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Original poster

gina ford for 6 week old?

48 replies

kayleyxx · 04/05/2009 21:19

at end of my thether with DS and want to try gina ford but before i possibly go and waste a tenner can any one give me a rough idea of the times for a 6 week old please?

OP posts:
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pippylongstockings · 04/05/2009 21:28

It may not be the friendliest place to post on here re Gina Ford?

I did do GF with my DS1 but not until about 8-10 weks old - amazingly he did all the book said, and even tho I BF and he slept through from 7 till 7 from about 4 months - however my DS2 did not 'read' the book - dispite my best effort did not sllep through till about 15 months and even now at 2.4 years is always the first to rise in this house.

My DS1 who is now 4.4 will still take a nap most afternoons - he is clearly a boy who loves to sleep.....

I think they do not get a routine until at least 3-4 months of being able to predict sleep/play/eat/sleep.

You have to just go with the flow.

ohdearwhatamess · 04/05/2009 21:28

Feeds 7am, 10.45, 2ish, 6.15, 10.30

Naps 9-9.45, 12ish-2ish, 4.30-5

Did it from 7 weeks with ds1 (and from the start with ds1) and it saved my sanity. Not very MN to say that though.

Good luck!

Gemzooks · 04/05/2009 21:29

I have a 6 week old and a 2.5 year old.

I would say do it, but ignore her stupid advice about expressing and don't be too anal about sticking to it. I did it for my DS and am doing it now for DD but on an 8 am to 8 pm routine, not her suggested 7 to 7, just because it fits better with DS nursery etc.

Also, I personally would maybe go for 7,30 to 7.30 as I ran myself ragged with DS getting up ready to feed at 7 am and wish I hadn't.

her rough times are

baby up and feeding by 7 am
baby plays and stays awake a bit
baby naps 9-10 am, woken at 10
feed at 10.30 am, then baby plays, stays awake
top up before next sleep I think.
sleep 12-2.30 pm
up and feed at 2.30 pm
nap 4/30-5 pm for no more than 30 mins
feed 5 pm
bath 6
feed and put down for 7 pm
wake and feed 10.30, put down again at 11.30, then hope they sleep a few hours in the night, feed as necessary.

I found her times more or less worked, it's not rocket science, her most useful advice is keeping the baby awake between feeds in the day, ensuring they nap well in the day and feed more in the day, keeping night time boring. good luck! I would get the book and just take from it what seems sensible..

ohdearwhatamess · 04/05/2009 21:29

from start with ds2

deleting · 04/05/2009 21:30

6-8 WKS

feed times
7 am
10.45
2/2.30
6.15
10.30

nap times
9 am - 9.45
11.45/12.00 - 2/2.30
4.30-5

max sleep 5 hrs

didn't work for me though until months later.

marymungoandmidge · 04/05/2009 21:40

Hi Kayley

Did work for me on DD (Baby no2), although I would say don't get too bogged down with all she says...I tended to use the basic framework of times, and then created my own timetable to suit my baby's needs...will definitely follow a similar routine with my third - due September.

I didn't follow this with my DS (Baby no1), and he was a bit of a snacker with regards to BF...in fact I was against the principle of trying to timetable a baby too much...however, I was determined that I should start as I mean to go on with my second baby, having had my previous experience. Good luck - it will all slot into place - the first 6 weeks are the hardest! It (honestly) does get better!!!!

Longo · 04/05/2009 22:05

I followed GF from 4 weeks, it saved my life! DD is now 9 months and sleeps 7pm -7pm with two naps a day!
Get it from amazon second hand, mine was £3!!
Like other posters said, take from it what you need.
Good luck!!

Original poster
kayleyxx · 04/05/2009 22:07

does she have any tips for settling a baby? or does anyone have their own? charlie will only seem to sleep if laying on me or in the car/buggy

OP posts:
Gemzooks · 05/05/2009 00:33

hi kayley, try swaddling, it has worked with both of mine.. also turning all the lights off so it's really dark..

gigglewitch · 05/05/2009 00:37

cor, you're brave.

thread title with GF in it?

it might not be the best way to get an erm unbiased (or in fact any) answer

lowrib · 05/05/2009 01:31

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Don't do it!!!!!!

LittleOneMum · 05/05/2009 10:48

I would do it too. My DS is 19 months old and has been a champion sleeper since 3 months thanks to her. I can't understand why people hate it so much to be honest. Just don't beat yourself up if you're not doing it to the letter.

BlueberryPancake · 05/05/2009 11:50

Why are you at the end of your tether? Trust me, we've all felt that way at one point or another, it's very hard at around 6 weeks.

All I can tell you is that for my two kids, a strict method was out of the question as I like to do my own thing. I can't stand my own mother telling me what to do, so I wasn't going to have a complete stranger telling me when to feed, change, put my kids to bed. At that age, I was feeding on demand and I'd put them back to sleep about 1.5 hours after they'd woken up.

Go out for lots of walks if you can, either with your baby in a sling or in a buggy. That's what brought be back to life.

frannikin · 05/05/2009 13:11

echoes blueberry pancake

Why are you at the end of your tether?

Is it not knowing what's happening next and being unable to tell what your DS wants? In which case you might also want to investigate Baby Whisperer as well as GF.

Is it that you feel your DS never sleeps? Is it that you're having trouble settling your DS down for naps?

