AW: Ferber is a genius

hopefulmom81 · February 2013

So...DD has been an inconsistent sleeper overall. She started giving us at least a 5 hour stretch at 6 weeks, but as she has gotten older, she fluctuates between a 7 hour stretch with a bottle and back to sleep and lately getting up at 11, 2, and sometimes even 4!!

I was completely unwilling to allow her to CIO, so I would pick her up and feed her a bottle or bring her in bed with me almost every single wake up.

Finally, I was at my exhausted wits end. I emailed the pedi who said to go ahead with the Ferber method, that I wouldn't break her trust with me or hurt her psychologically.

Well, I "ferberized" her on Wednesday. Checked on her at 3 mins, 5 mins, and she fell asleep before 10 mins. She woke up at 12:45, and again, checked on her by replacing paci and rubbing back at 3, 5, and fell asleep before 10 mins. Slept til I had to wake her at 6:30. This is the first time I allowed her to calm herself without picking her up or really doing anything. She went the whole night without a bottle for the first time.

She then napped in her crib twice (first time she has ever done this on my Thursdays with her) without crying or being held.

Last night? She cried for 30 seconds when I first put her in her crib and then SLEPT FOR 11 STRAIGHT HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!! UNINTERRUPTED!!!!!

WAHOOOO!!!!!!

orangegoggles · February 2013

That is awesome!

crystalknpp · February 2013

I'm so glad it worked for you and that you and DD are now getting more sleep! We did something similar with DS that I call "Fuss It Out". I would go in every few minutes offer the paci and rub his back but didn't pick him up. If after about 15 mins he was still awake or if he started really crying and not so much just fussing I'd offer a bottle. Nine times out of ten he would fall right back to sleep. He self soothes by sucking on his hands now and he consistently sleeps 10-11 hours straight through the night. It's great!