Healthy Living Books Books

Rating: - Absolutely awful
You will not end up with a contented baby, rather, a convenient one. If you want to control your baby and end up with an automaton then this is the book for you. If you want to love and enjoy your baby as much as possible then check out William and Martha Sears books!

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Rating: - To balance out more extreme views
I feel the need to balance out the rather extreme reviews this book has had. As a new mum myself I heard about the book, and came on and looked at the reviews, and felt a little overwhelmed. Some say treat it like a prenting bible and follow every word and others say you shouldn't even attempt it and accuse the book of being 'cruel'.
After having had my son (who is now 7 months), I would say that this book is excellent as a starting place. If you, like me, have had advice crammed in every orifice from every person you know and need some good solid advice this book is very useful. It gives you a good sense of an 'ideal' and the confidence to put the suggestions into practice, and it's not as rigid as everyone makes out if you read it properly. On the other hand, the routines are planned down to every last detail and this can be a bit tricky considering what babies are like.

I feel the best way this book can be viewed is: read it, absorb it, then put it to one side and do what YOU feel is right. Refer to it if you get stuck, and for suggestions and guidance, but don't pressure yourself or your baby into strictly adhering to it, but don't completely disregard it. My son wouldn't wake 3 hourly despite everything I tried he would only wake after 4 and slept through the night from 5 weeks (which I am now finding isn't such a bad thing after all!!!)But I had the confidence that I knew a bit about what was going on thanks to Gina Ford.

In other words, just use your common sense and trust your instincts. Only you know what is right for you and your baby. Every baby is different.

I hope this review is helpful to you.

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Rating: - Don't get stressed!
I read this when I had a newborn and it stressed me out - all the things that I should be doing... several months on I have a happy baby, who slept through the night (12 hours) from 3 1/2 months. I have done little that Gina says. So don't let her stress you out! That said, there is some useful information, and Gina isn't afraid to give facts and recommendations that other books and health visitors shy away from, and it can be useful to have this clear guidance, even if you do choose to ignore it!

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Rating: - Taken with a pinch of salt
I have three children within three years. Ranging in birthweight from 9kgs to 7.9kgs. When I first read this book I thought it was so regimented it would be impossible. I applied it loosely to the first child who was sick for the first 6 weeks of her life - so I started late with her. By 9 weeks she was sleeping 12 hours and was a very happy child. She would not sleep during the day but she did go into her cot lie down and play HAPPILY so I got rest or time to 'do' things. Because she was in such a good routine becoming a sister at 15 months was not an issue as long as her sister's routine fitted around hers. By the time no 3 came along at 2 and half years we had a very good routine for all three. All were breastfed for 6 months and all sleep very well at night. If I am not rested my milk supply falls so sleep is a very important thing in my home.
My husband works away all week and is only back late on a friday. He comes home to a happy household maybe due to luck but I think in truth due to Gina's book. I had no other source of advice.
I did not apply it literally - it was not possible with such small age gaps. I also wanted my children to be able to sleep in different environments. We can go out to dinner at friends and take all three with us. They have their bedtime routine and a particular teddy that they only get at sleeptime and they sleep well- adapting her ideas has worked for us.
I would recommend reading this book then work out how to reasonably apply it to yours and your baby's lives. People who have lots of assistance - nannie au pairs, grandparents or aunts around,people who like being only half awake the whole time, bottle feeding or who do not want to have any freetime DONT read it. For the rest of us I would read it and take with a small pinch of salt.

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Rating: - Gina Ford system
Its unfortunate to read the negative experiences and comments people have had from this book. My wife and I have nothing but good things to say about the Gina Ford system. It is not as rigid as many posters indicate, especially the health professionals. More than one person has indicated that you must leave your baby crying. This is not the case and I must wonder if they have read the book or just a cynical review? It is a flexible and very positive system for the baby, encouraging you to spend quality time with the baby when you are awake, and promoting rest or sleep when baby, mother and father most need it - at night.

We followed the main principles of the book and perhaps we were blessed with a good baby, but our baby harris quickly settled happily into the routine and it was a joy to sleep through the night (apart from the night feed) from the very first week onwards. Harris is now 19 weeks old, and sleeps through every single night (so far so good!) and it is a joy to wake up to a smiling face and to see him off to sleep with just a minute of crying or so.

I appreciate that it is not everyones ideal system, but we can certainly recommend its worth a try as it has been a wonderful first few weeks for our new family and we wouldnt change a single thing.