Product reviews

It is a shame the most talked about new baby book is so complicated. There are a few good ideas in it but the routines are hard to adapt and inflexible. Where deviations are permitted the solutions are also really complicated.

I read it before I had my baby three and a half months ago and most of it went in one ear and out the other. Some of the tips like buying white clothes and buying a tumble dryer have been very useful.

I would really love to have a routine and have invented one myself based around some of the principles but I am now thinking of going back to on demand feeding because my baby is fully breast fed and we will be weaning him quite soon.

Life is too short for books like this and so it is the only one on routines I have and so I do refer to it from time to time as there is not much on the internet about breast feeding once breast feeding is established but I wish it did a better job.

This book is too much like hard work for my liking. And if you live in a flat or semi or your kids share a room then controlled crying is pretty much impossible.

My baby is 10 weeks old and I have been trying to follow the routine as best I can. The feed times are easy to follow but it's the daytime sleeps that I'm struggling with. The trouble is, I find that I get really depressed being confined to the house so much because I am such a social person usually and have lots of friends with babies too. Today I was asked to go for a coffee over lunchtime after a baby group meeting (lunchtime nap!). I made up some excuse and came home to put my baby to bed but just felt very down about it. I also feel restricted going out with the pram or in the car because my baby falls asleep and then has too much sleep (according to the routine)!! How is anyone else managing to get out and about?

I want to give my baby the best start and get her sleeping throught the night asap but I feel I am going slowly mad, constantly analysing the routine and whether I'm doing it right.

Please help

Nikki

I tried to use this book when my baby was born and almost tore my hair out. The precise timings and instructions seemed crazy with a crying, screaming baby. But after six weeks, I took the general idea and instituted some of the really good, sensible advice. You don't have to follow it word for word, just the basic principles. As a result, my baby was on a routine from 6 weeks and sleeping through from 8! I can't recommend it highly enough to any mother who values her sleep, sanity and life.

Some mums (and their babies) thrive on Gina, others go demented. I'm in the latter category but I know several mums who are in the former, including one whose who DD genuinely seemed to be soothed and comforted by a strict routine.

As for me, once I'd learned to trust myself and my DS, we worked splendidly with each other and Gina was banished to the back of the cupboard at about 5 weeks (along with Tracy Hogg, Miriam and a host of others), to be brought back out months later for really helpful advice on stopping BF and then reducing the bottle feeds.

Try it but as with all parenting guides don't beat yourself up over it and take from it what you want - you'll quickly have an inkling if Gina's not for you.