Gina Ford Baby with Toddler routines - tried them?

[lottytheladybird]

Hello! I'm 35 weeks pregnant and my DS is 21 months old. I'm trying to get my head round how I'll look after book of them at the same time, so I've been reading Gina Ford's 'Baby with Toddler' book. I'll be really interested to hear from you if you've tried her routines. Are they any good in practice? How do you rate her routines?

If I find the time to read it I'll let you know!

I personally like gf and her routines although not everyone does. I didn't follow it to the letter but it gave me a good idea

Hi

I also found the gf routines great. Like other person I didn't follow to the letter but used as a guideline for feeding and sleep times.

I found that baby and toddler book quite helpful, really just to give a few ideas to incorporate into my life. I used the GF routine with DD1 and it worked really well so thought that the baby and toddler book might be useful, but in practice with a toddler around you need to be a lot more flexible I think. My best advice is to have a long hard think about your toddler's routine and then work out some thoughts on how a baby's feeds and naps will fit in around that. When I had DD2 and then later DS (2 yrs exactly between each of my 3), I discovered how flexible babies tend to be, how easily they can fit into any routine that you set for them (despite the fact that I didn't find getting into a routine an easy task when I had my first). Toddlers on the other hand are NOT easy or flexible. Base your life around the toddler's routine, buy a sling so you can hoik the baby around here there and everywhere and you will be fine.

Isn't GF the woman who promotes leaving babies to cry?

It doesn't say that in any of her books that I've read... :S

I thought leaving babies to cry was part and parcel of having a toddler and a newborn! ;)

I only have the one toddler but I did read a Gina Ford book before she was born. I found her suggestions to be very rigid and when you have a little one flexibility seems to be the key. Some times routine can be counter-productive because if things aren't going exactly as planned it can be a little disheartening, but after a few weeks I think most people fall into a routine that works for them rather than what the books say.

I have a 14-month gap and was terrified at the prospect. It's not as bad as I thought and I'm 12 weeks in now. I found that GF Toddler Guide quite unhelpful and really designed for a 3-4 year-old toddler who can dress themselves and do artwork whilst you feed. Dream on! I definitely think it helps massively if your toddler is in a strong routine - fit around him. It's easier to manage if he is happy, fed and rested. I actually found Gina's Contented Baby (for the first child) still very helpful second time round just for the feeding and napping schedules. For me the hard parts have been at 11am when both are ratty and hungry, 5pm for similar reasons and bedtime. I breastfed but have stopped now as the bottle is quicker, easier and conserves your energy. DH is trying to get home at bedtime as often as he can and that's a big help. Good Luck! Apparently the first year is horrendous and then we'll be rewarded with hopefully siblings who are good friends.

camel I thought the same (I finally read this sat night) - it does seem to assume that your toddler will do art, rather than eat the crayons - and that he will dress himself as opposed to pull his socks off.

There are a few things I've taken from the book - tips for toddlers really, e.g., "it isn't time to get up yet" rather than the softly softly approach and this worked a treat yesterday.

Also, the routine is a bit "full-time job", which obviously it was for her, and so I see constant activities for the children and at no point does it say "sit down with a big coffee and piss around on the internet for an hour" (never mind the housework).

I do very much agree though that the key to getting a good night's sleep is getting the feeding spot on during the day.

There are definite elements I'll be taking from the book, but it won't be my bible.

Read it , binned it. Some people love it I found it not realistic or practical. Mine are 2.4 apart so I just tried to get the babies routine around the toddlers and it worked - I was alone with both most of the time.