The things Gina Ford should put in her book ....

[diminishedresponsibility]

one is that when you become a parent you will need to develop asbestos hands really quickly!

Oh god, I'll probably get slapped wrist for using the word "vendetta", won't I? Will hush up now, assume this will all be deleted next time I log on, anyway.

errrr, blimey, i started this thread last night, came back this morn and jeez it's gone all libelous.
To put any MNer who's interested in the picture, my initial thread was due to the countless times where because you have zero time my hands are constantly in burning hot water and carrying burning hot things. Simply because there's no time to let everything cool down.
Now I'm going away to cool down.

What hot things?

While this thread's still alive, can anyone tell me if it's worth reading the book just to compare different methods and ideas? Or will it make me feel like a total failure and that I'm being norty for cuddling babe?

Ohhhh, be careful everyone!
Muslin - no, it's not worth reading.

No!

Do

Not

Read

It.

It's a pile of shite

okey doke then.

things like bottles straight out of steriliser

a bin bag to put it in when you have read it

Who said that?

Ahh,I see.

Diminished - I just shake the bottles off when I take them out and make up the milk - should I be faffing about rinsing them with boiled water?

If you are finding things tough with your baby remember they will be tiny for a short space of time. In other words, this too shall pass.

There is a place for routine but trying to shoehorn yourself into a routine that doesn't work for you / your baby might be extremely stressful or a waste of time and energy.

If you feel frustrated that your baby won't fall into the routines remember he / she hasn't read the book.

Babies are hard work. Cuddles are your reward for this hard work.

[sorry for the essay]

Personally, I thought that some of it made sense and was helpful for a first time mum, eg. establishing a routine (I didn't even attempt to follow the book but some of the thinking behind it made sense), blackout curtains (essential for the summer) and preparing for the 6 week growth spurt.

My main issue with regards to the rigid routine pattern was that they didn't allow for a baby who would scream for hours on end, hence not even attempting to follow.

I think that with all baby related things, is take from it what works for you and leave the rest.

passes OP lighter

That a lot of people will judge her book without having read it...

That it would give me a brilliant sleeper from age 3 months.

That like everything else in life you apply your own common sense to your interpretation.

When I opened this thread this morning I thought I had gone back in time ....

2006 when it all went tits up last time ... doesn't time fly ( or rather missiles and babies

I will give a serious answer to the op.

SIL gave me her old copy of this book and I remember sitting there reading it utterly baffled at the nap/bedtime routine. Something like "swaddle baby, put in cot, lights out".

That was it. I had DS who would not comply and I didnt have a jeffing clue what to do and was convinced maybe I'd missed something and kept flicking through, trying to work out the answer.

Then I found mumsnet.

It was morning paper ah flash backs.

Does anyone else think she looks a bit like a Justin Fletcher 'Gigglebiz' character?

That babies can't read so many/most will ignore her strictures!

I read it. Was utterly confused and panicking about how I was going to remember what time to do what. Gave up. Had baby. Fed baby when hungry, rocked him to sleep in my arms when he was tired. Everyone was happy.

In the Contented Baby with Toddler book - what the hell was my 20mo supposed to be doing while I fed the newborn in a quiet, dark, room, fed him and put him to bed? Eh?!!! Can I have my money back please because I only got the bloody book to get some ideas for managing bedtime bathtime with 2.