Just to play the "devil's advocate" for a minute.....

I don't believe in "Ferberizing" and I do believe that most babies need
their mothers and need to breastfeed at night (especially those whose
mothers are busy or away during the day).  However, there is some
literature which suggests that babies can learn to wake less frequently at
night without the "cry-it-out" methods.  When parents are feeling really
exhausted, someone usually suggests bottles or early solids.  Now we all
know that that won't fix the problem, but I think helping parents find
ways to cope without bottles is prefereable.  For families who don't think
a family bed will work for them, I talk to them about minimizing
night-time interaction (feed only, no playing or talking), having dad try
rocking the baby once or twice during the night to see if that will work,
etc.  Some babies will decided that waking up at night isn't really worth
it, at least not as often.  If that helps stressed-out, exhausted parents
cope, I'm all for it!

--
Anne Montgomery, M.D., I.B.C.L.C.
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St.Peter Hospital Family Practice Residency
Olympia, WA