Hey there, tired parents! Let’s talk about one of the biggest challenges in baby land: naptime. It feels like a mini battleground sometimes, right? But fear not, because we’re diving into a game-changing strategy that might just turn the tide in your favor: The Ferber Method.
You’ve probably heard of Dr. Richard Ferber and his approach to sleep training, especially when it comes to nighttime shenanigans. But did you know his method works wonders for daytime naps too? Yup, it’s not just for the midnight shift.
In this article, we’re breaking down the Ferber Method and how it can revolutionize your nap routine. Think of it as your secret weapon for reclaiming some much-needed daytime peace and quiet. So grab a cup of coffee (or tea, we don’t judge), and let’s dive into the world of naptime mastery with the Ferber Method.
In this article:
- What is The Ferber Method?
- The Ferber Method for Naps – Will it work?
- The Ferber Method for Naps – Is it Safe?
- What Age is Best?
- Tips for Using the Ferber Method for Naps
What is The Ferber Method?
The Ferber Method, developed by pediatrician Dr. Richard Ferber who graduated from Harvard Medical School, is a sleep training approach designed to help infants and young children learn to fall asleep and stay asleep independently.
This method focuses on teaching children self-soothing skills. However, contrary to The Cry-It-Out Method, parents remain involved in the process reassuring their babies or toddlers periodically. The idea is to gradually reduce parental involvement at bedtime and during night awakenings. The method involves establishing a consistent bedtime routine, putting your baby to bed while still awake, and gradually increasing the intervals of time before responding to nighttime awakenings. Through this process, children learn to self-settle and develop healthy sleep habits, leading to improved sleep quality and duration for both children and parents.
But, today, we are answering the question about how to use The Ferber Method with naps!
The Ferber Method for Naps – Will it work?
I’ve been helping families for over 15 years and yes, The Ferber Method works for naps, too! The primary difference between sleep training at night versus naps is the obvious question about how long you do it. At nighttime, we know your baby will eventually have to fall asleep. However, at nap time, this is not the case. That’s why there are some differences between using this method at nap time.
The Ferber Method for Naps – Is it Safe?
Yes, The Ferber Method is safe for naps just the same as it’s safe at nighttime. You will be periodically soothing your baby at intervals. During your visits, you will be able to check that your baby is in a safe sleeping position and reassure them you aren’t far away. There is even a variation using this method while you remain in the room. We call that The Chair Method.
What Age is Best?
The best age to use The Ferber Method for naps is 6 months or older. Generally, it’s best to be past the 4-month sleep regression, but before your baby is standing and crawling which often happens during the 8-month sleep regression.
Tips for Using the Ferber Method for Naps
While there are many similarities between using The Ferber Method for nighttime and naps, there are a few tips we have:
- Limit nap attempts to one hour at a time. If your baby hasn’t fallen asleep, get them up for an hour and try again an hour later.
- Consider ONLY doing The Ferber Method for the FIRST nap of the day for the first 2-3 days of your journey. This way, they won’t lose a lot of sleep the rest of the day making for a potentially long night.
- Do a nap routine for 5-10 minutes before you put your baby down awake.
- Commit to two weeks for sleep coaching. While nighttime might have improved over a few days, naps often take 1-2 weeks or longer.
We hope these tips have you on your way to better napping throughout the day. Be sure to read about The Ferber Method in more detail complete with example sessions and check out more resources below!
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