Don't know what Ferberizing is, check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferber_method
Now that we're on the same page, let me tell you about MY experience with this method of teaching your child to go to sleep on their own and stay in their own bed.
My daughter, S, turned two years old in December and STILL won't sleep through the night. I admit, some nights, like tonight, I feel desperate and would try just about anything to get her to sleep by herself, but then I remember this story.
Months ago, we tried the Ferber Method to help her learn to go to sleep by herself. After five nights of letting her cry at up to 45 minute intervals, I witnessed a scene that changed my mind forever about this "method".
My two girls, S and G, were playing nicely together and decided to go into S's room to watch a movie. As soon as G took S to the threshold of her bedroom, she began screaming and was terrified to go into her room. It took two days before she would go into her room again without crying and screaming.
Needless to say, I am no longer a fan of the Ferber Method. I am sure Dr. Ferber meant well, but I believe this method fails to take into consideration that most children cry for a reason and if you are able to meet the need that they are trying to get filled, they will stop crying and go to sleep.
Fast forward to this month, three weeks ago to be exact. We started a brand new bedtime routine and began putting S to bed in her own room, on her own. This time, instead of leaving her to cry it out, we sat in her room in a chair across the room. When she tries to talk to us, we just remind her we love her and it's time to go to sleep. After about 8 nights of sitting in the chair, we moved to sitting outside her door. I am very pleased to report that after about 12 nights, we only had to sit outside her door for about five to ten minutes and now I can reassure her from my bedroom across the hall. Most nights she sleeps all night, and on the occasions when she does wake up in the middle of the night, all she asks for is a drink and goes right back to sleep!
WE DID IT!!
I am so very proud of her! She has been a real trooper and she is proud of herself, too. She loves to show people her "big girl bed" and tells her Nana how she slept all night in her own room with no crying!!
I am proud of my husband and myself, too. It was hard and we were often tempted to give in a nd just crawl in bed with her or bring her back into bed with us, but we stayed strong and helped our little one learn how to rely on herself and find a way to comfort herself back to sleep.
I realize Iam not the first to try this method for getting your child to sleep by themselves. I am not claiming to have invented this, I am just bragging about how well it worked for us!! ;)
