Rating: 
Summary: Worked as advertised for us.....
Review: We reviewed both Ferber and Sears, and decided to try the Ferber method with the thought that if we didn't see dramatic change in the time it took our baby to sleep in couple days, it would be a small risk if it didn't work. Time it took her to get to sleep: Night 1 - 50 minutes
Night 2 - 15 minutes
Night 3+ - less than 2 minutes, no crying Most nights she goes into her crib quietly and goes right to sleep, and sleeps through the night. The most important thing is read all the information and pick the method that works for your family and don't be pressured into trying anything you haven't thought through. We did, and this worked great for us.
Rating: 
Summary: Didn't work for us
Review: I bowed to pressure from family and friends who insisted my son should be sleeping throught the night by now and borrowed this book from a friend. My son waked frequently in the night for a feed but was quite happy to be put back down I never walked the floor with him or heard a sound after he had been tucked in. Well the first night we had 2.5 hrs of screaming before I gave in and fed him. It took me another hour to calm him down. The next day he screamed everytime I put him down for a sleep. The next night I gave in after 1.5 hrs and 2 lots of vomiting. The same thing happened the 3rd night apart from a near divorce from my husband after 3 nights of even less sleep and a visit to the doctor as my son had no voice left. After that things just got worse. Finally I just returned the book and just didn't tell anyone my son was still waking at night. He subsequently sponaneously of his own accord started sleeping through the night at 2 years however it was another 18 months before you could shut his bedroom door without instant hysterics and vomiting.
Rating:
Summary: That little sweetheart needs some sleep!
Review: Among my educated, professional, over-thirty, sensitive, crowd this technique was touted as "almost child abuse." I disagree wholeheartedly (as does my friend who gave me the book on the sly, whispering her endorsement)! Frankly, it is mean and "insensitive" to NOT teach your children to fall asleep. A well rested child (and parent) is a happy child. Don't wait until you have a tyranical brat, disolved marriage, and no more friends to read this book. That little sweetheart needs some sleep! My son cried for 45 minutes the first day, 15 the second but that is NOTHING compared to the 6-7 hours a day he used to cry in my loving arms before I did this technique. Since I did this technique (I thought it was over-rated in terms of difficulty-- I just made some smoothies in the blender and turned up the stero until it was time to go back in), not only am I happier but my baby is happier. Now when I comfort him, he is really comforted. Before he was just annoyed because he was so tired. I'm overwhelmed with love and affection every time I put him down for a nap and he smiles, grabs his bear, and goes to sleep. I never thought it could happen with such a "sensitive" child. Turns out he wasn't "sensitive"-- just tired. I recommend this book. It is MUCH cheaper than child therapy-- AND adult therapy for that matter!
Rating:
Summary: Fine if you don't mind the crying
Review: Dr Ferber understands sleep. But I don't think he really understands babies. His "program" is scientific, but doesn't take a baby's feelings into consideration. The exact scheduling of so many minutes of crying or so many ounces of milk assumes that all babies are alike, and they aren't. My baby cried so hard he threw up, and the book says to clean him up "matter-of-factly and then leave again", and not to "reward him for throwing up" (exact words!) I'm sorry, but my baby was terribly upset and needed some reassurance. Yes, I bet the "program" works, but at what cost to my child's self esteem and to my relationship with my child? I found more compassionate answers in a book called The No-Cry Sleep Solution written by a mother of four who dealt with sleep issues with her own baby and clearly understands that human beings require more than a quick-fix solution.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't wait - I wish I hadn't!
Review: First off: the method works. It is very, very hard, but it works. My daughter (8 months) could only get to sleep with her pacifier, in my arms, being rocked WHILE I WALKED AROUND. Nothing else worked - she'd cry in protest if I even dared sit down, while she wasn't fully asleep yet. As you can imagine, it was hell doing this several times at night. My breaking point came, when one night at 3:00 I was so sleep-deprived and angry that I picked her up and screamed at her, while barely surpressing the urge to shake her. I realized, I had to do something to save my sanity, so I read this book. Right away, it made so much sense! I had read "Babywise" before, but somehow Ezzo never really explained things the way Ferber does. Anyway, after reading it, I was all energized and ready to stick to it, no matter how hard it would be. The nights worked exactly as described. The first night was terrible, with the baby screaming for almost an hour before falling asleep. She woke again twice more, but cried less. The second night she cried for 35 minutes, the third only for ten. Night wakings were brief - I didn't even have to go in. By the fourth night, she simply rolled over holding on to her stuffed animal, fell asleep, and woke up ten hours later. (Nope, I don't get the advertised 11 1/2 hours, but 10 is better than nothing!) So far so good. Here's the snag: My daughter absolutely refuses to go down for her daytime naps this way. Even on day 5, she still screamed for 50 minutes, then fell asleep on her knees, hanging on to the crib rails. It was such a pathetic sight, it broke my heart! I just couldn't take it anymore, so for right now, I have given up on the naptimes. I put her in the stroller, or take her in the car, or whatever. I hope I will still get to keep the nighttime sleep, since the baby obviously does distinguish between day and night sleep. It's been 2 weeks so far... wish me luck! Anyway, my advice is, don't wait too long. I think this would have worked completely had my daughter not been able to pull up and stand. Because she WAS tired at naptime, so much so that she sometimes fell asleep standing up! But of course, she'd then fall down, wake up and resume crying hysterically. So, if your baby is still on her back, or at least only on all fours - do it now! You'll be glad you did. I'm giving the book 4 out of 5 stars, because it did not mention nap-stubborn kids like mine. (and I have heard of this problem at least from 3 other moms). It doesn't mention what you are supposed to do, if your baby invariably falls asleep in the car, whether it's naptime or not (stay home from now on, so the routine can be adhered to? I have a friend who does. But that's not going to work for me!). The book also doesn't mention what to do if the baby screams through the entire naptime, and then is so tired that she falls asleep not on the floor or playpen, but on the afternoon bottle, or sitting in the feeding chair eating cereal.
