Gina Ford yay or nay?

[Tracy551162]

Just finished reading the Gina Ford Comtented Little Baby book and have to say that everything she says is very logical and makes full sense. She writes and explains everyhting in a very structured way and I found it is very easy to follow.

I am now looking at The Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg and I find that book so unstructured and random, but so far she is saying the same as Gina Ford bar the odd bit here and there.

I think I am going to try with the Gina Ford method, but obviously adapting for my and my baby's own needs, and without getting in a flap if I get behind schedule.

Has ayone else read these books or tried to work by them with their babies? Am I completely mad even mentioneing the name Gina Ford? I've had a lot of negative reactions from friends, who say she's a baby nazi - most of them haven't even read the book though.

Thanks.

Message withdrawn

I think you are absolutely right Tracy, and make some very fair and valid observations.

When I had ds1 I had GF, not MN. MN has had an influence and given me confidence to do things differently this time round (which is why I'm still bf at 9 months). BUT we largely adhere to the mealtimes even now with all the children, and the core routine is still the basis of our day to some extent.

So Tracey, I hope that you will stay with MN and don't be afraid to ask if you have any worries or questions with the Contented Baby routine, or any other method you try.

When I was pregnant I read a few different books on childcare, one of which was Gina Ford 'Contented Little Baby'. It seemed to make alot of sense but the routines did seem difficult to follow and restrictive (for me anyway). After having my DS I think I found the Supernanny book most appealing. It does encourage routine but more inportantly I think it encourages you to go with your instincts (Mum knows best ). My DS is now 10 wks old and I think it's easier for me to just go with the flow, especially with breasfeeding. I am still feeding on demand and I'm happy with that!

For the record, I have read the book, from cover to cover. I absolutely stand by my original assessment of which books you need to read and which ones you don't.......

Starlight, I did find ways of getting out, and still sticking to the routine most of the time.

e.g. I would go to see a friend for lunch, but put ds down to sleep in her spare room for his nap. (He seemed to sleep just as well in other people's houses as ours).

Also, a lot of the things I did happened at convenient times. I do remember though, that we never went to the local mother & toddler group, because it was completely at the wrong time. So I suppose it depends what your priorities are. For me, it was important tohave ds in a routine, so long as we could still get out and do some things.

Anyway, we were happy with it, and ds is still a very happy chap. He is also confident, curious, gets on well with most people etc.

I think reading up on childcare prior to the birth is a sign that you want to do the best for your baby and the more widely you read the more informed your childcare decisions will be. You wont know what suits you and your baby until he/she has arrived but I think reading up on childcare gives you confidence and that can only be a good thing! Sorry to go on.

I think posting on Mumsnet is the same as reading up on the subject!

Worried about posting under my unoriginal name with a number in it! Tracy - stick with MN - I had no computer when I had my DS1 and really missed out not being on MN, where you can find out about anything. When I first came on MN it did have the feel of playground cliques with the popular ones being in charge, but you'll soon realise that's not the case and you'll soon become addicted like me!

PS I found gina ford useful for hints about things like blackout blinds, but had no real routines for my DS's til they were about 6 mths, I then found her routines quite useful for weaning and feeding. But I had no MN then and was desperate for any advice, whatever it was....

I would say nay, nay, nay.
Not my style at all but I do know people who found it successful

Tracey,

Stick around - Mumsnet is great (I swear!).

I just wanted to say that I've read lots of good things about the books by Rachel Waddilove. Apparently she gives extremely sensible advice. Her baby book might be worth a look - it gets rave reviews on Amazon.

=8-2

Patsy

Tracey, don't change your name just because 'we' usually like names which show character...its rubbish!

I really, really dislike the Waddilove book as well - it's another nanny, if that means anything.

One of the reviews makes me feel a bit sad for her baby - he's only three months. Reading the book for tips on sleep training, this parent reports:

"Although we felt really cruel letting him cry, after 4 days his shouting time has reduced from an hour to half an hour. "

Babies of 3 mths old do not 'shout', they cry. And yes, you can train a baby not to cry for attention, but the baby pays a price for this.

Sorry, I haven't read the Waddilove books - just going on very positive, glowing reports in press.

See my post of 11.32 below, Starlight.

I don't think 'how to' books can avoid the trap of telling people what to do, when we should be, instead, supporting their growing understanding of their baby, and enabling them to respond to their needs.

Books written by nannies often outline a routine that would be suitable for a nanny or carer - someone who does not want a long-term relationship with the baby and indeed who has to protect herself from falling in love with the baby (because the next job may be only weeks away). This same someone has no real investment in the long term emotional health of the baby, and is only really concerned with his day to day physical care and cleanliness

So you get a sort of distancing, and 'methods' (like the Waddilove 'sleep training' at a few weeks old, FFS) which someone who does not truly love the child finds easier to do. I am not saying that parents who go down this route do not love their babies - they may adore them. It's this very adoration that makes it difficult to hear them cry. But because they read in a book that this is the 'only' way, they suppress their need to comfort the baby.

It's sad

shrinking - I have also read GF's books in all their editions in fact I have written a university essay on the subject so please don't make any inaccurate assumptions.
I speak from my own personal opinion and experience and what I have learned about the needs of babies and particularly their feeding and emotional needs.
imo GFs books and routine do not understand or meet these needs.
that's it really

Harpsi, you speak truth

This is not really opinion, either - it's really 'what do we know about infant needs?' and there is a lot we do know, plus 'what do we know about what happens when these are not met?' Followed by an analysis of what many of these 'how to' books are telling parents they should do.

It doesn't match up

This is not to say that some mothers will not benefit from having some sort of shape or pattern to their daily lives when things are new and strange, but I would rather this came from support and understanding and help for them, rather than a time table in a book.

I take it all back - she doesn't suggest that the baby's nap time is the time to do your baby ironing, she merely suggests catching up on housework or phone calls. Which still makes me laugh.

On a good day when he sleeps I sit down with a cup of tea, on a bad day, I just rock in a corner.

But I know I read a book that told me when to do my ironing.

The book that I like and found useful was Elizabeth Pantley, The No Cry Sleep Solution. As she is a mother of four, I just found her more credible.

I liked Elizabeth Pantley's book too as she has a lovely writing style but in a weird way she was actually saying much the same thing as GF - keep a sleep diary, drop engagements to prioritise the baby's nap times etc. All roads lead to Rome I suppose

Gina Ford wouldn't have suited us at all. My daughter never napped for longer than 45 minutes until she was quite big and found it impossible to stay up for two hours at a time. She also insisted on feeding about once an hour until she was at least nine months old. Nevertheless, we did fall into a routine, it's just that it was her routine that suited her (and possibly not any other baby). I really liked Penelope Leach's Your Baby and Child. It seemed much kinder than some of the other books I read and was very keen on finding out what suits your child rather than some idealised child as I remember it. It's more about general principles rather than a strict routine.

only skimmed post.. G.F.easy to read and follow..take it you've not had your baby yet?!!