When a baby cries at night, picking them up and rocking them can prolong the process. According to Dr. Canapari, many parents experience anxiety or guilt when attempting to modify their child’s behavior. However, you owe it to yourself and your child to develop appropriate sleep habits.

Additional Success Tips for the Ferber Method

• Establish a nightly routine involving bathing, book reading, and other calming activities, between 6 and 8 weeks of age. This regularity teaches your infant what to expect each night and helps establish his or her internal schedule.
• Avoid sleep training amid major life upheavals, such as teething or hiring a new nanny. Your child does not need the additional stress.
• If your infant still needs nocturnal feedings, use the Ferber method chart to help them fall back asleep.
• While your baby is still awake but drowsy, place him or her in the cot. If you put sleeping newborns to bed, they will not remember their surroundings upon waking, making it more difficult for them to self-soothe.
• Be sure to use the Ferber method for naps as well. The majority of naps should occur in the crib, which helps establish a regular sleep schedule.
• Consult your physician regarding any concerns you may have.

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