Healthy Living Books Books

Rating: - Try it and see-thank you for our happy, contented baby!
We bought the 'Baby Whisperer' when pregnant with our 10 week old daughter and loved the idea of an 'easy' routine which was led by baby and was not rigid. We were particularly interested in the self soothing as we wanted our daughter to learn to do this fairly quickly as we had seen too many frazzled parents rocking/singing/pacing their babies to sleep. Our little one was a baby who showed no signs of tiredness until she was totally 'overtired' and we just could NOT seem to preempt her. I developed PND and was so worried that she would not sleep on her own and we would be constantly having the soothe her. I had heard alot about Gina through NCT lessons and other friends and knew that the book was either love it or hate it but decided to give it a go. Within one day She was a changed girl...instead of waiting for a yawn (which never came!) we placed her in her moses basket at the 'correct' time with some nature sounds and fully swaddled and she drifted off into a happy and long sleep! Hooray!

We do not follw Gina to the letter as our little one needs a bit more sleep than suggested for her age but it has worked miricles for us as we now have a lovely evening, a lovely 2 hour break in the day and she has been sleeping through the night from 7 weeks old. I must admit that I love a routine myself and it has really helped me relax as it is like being told what to do. It wouldn't work if you are a more 'take it as it comes' person.

I am so proud of our contented baby and often have comments like 'you are so lucky' and 'isn't she an easy baby' but they were not around pre-gina when she was overtired and fractous!

I would reccommend trying the book and seeing...it can't hurt (just ignore the breast feeding advice as it is quite complicated when it doesn't have to be-I don't express) if you take the 'bossy' tone with a pinch of salt.

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Rating: - Sensible easy to follow guidelines (not rules!) for a contented baby!
I think when some people read the book they mistakenly perceive the book as a set of rules that must be followed to the letter. It isn't. It's a simple and clear set of guidelines that helps your baby to find a natural and balanced rhythm.

We followed the book carefully with our little one and it wasn't a case of rigid timelines in the slightest. We have a very happy, healthy, contented baby who from the age of 6ms year was sleeping (happily) from 7pm to 7am. She knows her meal times (yes the Gina Ford weaning book is also fabulous) and the difference between a lighter day time nap and night time sleep.

By following these simple guidelines you can ensure you have a contented baby.

I would also recommend the Contented Baby website which provides lots of useful advice, tips, on feeding, sleeping, development, recipes for weaning and also a useful forum for posting questions and discussing topics with other parents.

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Rating: - Avoid this book.
We bought this book on the advice of my sister, we were new parents and needed a little help with regards to feeding and sleeping etc. We could not belive our eyes when we read it however, this book is nothing more than set of strict authoritarian rules on how to live your entire life.
I mean it even gives you advice on how to use your own washing machine for goodness sake, when to get out of bed, when to eat, what is this woman on? A massive power trip as far as i can see!

Our midwife took one look at this book when she came to our house and said burn it, this book apparantly gives her many problems in her day to day job. She said Gina Ford is nothing more than a nanny and has never even had her own children, or hadnt when she wrote this.

Our son has found his own routine, and is very happy and contended without the ludicrous advice of this book.

A friend at work is living his life according to this book at the moment and is one of the most stressed individuals i know right now, it may not be purely this book but it cant be helping him or his family. Being a parent isnt just about having a contended baby, it's about having a happy and contended family.

The stress of being a new parent can be difficult enough without having to suddenly set your life around this books strict rules and regulations. If you need help speak to your family, friends, midwife, health worker, doctor, neighbours but seriously do not buy this book.

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Rating: - My lifesaver at a very stressful time!!!!!
This book was an absolute lifesaver to me. As a new mum, was very worried that I would do the wrong thing for my baby. This book gave me the confidence to make decisions that would benefit him. 1 year on I have a very happy contented little boy who is thriving in every way!!!!!! Thank you Gina Ford!!!!!

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Rating: - please take this book lightly
Having bought this book a few weeks before i was due my first baby I read from cover to cover and was relieved to have some sort of guide as what you do when you bring your baby home. However when the day arrived I realised that this book was not the answer. I found this book rigid and very unrealistic. I struggled with the routine for two weeks stressing when my newborn wouldnt stay awake for two hours at a time or wanted feeding before the three hour mark or wouldnt sleep for two hours at lunchtime until my husband stepped in and told me to chill out. If i had skipped the routine portion of the book but read the advice I would have been much happier and would urge any new mums to take the routine part of the book very lightly. Your baby will guide you on how to look after them not Gina Ford. A good reference to have in the house but I would only use it for that.