Healthy Living Books Books

Rating: - Not for every baby - and much too regimented!
As someone who likes to know what to expect and predictability (sometimes to a fault), I read this book in preparation for our first child, and was quickly disillusioned - the book's schedule is too regimented for a new born even though the author recommends using the schedule with a day old baby. Our son was born a hearty 8 lbs 11 oz, was a vigorous eater (breastfed), and a pretty sound sleeper. He never made it through a three-hourly schedule, and wanted to be fed every 2 hrs to 2 hr 30 minutes. I tried everything - making sure the baby had a long enough feed (he was such a vigorous sucker he would empty one breast in about 10 mins), getting him to stay awake after feeds (sometimes he would stay awake for the entire time between feeds, sometimes he would sleep the entire time between feeds), but it just wasn't possible all the time. The author makes it sound like if you followed her schedule that it would definitely work and that every baby wanted and _would_ follow such a schedule if given the opportunity. This was not the case with our baby, whose cues are pretty easy to read (only fussed/cried when hungry, wet, or too tired; otherwise not a very fussy baby!). I would take this book with quite a few grains of salt because I don't think it takes into account individual differences between infants and assumes that all infants will "settle" into the schedule described in the book if parents just made the effort. It made me feel like it was _my fault_ that my son was not following the schedule, which is a very disheartening and dangerous message to give to new parents. I know someone for whom this worked very well, so I would not dismiss the book entirely - but I found it a discouragement rather than a help for our family.

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Rating: - Approach with caution
I read this book when my son was born, but maybe I was lucky that I had a contented baby who found his own routine. She does make sense with some things however if you read it carefully you will notice that there is no time for any actual playing, bonding or enjoying your child which I find awful. Fair enough - I cant argue with the people it helped but maybe fit some time in for bonding aswell.

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Rating: - Patronising and rigid
My husband bought this after the birth of our first daughter after repeated conversations with his mother who kept saying how wonderful this book is - although I don't think she had read it prior to that. I had never wanted this book as I had heard a few bad things about it. It is way too rigid for my liking. The bold and capitalised text is patronising in the extreme - it's like a boot camp for babies. Our daughter didn't sleep through the night until she was 19 months old - which was sorted in the end by a cranial osteopath - but she is, and always has been, an extremely secure and happy little girl and she was a contented little baby of our making. It may be heralded as a 'number one bestseller' but it doesn't mean it is actually liked - just mistakenly bought by some.

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Rating: - It worked for me!
I was a sceptic when my partner told me about this book. He said it worked for his sister. Upon reading I couldnt believe how strict and regimented it all was. But we gave it a try, and for two weeks we worked hard an got no results and I was ready to throw it away. Then, slowely but surely she started to sleep through the odd night here and there till it got to more nights sleeping through and less nights waking up, and by three months we had cracked it.

I can honestly say this really worked, my daughter is now 15 months old and has slept 7pm till 7am since 6 months old. I would recommend it to most mums who crave a good nights sleep!

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Rating: - Excellent book in every way, don't believe the negative comments.
I genuinely and honestly can't understand why people have such a problem with Gina Ford. If you tell people you have a 'Gina baby' they look at you as if you've sold your child to Satan!

I read this while I was pregnant and remember thinking how ordered it seemed and how I wouldn't have time for anything besides her routines. Fast forward a few months and I have a three week old baby and absolutely no time for anything anyway! I started my daughter on the CLB at 3 weeks and within days she was transformed from a grizzly, overtired baby to a contented little soul who slept, ate and played well. Instead of having less time for me I've actually got more - two hours to myself at lunchtime and the evenings for my husband and I to share a meal and catch up.
Now at 9 weeks she is so happy that people comment on her contentment. Most certainly not psychologically damaged!! It's certainly down to the CLB, if something interferes with her naps then she becomes grizzly and very grumpy.
Ok, fans of attachment parenting this book is clearly not written for you. Putting that aside there is nothing cruel in Gina's approach - if you read the book carefully and also her other books which are recommended then it is obvious she has a caring and compassionate attitude to raising babies and pays attention to all aspects of their development. Teaching your baby to sleep independently is one of the most important lessons you can teach and if that is mastered at a young age it prevents long term sleep problems that are so hard to break.

Sleep is vital for babies health and development and the routines ensure that these needs are met. Overtiredness is such a problem in babies and you see so many tired looking infants being endlessly bounced on knees and having toys thrust in their faces by parents assuming they are bored when in fact all they need is rest. The routine assures that naps are evenly spaced throughout the day to prevent your child from becoming overtired and unable to switch off.

Another criticism of her routines is the impact on your life in that it restricts the time of day you can go out. I believe it's cruel to deny children the sleep they need by putting your own social needs first and the routines allow for plenty of time for socialising and getting out.

I would definitely try her methods - if you are pregnant, read and absorb the book (also get her sleep book too) as you won't have time when the baby arrives. Then start fairly early, that way you won't have created bad sleep associations like rocking etc that you will have to deal with later. Then enjoy your lovely 'contented' baby!!