Sleep Training - Ferber's Door Closing Technique

When a child is too old and big for a gate, you may have to use a door. Start with the door open and when your child leaves his room you take him back and close his door for progressively longer periods of time, opening the door after the allotted period of time. Do this at bedtime and at night awakenings beginning at the minimum time listed for
each night at each new awakening. Continue this method until wake time (which may be a little bit earlier than usual while doing this method). For naps, continue this method for a max of 30 minutes at the beginning of a nap and do not attempt it once a child has fallen asleep and then woken up during a nap. Ferber states that it is OK to "say something through the door periodically to let him know you are there, but do not let him draw you into conversation." When you open the door give a word of encouragement but no more.

If your child wakes and calls but stays in his bed/room, start doing the one step approach instead.

Number of Minutes to Close Door - Last listed time each day is for subsequent closings during the night
Day 1 - 1/4 , 1/2, 1, 2, 3
Day 2 - 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 5
Day 3 - 1, 2, 3, 5, 7
Day 4 - 2, 3, 5, 7, 10
Day 5 - 3, 5, 7, 10, 12
Day 6 - 5, 7, 10, 12, 15
Day 7 - 7, 10, 12, 15, 20