Healthy Living Books Books

Rating: - you need the right baby for this book to work
I know people who say their babies have responded well to gina ford's regime, but it certainly didn't work for me. My baby arrived weighing 10lbs and was constantly hungry. I don't think Ford has catered for babies who are untypical in any way. Also, unlike some books which make you feel reassured and relaxed about being a new parent, Ford makes you feel stressed and uptight if you can't get her methods to work. If your baby weighs 7-8lbs, arrived close to its due date and behaves just like it says in ther textbooks, this book might work for you. If not, i wouldn't buy it.

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Rating: - thank the LORD for Gina FORD
I am astonished to find any negative reviews of this excellent book. I started following Gina's routines when my baby was about 4 weeks and within a few days everything changed for the better - he was happier, I felt more in control and I was getting more sleep. Obviously I laugh at some of Gina's matronly commands and dont do everything she says, but I do stick to the sleep and feed times she suggests. My son is 11 weeks now and he never cries when I put him to bed and has slept through to 7am for the last 3weeks. Before and after every sleep he gives me a beaming smile from his cot. I really dont understand the people who say it is too strict and uncaring. I never have to exercise any 'controlled crying' tactics as since I started following the routines my baby always goes to sleep happily. I have not had to 'settle' my son since he was 5 weeks old. When he is awake we have a wonderful time together - playing and chatting. If anything, this book has made me more attentive to any cries he might emit as they occurr so rarely.
Gina Rocks

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Rating: - Good - but be flexible
We have had two children one now 5 and one who is 13 months. We used this book to establish routines fit for all of us. As I know first hand all children are different however all children do love routine, you just need to find what timeframe suits your child.

Use this book to give you an outline of what needs to be done then work out when your child wants to do it. We normally managed about 90% of the schedules and yes we have had blood, snot and tears and that was just from my wife and I.

On the up side without this book we would not have had a clue on certain timeframes and or our childrens signals on the downside when you want to go and do something out of the routine it can prove difficult.

Being a full time Dad for our second child has proven interesting given there is no mention of Sport on TV or Browsing the internet for useless information in any of the routines in this book however my daughter and I have established a great routine that involves feeding by the PC whilst talking to Grandma over the web cam.

Have fun and keep smiling; you are not a failure, you are a parent and a good one at that.

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Rating: - Very Helpful
You'd have a hard time following Gina Ford's routines to the letter, but a routine based on her ideas has worked very well for my husband and I. We now have our evenings back and have a good evening and night routine. Although I was not having big problems with my baby, his night feeding pattern was variable. Using the routine, the baby now goes to bed before he gets too tired, we have our evening to relax, then his last feed and change fits in with us going to bed. He only needs one feed in the night. There are also good guide lines on expressing milk and replacing breast feeds with a bottle. This book is not without fault but gives some very good advice.

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Rating: - Very unhelpful
Very unhelpful. This book suggests that all babies should behave in exactly the same way and as all mothers know - this is utter nonsense!
After 1 week of trying this routine and having a thoroughly unhappy baby who put on no weight and cried continuously, I can honestly say that I not only felt like a complete failure and was pulling my hair out, but also felt totally guilty that I couldn't get the routine to work for me. (1 week is a long time when your baby is only a couple of weeks old and you're a first time mum getting no sleep!) Thankfully I went to see a breastfeeding counsellor who talked some sense into me about not using this book and I never looked back. My son got into a good routine himself and was a lot happier into the bargain! All babies are different and I really believe that mothers should trust their own instincts.