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Original poster

For all who want GF banned from MN - so does she!!

857 replies

mummygow · 11/05/2006 18:41

As you are all prob aware I follow the Gf routine and am also on her website and this was posted for us to see.

Dear Members,

In response to your emails regarding the statement in The Times Newspaper on 9th May 2006. We would like to confirm that neither Gina or her lawyers have put pressure on Mumsnet regarding the criticism that her methods receive on their forums. Gina was forced to seek legal
advice regarding other very serious issues with Mumsnet, and we will in the near future make a public statement as to her reasons for this. It would appear that some Mumsnet members are demanding a ban of the
Gina Ford name on the site. Gina herself would welcome this, as her forthcoming statement will confirm, she has for very valid reasons, no wish to be associated with the Mumsnet site.

OP posts:

tamum · 14/05/2006 11:54

It's \link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0743231880/qid=1147603938/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/026-9193412-3042041\this}, Caligula. Very American, ridiculously prescriptive, but by far the best source of descriptions of the many and varied contents of nappies within the normal range that I have ever read :o

Twiglett, hurrah :) {they'll all be coming out of the woodwork now, mark my words...)

harpsichordcarrier · 14/05/2006 11:55

to answer yuou question Crunchie - yes, I have rad the CLBB and also From Contented Baby to Confident Child. I read CLBB when pg and when dd1 was little. I have recently read it again to analyse it for an essay on parenting I wrote for a professional qualification course.
When quoting from it on this thread and elsewhere on mn I have had the book in my hand. It is sitting on the computer table right now in fact.
As for quoting "out of context" - I would struggle to find a context in which a case study about leaving a baby to cry for three hours without his parents going in to see him at all for two consecutive nights could be anything but horrifying. But, as always, I remain openminded.

harpsichordcarrier · 14/05/2006 11:56

tamum at what to expect

tamum · 14/05/2006 11:59

I know- no-one will speak to me now (except Twiglett, of course) :o

Twiglett · 14/05/2006 12:21

I think you just called me a woodworm there Tamum

I loved the chapter by chapter of should, could, might just be able to .. and reading the questions and answers made me giggle, get irate and nod my head sagely by turn

tamum · 14/05/2006 12:23

Yes, dh reckoned they sold the book on the basis of that, by deliberately aiming it as low as possible, so you could feel all smug :o Having said that, most of the things seemed to involve being able to hold raisins and stuff, not obvious benchmarks....

Pruni · 14/05/2006 13:57

at tamum and twiglett!!
I read my copy then binned it.

Twiglett · 14/05/2006 15:32

I liked the format .. it didn't tell you what to do .. it just had questions from other parents about their experiences with some advice on how to handle it .. of course some of the questions/answers were risible / infuriating but it helped me develop my own parenting .. it wasn't a 'you must do this to succeed' guide

I'm sticking by my liking of it

crunchie · 14/05/2006 15:44

hcc I am glad you had the book in front of you when quoting :)

I was only making the comment that I get the sense some people have not read the book and therefore are commenting on something that don't actually understand or have not read.

I was playing a bit of a devils advocate as I don't strongly believe in her book, but I can see how it has saved some and sent others mad.

I don't believe it is actually dangerous, BUT I do see how and why it gets such a response.

The childlessness issue was winding me up a bit as YES I agree a mother is by default better placed to know what is best FOR HER BABY, but not necessarily for every baby (otherwise why would there be differences here on MN??) Someone who has looked after many babies would probably be far better at advice giving than I as I have no idea what another child may want/need. Does that make sense?? I also felt people were being horrible about the fact she couldn't have kids, when that has nothing to do with anything IYKWIM

Anyway I still want to know what the real issue is, I still am anti GF due to the issues she has got, I just wish I understood her issues :)

morningpaper · 14/05/2006 17:06

Yes I have read CCLB - in fact when I was pregnant for the first time I read it about 100 times and I SWORE that I would follow it to the letter (in fact there is embarassing evidence of such solemn promises still on the internet).

