Thank You Dr. Ferber! Cheers to sleep in 2012!

I am sure you have all heard of the saying "let them cry it out" when talking about getting a baby to go to sleep.  It sounds hard but it works.  Thanks to recommendations of several friends and my sister, Rudy and I purchased the book by Dr. Richard Ferber, Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems.

Now I wouldn't say Reed had a serious problem...he just didn't know how to put himself to sleep on his own.  We knew we couldn't be rocking and shushing him for the next year so we bit the bullet and tried it.  And it worked!

By the third day he was falling asleep on his own, no pacifier, no rocking, no nothing in about 5 minutes.

Last night for NYE, he yawned so I put him down with his little blanket dog and he was quiet as a mouse. Within 5 minutes he was asleep.  We were over at a friend's house for the night and it was so nice to be able to put him down and then join the party.

The concept does not mean that you leave your child screaming alone in the crib for hours upon end.  It starts with a gradual process.  The first night you go back in after 3 minutes, then 5, then 10 and then every 10 until your baby falls asleep.  You go in and say "I love you, it's bedtime, go to sleep." This way they know you still care and that it is okay to go to sleep.  If you are hesitant about it, just try it, what have you got to lose?  The first night he cried for 50 minutes, second night 25, third night 5.  And by the third night it wasn't even major crying.  Just sort of putting himself to sleep moaning and grunting.  I know you know that sound!  It was super hard the first night - I wouldn't try this on your own.  Make sure your husband or someone is with you for support.  I would highly recommend this book and the method. 

So, here's to you Dr. Ferber!  Thank you!