The trouble with “Ferberizing” babies is not that it doesn't “work,” in the 
sense of making the baby sleep through the night, but that it interferes 
with the baby's emotional development and puts the baby's long-term 
well-being at risk. If your only goal were to get your baby to sleep through 
the night and not bother you, then leaving him to cry would accomplish 
that goal. The problem, however, is that the reason the Ferberized baby 
stops crying and goes to sleep is that he becomes so discouraged that 
he gives up trying to signal that he needs help. In effect, he has learned 
to sleep through the night out of despair rather than out of contentment. 
     We emphasize that it is entirely normal for a baby to wake up during 
the night. Babies grow and mature at different rates and have delicate 
digestive systems; they may wake up because they are hungry, because 
their tummies are bothering them, or for some other reason. Once they 
are awakened, they may feel lonely and want a little comforting. These 
are all perfectly sensible reasons to go to them and soothe them. 
     You say that when you go to your son and feed him, he goes back 
to sleep contented. By responding to him, you are not only keeping him 
comfortable and allowing him to go back to sleep happy rather than 
despairing, but you are also giving him the crucial message that you 
care that he is unhappy and that you will do what you can to help him 
feel better. Because he loves you and wants to be exactly like you, your 
responsiveness is teaching him to be a person who is compassionate 
toward himself and others. 
     On the other hand, babies whose tears go uncomforted also emulate 
their parents. They believe that since their parents are not responding 
to them, they don't deserve comfort when they are upset. They may 
well grow up lacking compassion toward their own or others’ upset feelings. 
Worse, because they believe that their uncomforted feelings are what they 
are supposed to feel, they can confuse this unhappiness with happiness 
and develop the need to make themselves unhappy. 
     So continue to be responsive to your son's tears. If you are tired, 
get someone to take over for you for an hour during the day so you can 
rest, or nap when he naps and let the chores go. In the long run, you 
will be well compensated for the sleep you lose because you will be helping 
your son to grow up to be a happy and caring adult.