gina ford routine. help!!

[jodie1984]

hi my 8wk old ds has been on the gina ford routine for 1wk it is going well except for the 2.30 feed, he is not interested at all which throws the rest of the day out.
any suggestions welcome.

yes i did read her question and other threads

and I think that all posts given have been good threads, who cares about Gina Ford anyway......a baby needs feeding on demand....who are we to decide when they need feeds and what time..I say go on demand

Jodie, if the routine is working for you keep on it, most people who are anti-GF have not read the full book or even tried it. I also was about to bin it when I read it before DS was born (actually it sounde so much work that I felt I was not going to be able to cope with a baby!) but after a disastrous experience during the first two weeks I got back to it and it was heaven, contrary to what many mothers think, lots of babies thrive in routine.

I would say, as the rest of other GF followers that you have to take of it what works for you, never make a hungry baby wait for his feed, if he needs it a bit earlier just feed him for longer. Sure the routine would go a bit out of track but one hour earlier or later won't make a big difference.

I was told that I was a cruel or even unfit mother for following GF's book, but we saw a huge difference on DS (and ourselves) since we established the routines. True, he cried for 3 nights in the first week we tried the book, but in total I estimate it was not more than half an hour (in all the week). Curiously, the mother who criticised me the most was the one whose girl was still being fed 3-4 times at night (even solids) when the girl was already a year, at 18m she had not yet managed to sleep more than four hours on a row, proof that allowing the baby to take the lead is not for every one.

I believe that the fact that GF books is within the 3 most popular books recommended by members of Mumsnet means that many of us have used them succesfully. But, and this is a very big but, you can not say you have used it succesfully without being bashed by a few but more vocal anti GF mums

(runs for cover....)

well i have never had a problem with any of my children and have fed them all on demand.........and have a 3 month old and she has settled all night long from 5 weeks old so it just shows that all routines work..........

dont get me wrong i know that all babies do not settle this early but feeding my lot by demand has been the best routine for me and all I am saying is that I would not go the Gina Ford way, but if it works for others then thats is great

Yes mummyoffour, it has been the best routine for you. It didn't work for DS but that doesn't mean that you have to be wrong, does it? in the sameway, the fact that feeding on demand worked so well for you doesn't mean that we are necesarily worng, does it?

And as I said in my previous post, you are not required to starve the baby if following a GF routine, just try to feed them for a bit longer so they can go for more time in between.

I fed on demand - but had also had a routine for both boys.........

oopos, crossposted! glad we have agreed on that

sorry you guys but just dont agree does not mean I dont understand your posts.....

I understand where you are coming from and if people want to do that and it works then that is great but i totally believe in what I have done as that it has worked for me, you know.

I agree with Chandra and RachD ... Routine happens to suit some mothers and babies in the same way that it doesn't, and it seems totally unfair to chastise those mums that want a routine. I would rather guide my baby to fit into my life than for the baby to guide me ... That is especially when you have a toddler to look after as well.

Jodie, keep going if you are happy with the progress. Use GF routine as a guideline, and all in all, except for the silly comments abt breakfast ect, the guidelines do make sense. I also have to say though that my babies also needed FAR MORE daytime sleep than suggested.

My DD2 is 9 weeks, been on the routine from 2 weeks, has taken a long time but I am a lot more relaxed now and a happy mummy is a happy baby ! She still wakes 2-3 x, and I also do not do the 10pm feed as that simply did not suit us ... Take what you want from it !

Oh, I missed it all .
Typical.
It all kicked off the minute I went to bed.

Many of the regular posters on mumsnet are pro feeding on demand.

On one side of the very end of the spectrum is 'structured routine - e.g. GF or EASY.
On the otherside is feeding on demand.

And what never ceases to amaze me is the most of the people who are very pro feeding on demand, can not accept that routine works for others.

If poster on mn said " read Gf, can't do it, crying, hate myself etc etc " - which I have seen - I would say, bin the book, go with the flow, routine is not for you.

If a poster says , " We are really struggling, exhausted, no routine," I would say , have you tried routine like GF or EASY.

This poster was basically happy with a routine, just a glitch.

But the pro feed on demand people, can not accept that.

Thay still insist that feeding on demand and let the baby find its own routine, is best.
But the poster is basically happy on the routine.

Its like trying to convert somebody to the totally other end of the spectrum.

Can nobody else see this?

Mummyof four.
I accept that demand feeeding worked for you.
Fine.

You can't seem to accept that structured routine works for other people.

We are accepting of your style of doing things.
But you can't seem to accept our style ?

mumof 4 said she understood somepeople liked routine and she was talking from experience!!
So why try and start something?
We all do what is best for us!!
Personally from my own experience I prefer demand feeding!! Babies often settle into a routine!

Yes mumtosomeone, mumoffour said lots of other things aswell-
"who are we to decide when they need feeds and what time..I say go on demand"

She may not support structured routine, but the original poster does. So comments like that are not very helpful.

And your comment to 'throw away the textbook,' is not very helpful to somebody who is struggling.

as i said in my last post - i did gina ford very loosely - my ds was sleeping through from 9 weeks - so it worked for us, and quite frankly a baby with a mummy who's had a good nights sleep and can face the day with a smile is going to be happier than a baby who's mum is a knackered zombie from being up all night feeding.

I would agree with RachD about some of the comments being unhelpful. Although, I would say that 8 weeks is a bit young to put your baby into a routine.

I started putting my dd into a routine at about 3 months using some of GF's methods, and I now have a very happy contented baby who sleeps well at night, eats well during the day and I'm a happy mummy because I get a good night's sleep every night.

I started putting ds in to a routine at a bout 3 weeks, which may sound young, but I was determined as I get practially suicidal if I don't get enough sleep. He 9 months now, extremely content, a good sleeper and eats well. We even get comments from people saying what a happy baby he is.
By the way as far as I'm aware nowhere in the book does it say you shouldn't feed your baby if they are hungry!!

Lockets , I too feed myself as and when I want, and do not have a problem with people demand feeding babies.
I do have a problem with pro demand feeders not accepting that some people want a structured routine, rather than demand feeeding.

I'm sorry - I don't get your point. I think everybody would feed their babies when they're hungry whether demand fed or on a rountine

now who's nit picking!
besides a routine is not just about feeding.