Healthy Living Books Books

Rating: - Not the answer to everything
Although this book has some practical advice such as what to put in your nursery and how to create routine for your baby etc. overall this book is simply not practical. Every baby is different, some have digestive issues, some need more comforting than others. The only person who can really know how to feed and nurture their baby is a parent. If used as a guide this book is useful, but don't follow it exactly or you and your baby will end up frustrated and unhappy. Pay attention to the signals your baby is giving you and their own rhythmns and follow your own instincts and you'll be much better off. I hate to be cliche but Ms Ford has never had her own baby and it shows- there is no 'secret routine'- there is just instinct and working with your own child's needs.

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Rating: - Fabulous book, I wouldn't be without it
It is great to come across a book that gives sensible and consistent advice. The routines are great and can so easily be adapted to your baby's individual needs. It is re-assuring that Gina says that you must never leave a baby to cry if there is something wrong e.g. hunger, wind.

I cannot recommend this highly enough. It is vital though to read the accompanying text to understand the reasoning behind the schedules so that you can use them as a framework.

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Rating: - Don't take the book so literally
I really feel I have to write a review on this book even though it's some time since I read it.

I have a little girl who is nearly 1 and I was desperate for a routine when she was first born. I read Gina's book with interest and tried to stick rigidly to the routine in the book and it didn't work. Once I realised that the book is a framework to use as a guide to formulate your own routine that works for you and your baby - I never looked back since. My baby is now a very contented little baby and I would highly recomend the book to those of you wanting a happy baby and a happy mummy.

Gina's suggestions of feeding regualrly in the day, structuring naps (aiming for the longest nap in the middle of the day) and teaching your baby to fall asleep on their own make absolute sence and are the key to happy parenting. You don't have to follow the letter of the book - we are all adults and can think for ourselves and should - Gina is just providing help and guideance - and it works - there are thousands of happy contented little babies out there to prove it.

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Rating: - Get your life back
Ignore any nay-sayers. Babies need tramlines, parents need guidance. This book provides both. Nowadays, we can't go running to the matriarch, because there rarely is one.

Remember, you don't have to follow it slavishly - although I would have preferred to have stuck more closely to Ms. Ford's recommendations than we did. It won't hurt anything to modify the rules to suit your own family.

We have a well-balanced five-year-old now. Ms. Ford has a great deal to do with that fact.

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Rating: - Dis-contented Little Baby
I read this book after hearing many positive things about it. I found lots of the information useful, such as suggested hours daytime sleep according to age, feeding guidlines etc. However, the actual day routines themselves I found to be too restricting and easy to find yourself way out by the evening. I also didn't like the controlled crying approach and found that my easy to calm baby became more difficult to calm when using this approach. I much preferred the gentler appraoch of Tracy Hogg in 'The Baby WHisperer'.
If you find strict routines suit you and your baby the this is a good book. If your prefer more flexible guidelines and a softer approach then try Tracy Hogg's books.