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Original poster

who is Gina Ford??!!??

126 replies

fairy · 04/02/2002 20:39

I'm not being dim I can assure you!

But who is Gina Ford? It seems that almost every other thread on here mentions her, so please could someone explain all to me!

Many thanks!

OP posts:
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Lindy · 07/02/2002 20:37

Fairy - if you can let me have your address (I think you have to go through the moderators) I will be very happy to give you my GF book. I found it very useful (in parts!) but don't need it any more.

I will wait to hear from you.

Original poster
fairy · 07/02/2002 23:43

How do I do that??!!

OP posts:
jasper · 08/02/2002 00:25

Art
dh=dear ( or darling) husband
ds= dear son
dd= dear daughter

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

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Lindy · 08/02/2002 08:28

Fairy - I think you need to go to the Home page & look for the original instructions where you registered,* send them a message saying you need to contact me (use Lindy1) then they can send me an e-mail with your address. Perhaps someone else could advise as I am not very PC literate - anyway, the book is here & waiting for you!

BTW - anyone read 'Contented child' - have just ordered it from the library.

Pupuce · 08/02/2002 11:10

Lindy - several of us have... and some believe I have studied it by heart

Art · 08/02/2002 18:23

Thanks Jasper!

charliesmummy · 08/02/2002 21:14

Fairy - I put my ds on Gina Ford at 6 weeks, as I was at the end of my wits end of end, and as mad as cheese, and after a very consistent couple of days we were there, so go for it. It takes a bit of committment and a lot of holding the book and scratching the head, I eventually had a book upstairs and one down. It was hard work, but it paid off - and yes I did manage the cereal and toast by 8am, I felt in my state that I had to or it would not work!!!! I became obsessed that all the clocks in our house had to be synchonised because it annoyed me that one or two were out (ANAL - if anyone is thinking that then I will know who you are!!).

It worked for us, but then I like to have a routine myself. TO ALL BUT ONE OF MY FRIENDS I AM A LAUGHING STOCK, you know the lines like 'Oh look its 6 and Charlie has to have his bath - bye then!' or 'does it say which school he has to go to' but hey ho, I have a lovely little boy who laughs and sleeps, but thats not to say in anyway that he would not have done that had I not found St Gina of the Possett Cloth, we'll never know .........

Lindy · 10/02/2002 14:55

Fairy - address received, book in the post.

Pupuce - is the next book as good?

Original poster
fairy · 10/02/2002 21:46

thanks Lindy!

I'll let you all know how it goes!!!

OP posts:
Pupuce · 11/02/2002 12:08

Not really... it is a summary of the first + advice on potty training, tantrums, etc.

sobernow · 11/02/2002 13:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Marina · 11/02/2002 20:02

I love her too Sobernow!
I wonder what Vicki would make of GF, and vice versa.
Perhaps Mumsnet could stage an all-in parenting guru wrestling match...

Lil · 12/02/2002 09:41

Sobernow, Vicki is great isn't she. I think she should have more airplay than Gina, because she's not so aloof and robotic, as she's a regular mum whose done it all 4 times! The best advice I read of hers was something like 'all children reach the milestones at their own pace'. I kept saying that thru' weaning, walking, talking etc, and now I'm saying it under my breath as my ds jumps off the potty for the nth time!

Kathleen · 12/02/2002 15:15

Well thanks to you lot I have gone out and bought my first Gina Ford. My baby is due in two weeks and I can't face the thought of 'shapeless days and sleepless nights' as someone so eloquently put it. I breastfed my two ds on demand until I returned to work at 6 months each time and dread going back to those crazy days - my nerves just won't stand it. So here's hoping Gina rescues me from myself! Will keep you posted.

Original poster
fairy · 17/02/2002 09:02

Got the book, thanks Lindy!

I'll let you know if we manage it all!

OP posts:
CathB · 27/02/2002 13:16

Hear Hear on Vicki Iovine. I highly recommend her books to anyone, especially her thoughts on the arrival of no 2, after being slightly terrified by Rebecca Adams. Very warm, very relaxed and makes you feel like maybe you do know what you are doing.

