A method for reducing frequent idle handoffs of a wireless communication device is described. A registration request is received by a base station or a femto access point from the wireless communication device. The number of registration requests received from the wireless communication device are counted while the registration timer is running. It is determined that frequent handoffs are happening when the number of registration requests received is greater than a registration threshold. A transmit power of a femto access point is adjusted if the number of registration requests received indicates that frequent handoffs are happening.