Settling tips (which may be of the teaching-grandma-to-suck-eggs variety so sorry if it's obvious) - I'm slightly with her on these but not quite as strict. Make sure your DS knows it's sleep time, dim the lights and pop him into his cot or if he's in his pram cover the front bit over with a muslin. I wouldn't go for absolute silence because I feel children need to learn to sleep through a certain amount of noise! Always put him down to sleep happy but awake - no use trying to put down a crying baby. Develop a putting-down routine eg. always do a nappy change, have a cuddle, put him down, give him a kiss on the forehead and say "see you in a bit!" or whatever you feel like doing. If you do pick him up/comfort him during nap time then try to avoid making it too stimulating - it's sleeptime. Getting into good sleep habits early on is a good idea so breaking the cuddle/car/buggy habit is a good idea (not least because you then won't spend £££ on petrol driving round at 1am because that's the only way DC will sleep).

I believe in routine and structure but as other people have said don't stress too much if you're not following it to the letter and if at any point you feel it's not working then don't feel bad about chucking it in and trying something else. I think the key to it is a regular pattern and making sure awake time is awake time and sleep time is just that - otherwise you end up trying to constantly settle your DC off to sleep! Don't worry if he doesn't go to sleep at exactly the right time, just try to wake him up when it's recommended. If he's sleepy before he's due a nap then don't force him to stay awake.

Your sanity is important - if having the book and following GF works for you then go for it. Good luck!

stickylittlefingers · 05/05/2009 13:25

What I did was get the book out from the library - had to be ordered from another so cost 30p, but still cheaper than buying - especially when I realised that my views were pretty much diametrically opposed to hers. I liked the idea of the routine, but hated the reality of having to force my dc into it. So a lucky escape, really. On that basis I tried a few books (was also v v tired as I suspect you are) and realised I was arguing with them all in my head, so therefore did have my own views on childrearing and followed them instead.

And the idea of getting out for walks - going to things so that you meet other people etc will help you keep your sanity -or at least it did mine.

monkeypinkmonkey · 05/05/2009 13:28

Step away from the book... make your own routine up if that will help and you will also be allowed a life and to cuddle your baby!!

nickytwotimes · 05/05/2009 13:32

I loike routine but I found trying to force one on my baby backfired. I worked it aroubnd him instead - eg he got sleep at cetain times, so that becam nap time, he fed 2 hours ago and seems hungry, well, that'll be feed time then, etc.

Also, even on ff, ds wouldn't last longer than 3 hrs even at 12 weeks, so I owuld ignore 4 hrly stuff if it doesn't work for all kids.

GF is rubbish for bfing advice. It simply doesn't work to a clock, so I would pick out the stuff that suits and discard theh rest.

nickytwotimes · 05/05/2009 13:33

Oh, adn all the crap about only sleeping in a darkened room - very restricting ime. Let you rkid nap wherever they want.

nocluemum · 05/05/2009 13:45

There is a great book by an author called Rachel Waddilove which is along the lines of Gina but so much more user friendly and relaxed - we swore by it with ds and plan to use it with dd.

wideratthehips · 05/05/2009 14:19

vibrating bouncy chair?
dummy?

we are third time round and i don't have the time/hands to spend ages settling the baby (i'm breastfeeding which takes up a lot of my time)so i'm prepared to do anything to make life easier (baby is 7wks)

we also have a p&t that she sleeps in a lot and then move the cocoon to her cot

swanriver · 05/05/2009 14:19

GF is better at 15 weeks than 6weeks, and then she makes good sense. But before that I felt trying to get baby into routine made me really really unhappy, I kept putting him down, he kept crying and I could never get anywhere and went round in circles feeding and trying to settle, thinking I was going to get things done (and not succeeding) Better just to feed as much as possible and then cuddle as much as possible at that age, and take baby for walk in sling or pram. I did start settling for bed at 6.30pm ala Gina though from 10 weeks.I always bf fed the baby loads more than she suggested.

Allegrogirl · 05/05/2009 19:10

Personally at 6 weeks old and cuddled and bf as much as dd wanted but I did find the Baby Whisperer a much more gentle way of getting structure. My dd had terrible colic so there's no way a strict routine would've worked. We easily fell into a 7-7 routine by the time dd was weaned and on 3 meals a day and not needing night time feeds any more. I think GF only works if your baby suits it which is why people love or hate her.

Ohforfoxsake · 05/05/2009 19:14

It makes sense and I've used it successfully. BUT don't feel like a failure or beat yourself up if it doesn't work. If things aren't going well you may find coming back to it when LO is a bit older works.

Good luck

nuttysquirrel · 05/05/2009 21:25

Have you thought about 'the baby whisperer" which is great as its about encouraging your baby into a sensible routine, and unlike Gina encourages you to follow your babys cues and develop a routine that works for you, not one with pre-decided precise timings. My friend did GF and used to stress sooooo much if her baby didn't do what Gina said at a certain time (which Gina seems to be very BIG on). Baby Whisperer was great middle ground between no-structure and GF precision timings......

nuttysquirrel · 05/05/2009 21:29

ooopps just realised that Allegrogirl mentioned it.....

Followed BW from early on and its really helped us, I would recommend you also get 'The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems By Teaching You How to Ask the Right Questions' which she wrote just before she died, it elaborates on the original book a bit.....