RE: When to Ferberize? Inconsistent info in Baby411 and Ferber's book, etc.
We Ferberized at four months, after the pediatrician told us we should. He had been waking up only twice, both times to nurse and fall right back to sleep, and then started waking every 1 1/2 hours, all night, for about a month at that point. Also, earlier he had been able to put himself to sleep at the beginning of the night but at that point could only fall asleep on his daddy's chest. He seemed to be able to self-soothe, since he could sometimes put himself to sleep at the beginning of the night, sometimes sucking on his hand or thumb. I didn't actually realize that it was too early, as the ped didn't seem to think so, and I had only read Baby411, which said at least 4 months. (I read Ferber after we had already started.)
Anyway, it worked great, and I honestly think he is happier and a better sleeper and napper since then. The first night was hard--a total of 1 hour of crying (going in in intervals as Ferber says)--but the second night was 1/2 hour, third was 15 minutes, and since then he goes right back to sleep when you just go in and pat his head and give him his bear to hold. He doesn't sleep thru the night--does still wake up once to eat, and sometimes once more very briefly but falls right back to sleep. We never take him out of his crib at night, except just for the one feeding.
Anyway, you'll have to decide what to do, but it worked for us.
------
S.
DS 2003
DS 2009