Ferber method

Ferberization is a technique invented by Dr. Richard Ferber to solve infant sleep problems.

Primarily, it involves progressively training children to put themselves to sleep autonomously (in other words, fall asleep on their own). While some regard it as a cold, callous approach, most experts regard it as simply one of many possible approaches in dealing with children who have difficulty falling asleep alone. Some people do not feel that getting a baby to sleep alone is a worthwhile objective, and instead advocate the "family bed" or co-sleeping approach.

"Cry It Out"
The "Cry It Out" (CIO) approach can be traced back to a baby sleep-training book written by Dr. Emmett Holt in 1894. CIO is any sleep-training method which allows a baby to cry for a specified period of time before the parent will offer comfort. "Ferberization" is one such approach. Though it has come to be synonymous with CIO, Ferber does not advocate simply leaving a baby to cry. Other sleep specialists however, view any version of CIO as unnatural, unnecessary and potentially damaging to a baby.

Ferberization summarized
Dr. Richard Ferber discusses and outlines a wide range of practices to teach an infant to sleep. The term Ferberization is now popularly used to refer to the following techniques:


 * Take steps to prepare the baby to sleep. This includes night-time rituals and day-time activities.
 * At bedtime, leave the child in bed and leave the room.
 * Return at progressively increasing intervals to comfort the baby (without picking him up). For example, on the first night, some scenarios call for returning first after three minutes, then after five minutes, and thereafter each ten minutes, until the baby is asleep.
 * Each subsequent night, return at intervals longer than the night before. For example, the second night may call for returning first after five minutes, then after ten minutes, and thereafter each twelve minutes, until the baby is asleep.

The technique is targeted at infants over 6 months of age. Some babies are capable of sleeping through the night at 3 months, and most are capable of sleeping through the night at 6 months. Before 6 months of age, the baby may still need to feed during the night and it is probable that the baby will require a night feeding before three months.

References in pop culture
In the Judging Amy  episode Adoption Day( airdate 16 Jan 01; season 2 episode 10 ) Gilian and Amy discuss ferberizing baby Ned.

The Ferber method was humorously highlighted in the comedy movie Meet the Fockers where Robert De Niro's character tries to instill the Ferber method in his grandson. Dustin Hoffman's character spoofs this when he says he "Fockerized" Gaylord (Ben Stiller's character).

In an episode entitled "The Conversation", Mad About You's Paul and Jamie Buchman attempt the Ferber method. The episode was shot in one continuous take and shows the couple debating the psychological and moral implications of Ferberization.