As you learn about baby sleep training, you may encounter new terms, methods, and concepts, including one called the Ferber method.
So, what is the Ferber method for sleep training, how does Ferber method for babies work, and is the Ferber method sleep training best for your baby? In this article we’ll provide answers about the Ferber sleep training method, also referred to as Ferberizing, timed checks, controlled crying, graduated extinction, and the timer method.
If you’re looking for step-by-step support with sleep training or to learn more about using the Ferber method, download the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers app.
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What is the Ferber Method?
The Ferber sleep training method uses interval-based checks that increase overtime to gradually fade out the support from you your baby relies on to fall asleep. It's a form of graduated extinction, named after Dr. Richard Ferber, a pediatric sleep expert in Boston, which has you put your baby down for bed when they are calm and tired, but still awake, and wait progressively longer intervals before entering to provide a brief reassurance if they protest sleep. Once they calm, you leave again – repeating this process until your baby falls asleep.
Unlike a sleep training method where you Pick Up and Put Down your baby, this method works by offering brief, calm, and quiet reassurance as to not stimulate your baby further. The Ferber method recommends not picking up your baby, rather providing an ‘arms length’ reassurance with a gentle pat or shush to calm and soothe.
There are differing variations of Ferber method and how the intervals work and how long they last. For example, you can stick with a given interval of two minutes for the first few nights and then extend to five minutes for the next few nights.
In another variation, you can increase the intervals by one or two minutes each time you enter the room until you hit an evening ‘max’ interval. The next night you can start at the max from night one and go up from there.
Regardless of the variation you choose or length of interval, lengthening the amount of time between when you enter to offer reassurance gives your baby the opportunity to practice falling asleep independently on their own, which gets easier overtime – the primary goal of successful sleep training.
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How Do I Do the Ferber Method of Sleep Training?
To do the Ferber method of sleep training, wait until your baby is at least 4-months-old and you have approval from your healthcare provider. You can never sleep train a newborn. You also should make sure you're following a biologically aligned sleep schedule with a consistent bedtime routine and that your baby's room is comfy and optimized for sleep. A baby that is undertired or overtired will have a harder time falling asleep!
Once you have approval, you can start. Here is an example of how to follow a sleep training plan with Ferber method. There are different variations and waiting intervals that you could use, so do what’s best for you and your baby.
Example sleep training with Ferber Method
What You’ll Need: A timer, like what's offered on the Smart Sleep Coach app (which is built specifically to help with sleep training with Ferber and other methods).
Nights 1-3: The first three nights of the Ferber Method are the same in terms of time interval:
- Perform your bedtime routine as usual and put your baby down sleepy but awake. That means they’re very tired but not yet asleep. Make sure to feed your baby before beginning the routine.
- Leave the room.
- If your baby protests or cries start your timer and wait until it goes off before entering your baby’s room to reassure them. Some parents choose 3 minutes, some choose 5 – do what you're most comfortable with.
- Reassure your baby for 1 minute max. You want to keep your visit as short as possible without lingering or further stimulating your baby.
- Leave the room and reset the timer. Repeat this process until your baby falls asleep.
- If they wake up again later in the night, repeat the same process as necessary using the same interval.
Nights 4 and Beyond:
- On the fourth night of sleep training with Ferber, add two minutes to your timer and wait that length of time before entering the room to reassure your baby (still for less than 1-minute). For example, if you waited 3 minutes on the first 3 nights, you’ll wait 5 minutes on night 4.
- Then, on night 5, you add another 2 minutes; on night 6, you add another 2 minutes, and so on…
- By lengthening the time between protest and reassurance, you give your baby an opportunity to become a pro at falling asleep independently.
What kind of comfort can I offer when “Ferberizing”?
The Ferber method includes comforting your baby by:
- Shushing
- Patting their back
- Stroking their head
If you choose the Ferber method, it’s recommended you don’t pick up your baby to comfort them when Ferberizing as this may further stimulate them and make it even harder to fall asleep, and for some babies, further upset them. Sleep training and what method you choose are personal choices – many parents choose a method with higher involvement while others choose not to sleep train all together.
