Ferber method question

haylo33

Despite my initial dismay for the Ferber method, DS still wakes 3-6 times a night and won't sleep unless he nurses. So we are trying it. My question is how do you know if the baby is truly hungry or just needs us to fall asleep? He is used to eating 2-3 times from 7-7 so do I cut all feedings? I know he can go a while without needing food but this seems like a big change in 1 night. Should we just feed him once? During my research, it seemed to be ok to modify the method but would feeding him once ruin any training we will be doing?

haylo33

I am getting the book but kind of stumbled into this method. DS was waking what seemed like every 30 minutes and DH started the Ferber method. We had already done some research on it and got the basics but we were not planning on implementing for a few more weeks. He ate and woke 30 min later. DS cried for 3 min, DH went in. Then he cried for 5 minutes and DH went in then less than 2 minutes later, DS went to sleep. So I know we should have read the book but since we already started, we need to stick with it. I was working night shift. I think we will feed him the first time he wakes since that is after his big stretch (5-6 hours) and could genuinely be hungry. It is after his first feeding that things go downhill and he wakes way too much. Then we will do the Ferber method. Hope that won't mess anything up

Junebug060609

Its been forever since we Ferberized my son (he's 3), but with him I did what worked for us. DS wasn't a frequent wakings, but he was up at least once a night until 13 months. Basically I'd go in, feed him, and put him into his crib exactly like at bedtime. Rarely needed any check ins, he was usually out cold before the first increment.

Definitely get the book. It's on kindle if you have one (or it was in 2012).

flockofmoosen3

Baby girl started waking up to eat more consistently about a week or so after started Ferber. Since I'm never convinced that she's nursing enough before bed, I go ahead and feed her when she wakes. I give one boob, go to bed to wait for her to fall asleep again but if she doesn't go back to sleep in 30 min then I know she needs to keep eating and give her second boob and she falls alseep and stays down for an additional 5-6+ hours.

Feedings dont seem to affect her ability to fall asleep at bed time. She's doing great with that.

hbird0723

haylo33 said:

I am getting the book but kind of stumbled into this method. DS was waking what seemed like every 30 minutes and DH started the Ferber method. We had already done some research on it and got the basics but we were not planning on implementing for a few more weeks. He ate and woke 30 min later. DS cried for 3 min, DH went in. Then he cried for 5 minutes and DH went in then less than 2 minutes later, DS went to sleep. So I know we should have read the book but since we already started, we need to stick with it. I was working night shift. I think we will feed him the first time he wakes since that is after his big stretch (5-6 hours) and could genuinely be hungry. It is after his first feeding that things go downhill and he wakes way too much. Then we will do the Ferber method. Hope that won't mess anything up

I asked my pedi about this because it seemed like she would eat after her long stretch then be up constantly. He said what might be happening is I get full from the stretch and she's eating more at once then she's used to and she's also eating fast because she's hungry so it could be causing a stomach ache or gas and that's why she's waking up more. I've been trying to nurse for a shorter time and pull her off and let some go in a burp rag. This has cut out a lot if her extra feedings. She used to wake 4 or 5 times. Now just once or twice. Like pp said maybe shortening the amount and how long you're in there might help.

ns1

I agree with getting the book. But in my experience I focus on LO putting himself to sleep - ie - not rocking / nursing / bouncing to sleep. So I do whatever I want to do - nurse, rock, etc. and then put LO in his crib awake. From there I began Ferber. During the night I just go with how loud his crying is or if it's just fussing and the last time he ate to determine if i feed or not. But I always put him back down awake so he can put himself to sleep again. We still have night wakings but DS puts himself to sleep now after a feed which is amazing. I should probably eliminate some of those but we're doing a million times better than the past so I'm sticking with that.

haylo33

Last night he slept from 7:30-midnight and only woke up because he turned over and his leg went through the crib awkwardly. DH quickly went in and put his leg back through and he went back to sleep until 6:30!!!!!!! So he didn't eat for almost 12 hours. I kept waking up checking on him wondering why he wasn't awake. I'm hoping so badly that wasn't a fluke. Especially because I need to wake up at 5:30 for work tomorrow. Yay to the first STTN!!