It spoke to the project manager that I had been for the last X number of years.

When I had a baby however, I found it didn't speak at all to the mother in me.

I agree, it could be great for people who find themselves clueless or suffering from PND etc. However, I think that Tracey Hogg would be far better to start with.

I did like GF's potty training book though - thought it had a lot of good ideas.

Oh and I think blackout blinds are great. :)

expatinscotland · 14/05/2006 17:36

If you want an easy life don't have kids.

Blandmum · 14/05/2006 17:41

I used blackout blinds and had never read GF. I also found that my kids were happy with a reasonably predictable day, but it was flexable.

What I did suited me and mine, I would never expect it to suit everyone.

Makes you realise that most 'baby books' are a bit presumptive...who's to say that what suits one child will suit them all?

Kittypickle · 14/05/2006 17:44

It has just occurred to me that if MN do end up with horrendous legal bills , then maybe Cod could write up her methods on potty training - "Cod's Potty Training Boot Camp" by Codswallop, has a certain ring to it I think.

I am now feeling very sorry for Ms Ford as I feel she has completely underestimated the power of the internet, parental recommendation and public perception and quite possibly does not fully realise the potential PR consequences of threatened legal action against a website for mothers , regardless of any grounds. In my opinion,this episode just encourages people to examine her methods more and more to see why a parenting guru feels that she has to threaten action - the "there is no smoke without fire" effect. And that will lead them to look at alternative methods/books more as far as I can see, so surely this action is very damaging for sales of her new book ?

tortoiseshell · 14/05/2006 17:47

Have a look at the 2nd review down \link{http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0091882338/104-9933079-5355135?v=glance&n=283155\here} - presumably this is referring to this issue.

ruty · 14/05/2006 18:07

wow, that review was really helpful. I'm a bit horrified actually about what the book apparently suggests. Hope GF isn't going to try suing the reviewer.

ruty · 14/05/2006 18:09

i mean the first reviewer, the paediatrician...

quanglewangle · 14/05/2006 20:31

I would just Like to say that "Cod's Potty Training Boot Camp" sounds like a real money spinner.
I would buy it and it would be gospel in my crumpetty tree.

I would even encourage my 11 year old daughter (if I had one) to get pregnant so that I could test it out properly.

Turquoise · 14/05/2006 20:33

That 2nd review is from an mner.

morningpaper · 14/05/2006 20:35

How do you know that?

InigoMontoya · 14/05/2006 20:39

(Turq's alter ego)
I know an mner called almost exactly that, from Oregon. Course I could be wrong

Filyjonk · 14/05/2006 20:41

For years I have said that the book contains some very useful advice-how to wash white woollens.

You wash them in their special soap then rinse them in lukewarm water then warap them in a white towel. I have been following this advice now for 2 1/2 years.

Until the other day when it all got too much and I threw dd's aran cardi in the wool wash.

and it was fine. dried quicker too.

here's the moral. babies are wild and messy, they smear puke and baked beans into every cormer of your life, and the best, most soul-developing part of being a parent is learning to roll with it. not staying up late wrapping bootees in tea towels.

Daisyb00 · 14/05/2006 20:43

Hello,
A small point - personally, I feel if anything GF should be quite 'pleased' that she has been discussed in such depth on MN.
Maybe I have been living on another planet, but until this thread had arrived, I had never knew she existed!
Think about how many thousands of people (I assume) who have read this thread alone and have got to hear about her beliefs / methods that, like me, have previously been unaware of who she is. Maybe some of these people will now buy her books, etc to find out more. Surely this is a marketing person's dream?.
I think the saying goes 'there's only one thing worse than being talked about and that's not being talked about.'
Sorry, I haven't read the whole thread, so may have got the wrong end of the stick here.

JoolsToo · 14/05/2006 20:46

Fj -

I like the cut of yer jib!

alexsmum · 14/05/2006 20:49

lol fj!!!!

tamum · 14/05/2006 20:50

Turquoise, I spotted that too- not unlike her MN name! Well done that woman :)

Good post FJ.

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