All About the Ferber Method Sleep Training Technique

As you explore sleep training options for your baby, you might wonder what the Ferber method is and whether it’s the right fit for your family. Also known as “Ferberizing” or “Graduated Crying-It-Out,” this popular technique involves letting your baby cry for gradually longer intervals before offering comfort, helping them learn to fall asleep independently.

Read on for a full step-by-step guide, tips, and expert-backed insights to help you decide if Ferber sleep training is right for your baby.

What Is the Ferber Method?

If you’re unfamiliar with Ferber sleep training, it’s helpful to know that this is a strategy closely associated with pediatric sleep expert Richard Ferber, M. D., who, along with other experts, suggests that babies can learn to soothe themselves to sleep when parents follow certain guidelines. Some parents refer to the technique as “Ferberizing” your baby.

Another well-known name for the strategy is Graduated Crying-It-Out. Just as the name indicates, you gradually let your baby “cry it out” to fall asleep. But unlike the full crying-it-out method, you’ll still respond to your baby’s cries throughout the night. However, you’ll slowly increase the intervals between response times and allow your baby to cry, which is believed to help them learn to fall asleep on their own over time.

How Long Does the Ferber Method Take to Work?

Most sleep training methods, including the Ferber method, require at least a few days to start taking effect. It's possible that your baby could fall asleep within just one or two intervals after a few days of the Ferber method. Of course, all babies are different, and yours might take a little longer to learn how to fall asleep and stay asleep on their own.

In time, most babies will naturally fall asleep by themselves following their own natural rhythms. However, some babies are more sensitive to stimulation or have longer, louder bouts of crying. If your little one falls into that category, know that it might take a little longer to be successful with sleep training, but that eventually, they will fall asleep on their own without any tears.

Ferber Method Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re wondering how to implement Ferber sleep training with your baby, the technique is fairly straightforward. You’ll simply allow them to “cry it out” for gradually increasing periods of time.

You’ll start small, just letting your baby cry for a couple of minutes before checking on them. Then, as the night goes on, you’ll gradually increase the time you wait before you respond to your baby’s crying, but wait no longer than 10 minutes.

This structure can change based on what you and your baby need, but it could look something like this as an example:

• Follow your standard bedtime routine. To start, you’ll put your baby down in their crib after their normal bedtime routine, say goodnight, and leave the room.

• Complete the first interval. If your baby starts crying, let your baby cry for just a couple of minutes before going to briefly check on them. Soothe your crying baby by reassuring them that you’re just in the next room, that you love them, and that it’s time to sleep. Then, leave the room again.

• Increase the interval. If your baby starts crying again, wait a little longer, such as five minutes, and then go check on them. Keep the room dim and your voice quiet, speaking no more than you have to when reassuring your baby. You can give your little one a comforting pat, but try not to pick them up.

• Continue lengthening the intervals. Depending on your baby's specific needs and temperament, you have some flexibility in the length of intervals. However, keep the longest interval (before starting over again) to no longer than 10 minutes.

Although the Ferber method is a sleep training technique that’s most often used for nighttime slumber, you could also use the Ferber method for naps to keep your baby’s sleep consistent.

Ferber Method Sleep Training Chart and Schedule

Again, you’re in charge of how long to make each interval. But to give you a step-by-step idea of what a Ferber sleep training schedule could look like, check out the example of a Ferber method sleep chart below:

When Should You Start Ferber Sleep Training?

When you can start the Ferber method or any other type of sleep training for your infant may depend on a couple of factors:

• When your baby starts sleeping in their own room. Many sleep training methods are tricky to implement if you and your baby are room-sharing. However, experts recommend sleeping in the same room as your baby until they’re 6 months to 1 year old. This reduces the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) by 50 percent. Therefore, sleep training should only begin when your baby is about 6 months old, or no younger than 4 months old.

• When your baby starts sleeping through the night. Some sleep training techniques aren’t as effective until a baby is sleeping through the night without waking. It may be best to wait until your baby has started consistently sleeping for longer periods at night before you launch into the Ferber method. 

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By 3 months, 90 percent of babies have started consolidating their sleep, sleeping six to eight hours a night without waking. So, experts advise that parents can start sleep training as young as 4 months. But, of course, remember that your little one may still be sleeping in your room at that age, so it’s more common for parents to start sleep training after 6 months.

