Originally Posted by
Green_Tea
Oh my goodness - teaching your child to fall asleep independently and sleep through the night is a GIFT to them. Our lives changed drastically - and for the better - when we bit the bullet and Ferberized DD1. She was so much happier once she was getting the sleep she truly needed. I fully believe in meeting my child's needs, and sleep is a need. Did she like the change in routine? Nope. But babies don't get to call the shots. They don't get to choose to eat cookies all day, or play with knives, and I had no problem seeing my baby cry when I wouldn't let her do those things because I knew that even if it upset her not to get her way, it was in her best interest. I knew she needed more sleep than she was getting, so I made sure she got it. She was not traumatized in the least, and now, at 10.5 years old, is still a crackerjack sleeper.
Are there other effective ways to teach a baby to sleep? Sure. If they work for you and your family, try them. But Ferber's method is, in most cases, highly effective and I encourage you to give it a try.