Evidence-based alternatives to the Ferber Method

Macall Gordon, M.A.
Sep 5
7 min read

When parents hear the term "sleep training," many feel an immediate sense of dread because it’s usually synonymous with crying-it-out or the Ferber Method, which involves leaving babies to cry for progressively longer periods so that they learn to sleep independently. While this approach dominates popular sleep training research and advice, most parents overwhelmingly and strongly dislike it despite their use of it.

It’s not an easy or straightforward sell to parents:

Expert or researcher:

“We want you to be responsive to your baby all day, but at night we think you are creating bad habits by catering to your baby’s crying and you are actually causing your baby’s sleep problems. So, we want you to put your baby in the crib, close the door, and ignore every instinct you have to go back in and respond to your baby like you have been doing all day long.”

No wonder parents struggle with this. It’s also the likely reason why research has found that in real-world contexts, the Ferber Method doesn’t work for between 40- and 60% of parents. (Interestingly, even in research studies, it doesn’t work for between 16- and 50% of the samples.) Researchers have known for decades that parents kind of hate it, but instead of devising alternatives that are more palatable, they instead put their energy into ways to convince parents to be better at tolerating crying. They call it “cognitive restructuring”—telling parents why crying isn’t harmful and why all that sleep will be so good. “It really won’t be that bad,” they say.

The Ferber Method’s 100-year-old roots

The Ferber Method is rooted in Behaviorism, a theory from the 1920s, which believes babies come into the world as blank slates and their behaviors can be trained through reinforcement. Behaviorism says that waking and crying are "reinforced" by parental attention. If you want those behaviors to go away, you have to remove that attention. Note that 100% of the focus is on the behavior and the response. Biology, development, temperament, feeding, emotional regulation—none of that counts or matters. It also means that 100% of the responsibility for success or failure of the method is on the parent’s shoulders.

Why parents struggle with the Ferber Method

Research consistently shows that parents find the Ferber method incredibly difficult:

Goes against parents’ hardwired response systems: Ignoring crying contradicts parents' hardwired biochemical impulses to soothe their own crying baby.
Inconsistent with other parenting we do: Extinction is inconsistent with the way we teach infants nearly every other skill. We don't teach babies other skills by withholding help. Imagine refusing to feed a six-month-old with a spoon "so they don't become dependent."
Variable real-world results: It only worked in research because in the majority of studies, subjects also received professional evaluation, education, and daily support. Most parents are home alone with a book. In the real world, parents are seeing much lower levels of success with sleep training than in research studies.
Doesn’t offer a Plan B. Experts never offer information about what to do when crying isn’t quick or sleep doesn’t resolve in a few days. For intense, sensitive children or those with an undiagnosed condition, the Ferber Method may go on for weeks and experts don’t tell parents what they should do when this happens. Parents abandon sleep training. They feel guilty for letting it go on so long, they feel like a failure and they still have a potentially huge sleep problem.

The Ferber Method does work easily and quickly for a lot of parents. In a couple of nights of really minimal distress, their (probably mellow) baby is sleeping all the way through the night.

For a fairly large group, however, this is just not the case. These parents have been overlooked by the sleep training industry and have largely just been told to “try harder” because they probably just “did it wrong.” (See, it’s on the parents’ shoulders, not the method, or something with the baby.) It shouldn’t be this way.

There is a gradual, present, and evidence-based alternative.

The Chair Method/The Sleep Lady Shuffle.

This evidence-based alternative allows parents to:

Stay in the room while baby learns to sleep
Provide intermittent hands-on support
Pick up and calm the baby at any point that they need help
Gradually fade presence and support over 1-2 weeks

Research comparing this approach to the Ferber Method found both to be equally effective, but the responsive approach resulted in fewer nighttime wakings and less maternal distress.

Why the Chair Method Works Better: A Real-world Perspective

As a sleep coach, I've observed several advantages over the standard Ferber Method:

Better parent compliance: Parents can see the process all the way through because they are allowed to remain present and supportive.
Works for sensitive children: Unlike Ferber, which often doesn’t work for intense babies who can "outlast" their parents, this approach provides help with calming down as needed.
Flexibility: Unlike rigid Ferber method protocols, this method adapts to circumstances like illness or travel and allows for cosleeping or room-sharing.
Age-appropriate: Works well for toddlers and preschoolers who may be particularly sensitive to the "leaving the room" aspect of Ferber.

Moving beyond the Ferber Method debate

The current "Ferber Method versus co-sleeping" standoff isn't serving families well. Parents need a middle-ground, effective sleep training method that doesn't require choosing between their instincts and improving sleep.

Parents deserve options that can fit their values and their unique child. If we have to talk them into it, it’s not right for them.

Key Takeaways About Ferber Method Alternatives

The Ferber method isn't the only evidence-based option
Responsive approaches can match Ferber method effectiveness while reducing parental stress
A gradual, supportive approach works for babies who struggle with traditional Ferber method
Parents should have multiple effective options beyond just Ferber method

The goal remains the same whether using Ferber method or alternatives: helping babies transition from "parent-does-all-the-work" to "baby-does-more-of-the-work." The difference lies in allowing co-regulation and parental presence during this learning process, much like how we teach children every other developmental skill.

It's time to expand beyond Ferber method as the default recommendation and give parents research-backed alternatives that align with their values and their baby's temperament.

Need Immediate Help Getting Started?

If you're feeling overwhelmed by sleep challenges and need actionable guidance right now, consider the Sleep First Aid mini-course. This 30-minute audio program helps parents understand exactly why sleep has become so difficult and provides immediate, practical steps you can try today, all designed to fit into one of your child's short naps. Whether you're dealing with a baby or toddler, this quick "battlefield first aid" approach gives you the foundation to move forward with confidence. Check it out here.

About Macall Gordon

Macall Gordon, M.A., has a master's degree in applied psychology from Antioch University in Seattle with a research-based specialization in infant mental health, sleep advice, and parenting culture.

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