I also like the concept of being pregant along with celebs. I was up the duff with Cherie B last time, this time its Posh.

Lizzer · 27/02/2002 19:10

Oh now Vicki I love too! I didn't have the pregnancy one but the 'survivng the 1st yr' was great. Down to earth and real, real, real! I'm NOT getting into a GF debate (well, make of it what you will ) but as someone pointed out actually having HAD four children herself makes up for much more than looking after 3 hundred thousand, or whatever Gina claims. I still can't you dish out the advice when you've never had any of your own (or bonded and been someone's main and absolute carer)which my dear Gina hasn't...

manna · 27/02/2002 19:51

ohh, Lizzer. Some of us out here love gina, but are also affirming of other methods and ideas. Cut us a little slack please. I found gina invaluable in helping me feel competent with my first child, helping me to spot things I wouldn't recognise until I knew him better etc. Also - gina is about routines for eating and sleeping, not a manual for parenting / bonding etc. Take it with a healthy dose of common sense and it can be incredibly helpful.

Original poster
fairy · 27/02/2002 22:31

Well, I'm very slowly reading the book! Just been in hospital and forgot to take it! Nevermind, would have been the perfect chance to finish it off!

Well just wanted to ask one thing, are you meant to do this with your first born and then the following children, or is this aimed at second babies and onwards? Because if it is how do you do it?

look forward to your replies while I carry on plodding.......

OP posts:
Lizzer · 28/02/2002 11:32

Manna -pleeeease don't take me personally (or even that seriously!) Have been there and done the whole GF argument before, I know more about her than I'd probably like too, and I'll agree to disagree - that's all

Honestly I swear that slating Gina is almost something I have no control over anymore - I've done v well by not commenting on this thread at ALL until now - its the demons in my head, not me, honest - argh!

Call the therapist....

Pupuce · 28/02/2002 12:29

Fairy - It is for first born and others - up to you really. I have started a discussion on GF routine with baby number 2 (as both mine are on GF)if you are interested.
Routines are very personal some love then others hate them.

pob · 28/02/2002 12:55

Glad I found this thread...love Vicki Irvine, but thought there were only two books (preggers and 1st year)...now I can search the others out Has anyone verified that she used to be a bunny girl? Guess I'd better have a peek at GF too, never heard of her before...

Rhubarb · 28/02/2002 14:20

When I had my dd I was at a loss at to what to do with her. We were putting her to bed with us at 11pm in the vain hope that she would sleep straight through, during the day I was letting her do more or less what she wanted. As a result I was tired, frantic, snappy and confused. The Midwife and HV were of no help when I asked them what I should do with her.
Then we read an article in the newspaper about Gina Ford and how she promises to get babies to sleep straight through from around 3 months I think. We thought "Wow!" and so decided to give it a go.

The book is a little scary, but being a first-time mum I found the routines reassuring. I was forever dipping in it to see what I should be doing next, it planned my day for me! At that time I needed someone to just come and tell me what to do, and that book did just that. We followed the routines religiously and they did work. Dd slept through after about a week, and her afternoon nap meant I could start being me again. I would use that time to have a bath, read the paper, eat my lunch in peace, whatever. I felt like a new woman! After a while we became so confident that we started to make little changes so suit us. So whilst dd is still in a routine, we can chop and change it sometimes to suit our needs.

I know that her methods are not for everyone. But I would never condemn her as it might just put someone off from buying her book, and it might turn out to be a Godsend for them like it was for me. I think just let other people decide if it is right for them. You might hate her, but your best friend might love her!

Lindy · 28/02/2002 20:12

Just read the second GF book & didn't find it nearly as good as the first one. Seemed that the first half was just a repeat of the CLB bits, anyone looked at her website?

Fairy - how are you getting on?

I found the most useful bits were as follows:

Black out blinds
Get your baby used to sleeping in their own room, daytime naps as well as night time.
Stick as rigidly as you can to the bedtime routine.
Learn to leave your child in their cot without feeling you have to be with them to get them to sleep.

Good luck

Pupuce · 28/02/2002 20:42

Agree 100% with Lindy!