Rating:
Summary: I love you, Dr. Ferber!!
Review: When our daughter was still not sleeping through the night at 11-1/2 months old, I was desperate. And exhausted. Her pediatrician recommended this book. I endorse "the Ferber Method" wholeheartedly -- it works, is compassionate and will give you back your life! I can say that almost universally, the daddies have a harder time with the method. Probably because THEY are not the ones getting up with the child all night long! But a few minutes crying now will be less stress on the child overall than their crying several times in the night and having interrupted sleep. And a crabby mommy. So stick to your guns. Do it right the first time and you'll be sleeping like a "baby" in a matter of days! Took us maybe three days until our daughter was sleeping through the night. We look at a friend with an almost four-year-old who still has sleep problems and are so grateful we used the Ferber Method. It works!
Rating:
Summary: I wish I would have read this 3 years ago.
Review: This book explained and guided me through performing nothing short of a miracle! My sweet 3 1/2 year old son never had fallen to sleep by himself. Every night he would put forth quite a difficult struggle to stay awake very late (10:30 or 11pm!). Then he would wake 2-3 times during the night. Which meant that I woke 2-3 times every night to put him back to bed. During the day, he was grumpy and unruly because he was sleep deprived. I too was exhausted and had hoped he would "grow out" of this phase, but it was continuously worsening. When he was a baby, he nursed at night and fell asleep quietly and calmly. Then as a toddler, of course we are no longer nursing throughout the night, however, he would insist that I stay in his room with him while he slept. As soon as I was sure he was sound asleep, I would tip-toe back to my bed. There were nights that I was so tired that I would actually sleep on the floor next to his bed all night and wake with a very stiff neck. I was always patient and kind with him during his bed-time tantrums. I THOUGHT I was doing the right thing, but now I understand that I was just contributing to his inability to have a calm and relaxing bedtime and a restful night of sleep. Here's the miracle: After just four days of following this book's guidance, he is falling asleep calmly by himself and is sleeping through until morning. He is also falling asleep approximately one hour earlier and is happier throughout the day. The first three nights of our new routine he did protest slightly. However, each night was markedly calmer than the previous. In the morning he proudly exclaims that he fell asleep "all by himself". He is healthier, happier and is proud to have control of himself. If you have a child who has a stressful bedtime, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK! If I can locate this Dr. Ferber, I will send him a thank you note and gift. He is my hero!
Rating:
Summary: When In Doubt; When and How; Get This Book
Review: The knowledge I got from reading book has helped myself and so many my close friends and relatives with how to train babies to "fall asleep on their own." So finally our babies cane get some uninterupted sleep, and so can we!!! THIS BOOK IS A LIFE SAVER! My boy is almort 2 now. In the past 1.5 years, I have reviewed the book, specially chapter 5, few times because of the following reasons
* to teach him how to fall asleep on its own, so we don't have to hold it or rock it to sleep.
* for a few days, my baby wakes up everyday around midnight.
* for the longest time, it wakes very early in the morning.
* when it should nap and how to get the routine going.
* when to cut out the morning nap.
* what to do if the baby runs out of its bed and gets into ours (my child was doing that at 1 year-old.)
... etc. The author of this book, Dr. Ferber knows what is going on. You won't regret getting help from him. ps. It also has helped my neighbor's boy's sleep walking problem.
Rating:
Summary: Helpful and effective
Review: This book was VERY helpful to us when we were having trouble with our 4 month old's sleep habits. The sleep chart was particularly effective, because it allowed us to see our son's progress at a glance. The book gives step-by-step instructions to get your child to sleep unassisted.
I was skeptical at first because I'd heard negative things about this method (letting him cry it out is cruel, etc.) but after reading it I realize that most of the arguments were made by people who either hadn't read the book or did not fully understand it. (Ferber states in his book NOT to let your child "cry it out").
Using this method, our son began sleeping through the night (11 hours) in less than one week. Getting his naps on track took a little longer, but it worked! It's so nice to have a well-rested, happy baby!
Rating:
Summary: Get rest-- be a better parent
Review: This book is my new baby shower gift. Why not learn what NOT to do to get your child to sleep before you start making the mistakes? My son was 6 months old and waking up every hour and half. We'd give him his pacifier and he'd go right back to sleep. With this book as our guide, we slowly weaned him of his binky during the day and then didn't give it to him at night. He only fussed for 10 minutes the first night and then slept until 6am! The second night, he fussed for 5 minutes and again slept until 6am! Even if he had cried longer, it's not cruel. Ferber has a bad reputation but if you read the book, you realize it's a very humane approach to getting more sleep--both for the parents and the child. Kids need uninterrupted sleep and waking up every hour and half just doesn't cut it. Since he's been sleeping through the night, his disposition is better, he's happy, and he's reaching milestones faster. I'm still breastfeeding and it hasn't compromised anything. I was giving him one feeding in the middle of the night but since he started sleeping through, I've realized he doesn't need it. And the extra sleep I get just makes for more and better milk during the waking hours. Another reviewer said she wouldn't try the method because her child wouldn't know that it's for his own good. Kids don't know what's good for them or not. That's your job as the parent!
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