Roberta, I have not looked at my eMail since 9/1.  When I read your post
about Dr. Ferber, I scanned the rest of the mail topics to see if anyone else
had answered your question.
Dr. Ferber wrote a book called; "How to Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems".
 Not only does it cover waking at night but other topics such as nightmares,
night terrors, true sleep disorders etc...  It is very easy to follow and
clear.
I was dissapointed in Melissa Vicker's view of the book.  I must be "out of
the loop" because I have not read William Sears' book(s) that are so
frequently quoted.
As for Dr. Ferber's book, our pediatrician suggested it when we were having
problems with our first son (now 7)  Our pediatrician chairs a board with the
AAP, is very pro-breastfeeding and was very supportive for both our sons.  In
addition, he is a professor at  one of our Medical Schools here.  We had no
reason to feel that his advice and experience were to be given a second
thought.
The technique in the book is effective.  Yes, our son did "Scream" as Ms.
Vickers put it, but it worked well and our son was able to cope much better
with his daytime activities after a night's sleep.  As parents, we know and
do sacrifice sleep etc... when needed but in our case, meeting our son's
"nighttime need" of getting a good night's sleep (he would not nap during the
day once a toddler) was what we felt was neccesary.
Just MY humble opinion.
Jackie Terrebonne, RN
OBGYN/Labor and Delivery
Greater New Orleans area