Remember: The Ferber Method is all about gently soothing your baby and letting them fall asleep independently. Talking too loudly or picking them up may stimulate them even more, leading to a more wakeful state.
How Long Does Ferber Method Take?
Every baby is different, but when consistently delivering the Ferber method, parents often start to see some sleep improvement using Ferber around nights 5-7, but it usually takes at least two weeks for your baby to become totally comfortable falling asleep independently.
Compared to other gentle methods of sleep training, Ferber method can be considered a quick method of sleep training. The more parental involvement, the slower sleep training may take.
There are multiple types of sleep training methods that range from low parental involvement to high parental involvement – many consider Ferber method to be a moderate parental involvement method since you still enter the room to offer comfort.
That said, it’s important to note that successful Ferber sleep training is also very much dependent on your baby’s personality, as well as what you’re comfortable with.
How to Handle Ferber Method Night Wakings
You can still feed your baby overnight during Ferber sleep training. You just want to follow a set schedule and not enter their room for the feeding until the "okay to fee" time.
If your baby wakes up at night and does not feed overnight, what is important is that you handle those night wakings in exactly the same way as you handled bedtime. In the case of Ferber method, that means setting your timer, waiting the appropriate time before entering their room, and softly reassuring for one minute before leaving, starting your timer again, and continuing to repeat the interval assurances until your baby falls back to sleep.
If you feed your baby at night, put your baby back in their crib after their feeding and repeat the steps of Ferber.
How to Handle Ferber Method Early Wake Ups
If your baby wakes up early before their usual wake-up time during sleep training with Ferber, consider letting them rest in their crib until it’s time to get up for the day.
According to baby sleep science, melatonin production decreases after 5:00am, which means your baby is not likely to fall back to sleep, even with brief reassurances. Going in early therefore may solidify early wake ups or start a habit – you cue your baby it’s time to get up.
By letting them stay in their crib until the preferred wake time, you’re reinforcing when morning actually starts. This can help inspire your baby to sleep a little more in the morning or have quiet time while they wait for you to get up.
Check out this article for more advice on how to handle early wake ups.
Can I Use Ferber Method for Naps?
Many experts and parents say Ferber method may not be the best nap sleep training method. This is for a few reasons:
- Naps are short and you have a much slimmer window of opportunity to perform a bedtime routine or a more gradual method.
- Melatonin production is lower during naps – meaning your baby has more energy to protest Ferber method sleep training and can fight sleep the entire nap.
- Your presence before a nap may stimulate them and you miss the sleepy window.
For these reasons, many parents who want to sleep train during naps try a method with less parental involvement. However, other parents simply follow wake windows and an age-appropriate sleep schedule and ensure their baby’s sleep environment is conducive to sleep, and find their baby naturally falls asleep during nap time no problem!
Tips for the Ferber Method of Sleep Coaching
Here are some tips from sleep experts about how to successfully implement the Ferber method.
- If your baby calms down while you’re in the room, leave – don't linger: you want your baby to fall asleep while you’re out of the room. The goal of sleep training is for your baby to be able to fall asleep independently. If you’re there by the crib when they fall asleep, they may come to depend on your presence to fall asleep. If this sounds good to you though, try the Chair method.
- If when you enter the room your baby's cry escalates, that’s okay – as long as it doesn’t continue every time you enter for more than a few nights. If it becomes the standard reaction, then you might want to consider transitioning to another method of sleep training. Your presence may be making things worse.
- Give things at least a week before you consider a different method – sleep training takes times and it could take consistent implementation to see progress.
- If you feel that Ferber isn’t right for your baby, take a free assessment from the Smart Sleep Coach app to explore a different sleep training method that may best for your baby. if you're just concerned about results, try to stick with it for at least a week – you got this!
Final Thoughts
The Ferber method of sleep training has helped millions of babies sleep through the night and develop healthy sleep habits. However, every baby and family are unique and, when it comes to sleep training, one size does not fit all.
Regardless if Ferber Method sleep training, or any sleep training method, is right for you, healthy sleep habits start with the fundamentals – bedtime routine, sleep environment, and sleep schedule aligned to circadian rhythm. Millions of other babies do better with a different sleep training method – or no sleep training at all!
