10

Is there anything objectionable (in terms of halacha, hashkafa and middos) to using the Ferber method for training an infant to fall asleep on its own? There is an element of cruelty, and the ultimate benefit is probably more for the exhausted parents than for the child.

3
  • 7
    In that having exhausted parents can be detrimental to the child, easing the parents' exhaustion is potentially good for the child as well.
    – Isaac Moses
    Jul 26, 2011 at 21:29
  • That would certainly be a factor, in cases where it applies.
    – Dave
    Jul 26, 2011 at 21:51
  • 1
    None of the current answers (unless I missed something) address a critical aspect of the cruelty involved in using this method; more important than the immediate suffering of the child is the serious long-term psychological damage that this method could cause the child (see here, though be aware that there is controversy over the safety of one of the alternative suggestions there, namely allowing babies of a certain age to sleep in the same bed as the parents).
    – Fred
    Dec 13, 2015 at 19:14

4 Answers 4

7

As I see it, this question must be divided into two separate issues:

  1. How does standing by while another person is in pain affect you, your soul and middot?
  2. How does the Jewish tradition view allowing a child to CIO (Cry It Out) from the perspective of the child? ie. Does anyone discuss how this activity may affect the child in the long run?

Let's start with Issue #2, as it seems to be more at the core of your questions:

As far as I know, no traditional Torah sources discuss this particular issue of letting a child cry it out for the purpose of "training" the child to sleep. I don't believe this to be a function of "the Torah opinion" taking sides on the issue of whether or not sleep training has a negative effect on a child's development, it is more likely a function of the fact that the concept of sleep training was only introduced in the late 1800s and was only popularized in the subsequent decades.

If it is indeed true that "sleep training" a child improves their self-esteem, intelligence and trust in their parents (and by extension God), then I think we can all certainly agree that Judaism would not take issue with, or perhaps even encourage, such a regimen. However, being that there is conflicting evidence, leaving the answer unclear, we should probably act as we would with any safek (doubt in Jewish law), and stand on the chazaka (status quo), until there is substantial evidence to uproot this status quo (the status quo is probably, as my wife points out, somewhere in between the two methods, parents making decisions based on their child's needs using their intuition and parenting style).

Decisions such as these should be made based on a parenting style, which Torah sources do comment on. For example, one piece of Torah advice that comes to mind is, "have the left hand push away and the right hand draw near" (Sanhedrin 107b http://www.hebrewbooks.org/shas.aspx?mesechta=24&daf=107b&format=pdf 5 lines above the start of the mishna in the middle of the line and Sotah 47a), meaning that we should have balance in our parenting, both showing love and being firm. Of course, the "pushing away" is done with the left, weaker, hand. For more on the Torah's views on parenting, I would strongly recommend Zriyah U'Binyan B'Chinuch by Rav Wolbe, which is available in both Hebrew and English from Feldhiem Publishers and Amazon.

Now, onto Issue #1:

Based on the sources listed in the above mentioned article (stories of Mittler Rebbe, Rabbi Yisroel Salanter as well as the undocumented halachic sources) and other sources (http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0319.htm#16, http://youtu.be/g1123SvR5F8?t=4m20s, http://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2821.htm#13) it seems clear that it would be detrimental to one's middos/soul/personal growth to stand idly by while a fellow human being, particularly a child is in pain/crying. In certain situations (particularly as parents), however, we must do things which are detrimental to ourselves if they benefit others and therefore if sleep training is shown to be beneficial to our children then we may have to forgo our personal growth for the growth of our children. Being that (as outlined above) this is still in the realm of safek (doubt) we would not be obligated to forgo our personal growth by standing idly by as a child cries unless it is abundantly clear that this would benefit the child in the long-term.


All in all, I think the question you are asking is "Does the Torah/Judaism take sides on the 'sleep debate'?" and the answer is most certainly not. This is scientific question and we must act, as always, according to the facts that we have (or don't) based on the principles of the Torah.

5

Rabbi Noach Orlowek in his book on parenting, My Child My Disciple, says that it is forbidden to let a child cry, because it will affect his Emunah - he will learn that no one answers you when you cry.

In a private conversation (which will remain private by leaving out information), the Mashgiach of a well-known Yeshiva, upon hearing this, said "When my son was crying every night at 2 in the morning, I wasn't trying to decide if I should throw him out the window, but how best to go about doing it. So I don't think it's such a practical debate." By which he meant (on further clarification), for the sake of all parties involved just do whatever works best.

0

This article from AMI magazine goes through the pros and cons of the Ferber method. http://www.batyathebabycoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Ami-Magazine-Article.pdf

1
  • That article has some interesting info, but nothing concrete regarding my question. The two statements that actually address the topic are alomst contradictory: First a quote from someone who "spoke to all the big mechanchim in Israel, and they all had different opinions about letting babies cry. But they all agreed, across the board, not to let a baby cry alone until the age of one year." Then a quote from a Rebbetzin that "Jewish wisdom is silent on whether you should use the Ferber method [...] the Torah does not discuss issues such as these, because they are not really moral choices."
    – Dave
    Jul 26, 2011 at 21:45
0

Kohelet says, "Spare the rod spoil the child" Sometimes a little pain to the child is necessary for it to properly grow and function and learn to become a great person.

The phrase is generaly understood in modern contexts to be talking about discipline in general and not actual beatings.

However, if you feel that the Ferber method is objectionable to you, then you would be required to not use it. That is, if you think the pain cause to the child is needless and won't actually help them, then you shouldn't do it. But most people believe its beneficial for the child in the long run.

5
  • Why does it depend on my personal feelings? Do you mean because there is no way to really determine its effectiveness, so everyone must try his best to estimate the reality of the situation?
    – Dave
    Jul 27, 2011 at 15:47
  • 2
    Yes and no. Even if there is proof that it is effective, I think that if you feel it harms the child and isn't effective, you shouldn't do it. You shouldn't train yourself to do harmful things to people just because other people say its ok to do them. It falls under the rules of 'being holy' and 'emulating hashem' and also 'putting a stumbling block in front of the blind' (you being the blind in this case) And if its proven that its not effective and you think it is harmful then all the more so!
    – avi
    Jul 27, 2011 at 16:09
  • its not like a situation where you are in the army and following orders is more important than what you think those orders are. Especially in the situation of raising your own children!
    – avi
    Jul 27, 2011 at 16:11
  • Not sure if I agree completely. Sometimes it's necessary honestly appraise and accept evidence even when it runs against one's default intuitions.
    – Dave
    Jul 27, 2011 at 16:34
  • 2
    If you honestly appraise and accept the evidence, and that evidence says its good to do, then you won't find the activity objectionable, now would you?
    – avi
    Jul 27, 2011 at 19:12

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .