Babies are not machines or dogs. They are as human as you and me and treating them like a programmable piece of meat is not a good way to raise healthy children. I truly believe that babies need sleep and that as parents it is our responsibility to help them learn to sleep. The problem is teaching is not always easy and it requires creativity and patience. I also am very sad to say I have yet to find a really good book on sleep for babies. There are only the two extremes. Leave a tiny, helpless baby in fear and anguish until sleeping or always help them to sleep. I guarantee Ferber's book while full of information on sleep has nothing to offer conscientious parents. Please do not be fooled by the persuasive language. Try your parenting intuition instead.

I was suffering from confusion and memory loss due to lack of sleep. After 8 months of interrupted sleep, I sought help. A doctor told me about this book. I followed the instructions to the letter. My daughter never cried for more that 5 minutes at a time without being comforted. I set a timer from the outset, to help me to follow the plan and to make certain my daughter was never without me for more time than was prescribed. I really needed this to work!
She slept through the night on the fourth night. I was terrified when I woke up after that night, wondering if something was wrong, but she had just slept through the night and was a happy little girl when she woke up. So was I. I never had to re-do the process; it stuck. I absolutely believe in this program and do not feel it has any drawbacks aside from the "guilt" of letting your child cry for 5 minutes. While hearing her complain was unpleasant, she had a dry diaper, had consumed enough food during the day to sustain her, and since I was there at regular, short intervals, she wasn't hurting emotionally. I knew she was not in danger or real distress or I might have abandoned the program. But she was just mad at things changing. I would pat her and coo to her and reassure her when I went back in her room, which I did like clockwork, literally. Her brain soon got the message and we both got our sleep. Highly recommended. PS I know there are no ill effects! This formerly nocturnal baby is now a beautiful, well-adjusted, loving and talented 16-year old and still sleeps through the night! (smiles)

I hope you realize that Ferber is "rethinking" his advice. He now says that "the first need of that youngster is to feel confident at night and if that means a parent with them all night then that's the way it should be, the sleep problem can be solved as a secondary issue."

You probably should avoid this book if the author himself says the method isn't good.

I gave this 2 stars because it does have valid information about sleep. But all sleep books seem to agree on the basic principles. I abhor the insensitive way that solutions are arrived at. Letting a baby cry alone [..]to train him to sleep is simply wrong. Our children rely on us for comfort and security and we should accept that role. This also isn't a quick fix (my friend has been using it for about a year and her child still cries to sleep.) I much prefer the more kind and loving methods in The No Cry Sleep Solution which also covers the basics but lays out many ideas for getting sleep without the rigid let them cry ideas found here.

I recommend Dr. Ferber's book on an almost daily basis. I have countless "real world" stories of frustrated and exhausted parents who have had great success with his techniques. Letting your child cry doesn't mean that you do not love them and nowhere does he recommend letting your child cry for excessive periods. I can strongly recommend this book and have just ordered my third copy. Both parents should read and understand the plan before initiating the process and although I had a hard time believing it initially most problems can be solved within a week.