Troubleshooting and Challenges with the Ferber Method

When it comes to sleep training, many parents wonder if the Ferber method is harmful to babies. Children's health and development experts agree that when infants receive love and attention during their waking hours, using the Ferber method isn’t harmful. It doesn’t damage babies or disrupt the relationship between babies and their parents.

Learning how to fall asleep on their own is an important developmental milestone that babies will need to reach, and short periods of crying have been known to help children settle down, unwind, and fall asleep. 

If you opt for the Ferber sleep training method, feel free to modify it as needed. For example, if your baby is screaming and very upset during the Ferber method, you can adjust the intervals and check on your little one more often. 

Remember, no two babies or families are alike, so the Ferber method might not work for you—but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on it completely. Modifying the Ferber method might make the technique take longer to be effective, but some children naturally need more time and more attention during sleep training than others.

As long as you’re giving your baby lots of love and responding to their needs when they're awake during the day, your baby will be fine whether you choose the Graduated Crying-It-Out method or another sleep training method.

Families who have adopted the Ferber sleep training technique have observed the following benefits:

• Babies falling asleep faster. Many families who used the Ferber method found that their babies learned how to fall asleep on their own faster.

• Babies staying asleep longer. Ferber method families also found that their babies stayed asleep longer and woke up less often throughout the night.

• Less stress for parents. Parents who used the Ferber method were generally less stressed when sleep training.

When Should the Ferber Method Be Avoided?

Some reasons to hold off on trying the Ferber method or other sleep training techniques might include the following:

• Your little one is ill. If your baby seems unwell, check them for fever, runny nose, irritability, diarrhea, and other common symptoms of illness, especially if their cries seem extra loud.

• They’re hungry or need their diaper changed. Check that your baby isn’t crying due to one of these reasons. Once they’re remedied, you can put them in their crib and begin the Ferber method.

• They’re younger than 4 months old.

• There are a lot of big changes in your child’s life, such as moving house or starting daycare.

Before starting any type of sleep training, it’s always best to consult your baby’s healthcare provider first.

Beyond the Ferber Method: Alternative Sleep Training Techniques

The Ferber method is just one sleep training method for you to consider. There are many other sleep strategies for a baby and even for sleep training a toddler, which include the following:

• Crying-it-out. With this technique, you simply wait for your baby to stop crying and fall asleep without checking on them (unless in an emergency). It’s often confused with the Ferber method, which is graduated crying-it-out.

• Bedtime fading. This technique helps you identify the best bedtime for your little one. Gradually, you’ll shift your baby’s bedtime later each night (by about 10 to 15 minutes) until you find the sweet spot when your baby is tired enough to fall asleep on their own.

• Disappearing chair. Stay near your baby as they fall asleep on their own by sitting in a chair in their room, but gradually moving farther from their crib each night. Eventually, you and the chair will be out of the room completely.

• Countdown. Pick a block of time you’ll stay in your child's room and gradually shorten it. The first-time block could be 20 minutes, the next 18, and so on until you reach 0 minutes.

• “Hold on.” This strategy starts during waking hours to get your child used to waiting when you leave the room. Simply tell them to “hold on” during the day when you leave a room for a brief period and increase the waiting time gradually. Since your child will trust that you’ll return, you can do the same at night and, eventually, they’ll fall asleep when “holding on” for you to come back.

You can discover more about baby sleep training methods and toddler sleep training in our dedicated guides.

The Bottom Line

The Ferber method is just one sleep training method, and it’s up to you to decide what technique is best for you and your baby (though you can always ask your child’s healthcare provider for advice).

The Ferber sleep training method, also known as Graduated Crying-It-Out, helps babies learn to fall asleep independently. Instead of ignoring cries completely, you let your baby cry for gradually increasing intervals, up to 10 minutes at a time. 

Experts agree that sleep training involving “crying it out” isn’t harmful if done correctly, considering the baby's personality and needs. Some babies can start Ferber training at 4 months, while others may need to wait until 6 months or later. With plenty of love and attention during waking hours, this method won’t harm your child emotionally or affect your relationship.

Keep in mind that the Ferber method may not suit everyone and that choosing it is a personal decision. While it offers benefits and usually shows results in just a few days, you must determine if it fits your family's needs.

As always, be sure to consult your child’s healthcare provider if you have additional questions or concerns.

_{How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.}