Healthy Living Books Books

Rating: - No stars from me...but i had to rate the book...
I read the book (skimmed more like) and realized that these books are meant to make you feel incompetent from the word "Go". Babies cry. Newborns cry a lot, and want to be held all the time. Don't have kids if you are not prepared to ride through the first few weeks taking care of your baby when they need you most. What they don't need is a strict routine from week 1 - they need your love and attention. This book advocates routines, which is fine when the baby is older, but not in the first weeks. I got the impression that Gina Ford spent most of her time justifying her methods in the face of stark criticism and that read almost like an apology to me. I would not recommend this book to any first time mum with a new born.

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Rating: - Best thing that ever happened to us!
This book was recommended to me by another mum, and I was sceptical at first - especially when I read some of the negative reviews on here - but I'm so pleased that I read and tried it anyway. This book literally changed our lives. We introduced the routines when my son was about 4 weeks old - and this is the clear point that I now mark as when I actually started to enjoy having a baby. Contrary to some of the negative reviews, the book is not about making life easier on parents - it's about making life easier for babies. Nowhere in this book does it tell you to leave your baby crying for an hour, or not to feed it when it's hungry. Yes, the routines do seem a little strict, but read the rest of the book as well, which explains reasons why, and also tells you what to do when you're having difficulties following the routines. My baby was 9lb 6oz at birth and has always had a healthy appetite. Using these routines has made him a calm and content baby, and me a calm and content parent. He slept from 10.30pm until 7am at 7 weeks old, and from 7pm - 7am at 15 weeks old - and was entirely breast fed. I attribute this entirely to Gina Ford. Yes, some of the routines look a little strict, so use your common sense a bit! I can't recommend this book highly enough.

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Rating: - This works for my contented little baby
I can only assume that the majority of people who criticize this book have not actually read it. I had heard such awful things about it that I didn't read it for ages but when i did I was amazed at how kind and sensible Gina's approach is. Her approach puts BABIES first NOT parents by establishing routines which ANTICIPATE babies needs rather than waiting until they are actually crying and desperate for help.

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Rating: - The title is all wrong..
Far more apt would be 'The New Contented Little Parent Book' as clearly this is not a guide for learning to enjoy a new family but, instead, how to force a newborn to go against all of his very basic, primal needs in pursuit of a quiet time for the parents.
Utter rubbish.
Anybody with an iota of knowledge on the way we interact and grow, both emotionally and physically, will leave this book exactly where it belongs - in the bin. Babies are not manipulative, they have no idea how to be, and they should be encouraged to feed and sleep and grow at their own pace. Routine shmoutine, extended Maternity Leave has been implemented for a reason - get to know your baby, let your baby get to know you and for the first six months or so, follow his lead...
As new parents, we often scramble around for the best advice and its about finding something that works for you and your family. For this reason i would recommend reading around and pinching bits from different approaches. Except this approach.
Crikey - had I gone down this path I'd have been pulling my hair out - and feeling as though I was putting me in front of my child - frankly, we have a whole lifetime to do that.
As you can gather, I hated this book...Not in the least bit recommended!!!

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Rating: - Not right away!
This book almost made it to the bonfire! It should be given the quote "This book could kill you"

I would suggest not even looking at it until your baby is a few weeks old, then maybe it may help. I agree that a baby who gets most of it's feeds during the day may sleep better at night but that shouldn't be a priority in your life now.... you have a new person to put first, your needs come second.

The book is far too strick and makes any new parent feel inadequate. My husband wanted to call Gina when our baby lost her voice after crying for over an hour - it was heartbreaking and did nothing for postnatal hormones!

Your baby is learning to cope in the big wide world, the most important thing she needs to know is that you are there when she calls.

Use your instints Mums :o) take it with a pinch of salt and enjoy those first precious days.

Oh, and by the way, I want my baby to sleep anywhere in any environment with noise and light for us to be able to live our lives!