What Is Ferber’s Method? – Being Parents

One of the biggest concerns of parents is that their children are suffering from sleep problems. Ferber’s Method is a proposal by pediatrician Richard Ferber, founder of the Pediatric Center for Sleep Disorders at Children’s Hospital in Boston.

Based on this research, he wrote the book  Solving Your Child’s Sleep Problems.

What is the Ferber method?

Ferber’s method helps babies create sleep routines. This practice involves the child learning to sleep on his own. In other words, parents should not go to his crib, even if he is crying. Thus, the implementation of his new rest habits will not be interrupted.

Ferber’s method emphasizes that  babies 3 to 5 months old are physically and emotionally ready to start sleeping on their own.

For starters, it is recommended that  parents help little ones get their sleep patterns up and running.  For example, giving them a relaxing bath or a little massage before going to the crib.

Ferber claimed that his method is quite effective, but not easy to apply. Their results can start to show from a few days or a week. However, he acknowledges that this is not seen in all cases.

In his book, you can find several tips for applying the method.

The advantages and disadvantages of the Ferber method

There are a lot of people who think this method is a bit cruel.  Indeed, for many parents, it is really difficult not to go to the cradle when the child is crying.

But others, on the other hand, consider it  a very effective practice for inducing resting habits in the baby.

It is difficult to determine what is the best way to help the baby sleep. But here are some of the pros and cons of this method:

Benefits

• With Ferber’s method, you can get the baby to rest more.
• Children acquire the habit of sleeping alone from an early age.
• The baby will not depend on the parents at bedtime and so they can be calmer.
• He learns to calm down, without needing help.

The inconvenients

• Some believe that the bond between parents and baby may be affected.
• The child’s self-esteem can be affected.

Other alternatives for the baby to sleep

Ferber’s method is often called into question by the stress it can cause a baby  to cry for so long in search of attention.

Given this situation and for other reasons, parents prefer to adopt a less strict option to help the baby fall asleep without difficulty. Here are some other options we have to put the baby to sleep:

• Play and entertain the baby during the day so that he does not sleep. This will help him get tired and he can sleep easily at night.

• When you feed him or change his diaper at night, it’s  important to try not to stimulate or wake him up  .
• If the baby is sleepy, it is essential to put him in his crib, even if he is still awake. This will make him get used to the fact that this is his resting place. Plus, he won’t have to wait to fall asleep in your arms.
• Wait a few minutes before responding to the baby’s cries. You can go and see what he’s feeling or what’s bothering him. But without making too much noise or turning on the light.
• You can bathe it with hot water before sleeping. It will help him relax.
• Rocking him and singing him before going to bed also helps. By singing lullabies, you will release oxytocin, a hormone that produces serenity and well-being.

The implementation of the Ferber method will depend on the comfort of the parents. What is clear is that it is a technique that helps the child not to depend on his parents to fall asleep. But it can also be difficult for parents.