to not like Dr Christpher Green's book?

[SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood]

Reading toddler taming at the moment. While I'm sure a lot of it os good advice & i'll try it, he is so sneery towards the 'pathetic' parents - the contempt he has for a lot of the parents who use his services is apparent. Also, he recommends smacking.
And that's only so far...

I remember him mentioning (and condoning) smacking a child who came out of their bedroom at night.

I remember him talking about the use of sedatives/drugs to get the livelier child to sleep through the night.

I remember thinking "why the hell am I reading this book?"

I like to think I'm "hands on" and "down to earth" but I don't tend to heed advice from "Doctors" who advise smacking and drugging - seems a seriously lazy and unimaginative approach.

"bruffin Fri 22-Oct-10 22:46:58
Some parents are pathetic what's wrong with saying say.
"

err because we're the ones paying money for his book. I'm not suggesting he starts with the flattery, but just not downright contempt.

I wasn't keen on it either.

THough to be fair I have yet to read any book about kids that has been useful. Can't tell you how disappointed I was with How to talk.

and aye, my copy (ancient) has stuff about smacking and sedatives.

maybe it's been updated?

about time out
"occasionally an escape artist does need some heavier guidance. At the first escape he is put back with complete firmness. The next time he gets a gentle, limit-registering smack"

my copy says no to sedatives. So maybe I have a newer one than you but older than everyone else. As I said in my OP the ideas themselves I think are probably good, but reading it is like having a conversation with someone who holds you in contempt

OP what version of toddler taming are you reading...?

Please refer to page 104 of Dr Christopher Green's New Toddler Taming published 2006...

"Why Smacking doesn't work
If you aren't yet convinced that smacking isn't a good form of discipline, here are a few examples of how the message gets confused for the toddler"

Slightly confused as to why you think he condones smacking

I found his book very useful, if nothing else it helped me to identify what was "normal" behavior

And I used his CC method and it was v effective (shock horror) - I don't particularly like CC but when you are at the point of telling your husband you want to be run over by a bus just so you can be in hospital and have a good night's sleep and you stand over the DC's cot at night wanting to slam her head against the bars you are at the point of needing to take some drastic action and it saved me.

I think mine is circa 1885...

looks like i have an older version :) thats what you get for buying a cheapy from ebay.

"other pathetic parents complain that their child is out of the room before they have even turned their back"
then he takes it literally & goes on to ridicule.

God complex? A doctor? surely noooooooo

smacking is in my 6.55 post

I seem to remember a programme some years ago called 'Living By the Book' where families had to live the way of a particular lifestyle book for a period of time. Toddler Taming was the most successful and no, I don't recall any of the parents smacking their children.

I've not read the book although I have paused at it on the bookshelf a couple of times In waterstones when going through a slightly difficult stage with my toddler.

Perhaps I should read it, borrow it from someone. I quite like the quote further down about taking away the dummy.

I do agree with nickytwotimes though. I am very disappointed with 'How to talk' which seems to be a much recomended book on here.

Not read it - but then I wouldn't buy any book that talks about toddler 'taming'. Even if the content is OK, the title is horrid.

i am now a bit sceptical of him given it seems he has made a 180 degree turn from older versions of his book.....might be donating my copy to the charity shop....

It was the only child care book i found useful and non-patronising.
Stop reading it if you don't like it!!

As I've said I am finding bits of it useful. I just find it quite contemptuous and am surprised he recommends smacking (although I agree with his general principle that while not ideal a smack isn't the worst thing you could do to a child).
whoneeds, that's sort of the way I feel.

I really didn't get on with that book at all polar. There are different editions too, with the advice changing substantially between them. ( as others have noted). I have problems with the whole idea that my child needs taming, is manipulative, it's me against her and I must win etc etc
As with baby books though, it's easy to get too hooked on them. After all these experts have never met your child or your family. I am a much better parent since I chucked all the books away!