Gina Ford Technique

[Sheenabradshaw]

Hello I have a 9 week old daughter and would like to try and get her into some sort of routine for both of our sakes. I’ve been thinking of following the Gina Ford method, I’m concerned that the naps are quite strict through the day and if I’m out I would need to rush home to ensure she can nap or Can I be flexible with that? Any advice appreciated. She’s bottle fed btw.

I read GF and EASY (baby whisperer) and ended up with something in the middle that suited me and ds

Whatever you do regarding implementing a routine, just remember your baby’s not a robot. Sounds obvious but trying to make a baby sleep and feed at a certain time (IME) wont always work. That leads to frustration. I found it better to just watch the clock and when baby had been awake for a certain amount of time, try to put them down for nap to make sure they aren’t over tired. I did buy the Baby Whisperer book but ended up getting really pissed off at it all as it was bloody impossible to implement. I was breastfeeding so that might’ve made it more difficult to do a timed routine. It was way easier to go with the flow. Good luck!

‘Time for You’ makes me want to (vom). OP just do whatever comes naturally, sometimes they don’t sleep, a soft sling or Moses basket in the kitchen with extractor fan/tumble dryer & radiator on used to work for me.

A half way House would be to track what your baby already does using an app and then see if you can work around that.

Dd1 was a terribly routine baby and after tracking her naps and feeds for a week I discovered that she essentially followed the GF schedule herself. By tracking her I could anticipate her needs and plan accordingly.

Dd2 however is a different kettle of fish and no amount of tracking and then staring at the graph has allowed me to find any pattern at all! For her I just watch her cues really.

It works for some people, but not for everyone. We loosely followed with our first and it's tough going in the beginning. I agree with what others said, she doesn't allow for enough daytime sleep and the whole waking a baby (even if they've only had 15mins sleep is mean).
I've got a 3 week old now and we are currently doing everything on demand, but will try to establish a relaxed version of the Gina Ford routine later.

There are kinder, much more enjoyable and relaxed ways of getting your baby into a gentle routine than GF...ones that allow a more touch, closeness and even feeding to sleep (if that works for you).

I would do your research and take the bits from several 'methods' that you think would work for you. Trust your instincts! (NOT in the GF method but probably one of the most important thing that you need to do as a mother).

I researched everything from the continuum concept to GF herself and lots inbetween, then came up with a mix that fitted around being out and about when I wanted (within reason).

I know of one mum for whom it worked, she was at the end of her tether and implemented the GF routine rigidly. From my own experience of DC and DGC whatever routine you adopt make sure your baby gets used to napping in the buggy as well as the cot. We were never tied to the house as all offspring happily fell asleep in the buggy. It helped that the buggies were always bought for their large size and comfort.

You will get mixed opinions on here OP. Gina Ford is a bit like Marmite, some love her methods, some don't.

But I used Gina Ford and think she is a genius, I have a great sleeper, then used her books on weaning and then again on potty training. All went really well, and people told me I was 'lucky' to have such a good eater and sleeper.

I always thought it's not luck, it's reading a book and following it, she knows her shit.

I was never going to be a feed to sleep, co sleeping, nappies until they are 4, my kid won't eat anything type of mum. I needed a good sleeper and had too many friends with 2/3/4 years olds that still didn't sleep through and thought fuck that! If it takes a bit of training at the beginning am willing to do it.

I didn't realise the eat, play, sleep was a technique called EASY but that's what we did for my DS and it worked for us.

"I always thought it's not luck, it's reading a book and following it, she knows her shit."

^^ just to point out for those having a really shit time with non sleepers etc, there really is an element of luck, some babies are easier to settle than others, some babies are hard to settle no matter what you do!

DC 1 was a dream, my research and study paid off. I patted my self on the back. DC2 arrived, no strategy worked except him getting a little older. DC3 was just like DC1, we didn't do anything different. No back patting this time. Just thankfulness that he was easier!

I did GF with both of mine and didnt mind being a nap hostage tbh. Im a homebird, so out for walks and stuff then home for naps worked for me and the babies.

Just to point out

^^ just to point out for those having a really shit time with non sleepers etc, there really is an element of luck, some babies are easier to settle than others, some babies are hard to settle no matter what you do!

Babies that are hard to settle (eg my baby) are perfect for the routine. They need the structure the most. It wasn't luck, it was me day after day ensuring he has a structure. He didn't just fit into the routines, I trained him to. And it paid off in the end.

Yes I was the mum leaving the soft play/cafe to ensure he had his nap 1-3pm everyday. But it ensured we all slept every night 7-7pm.

Babies that are hard to settle (eg my baby) are perfect for the routine

There should be a ‘some’ at the start of that sentence. Not all babies who are hard to settle will miraculously improve with a routine.

Do what’s best for you OP but just remember** that they may have a great routine at 10 weeks but it could all change at 12 or 14 as they’re changing, growing and learning all the time.

I have never been one for strict routines and it’s suited us well, but that’s what has worked for us.

I very loosely followed the book from about the same age but I found it most useful as a reference to how to structure t day rather than rigidly sticking to everything. Agree with pp that she massively underestimates how much a baby needs to sleep so I've always gone with how much my DC has needed rather than cutting any naps short. I also tried to stick to the lunchtime nap as far as possible and times trips where they could sleep in the car but sometimes when out and about you just have to wing it.

I did the EASY routine, worked amazingly for me.

GF's routine worked brilliantly for me, no more crying from the day we started it me or baby

Bollocks, I hated GF but my dc (both) were sleeping through by 8 weeks, out of nappies by 3 and....well actually I love a bit of co-sleeping...

So the GF routine has literally nothing to do with any of these things. I wonder if just being relaxed with your choices helps though? If you’re more relaxed with a strict routine and the baby is strangely pre-programmed to comply, well that will work. Otherwise just relax, look after yourself and make sure the baby is fed.

When push comes to shove, now I am on baby 2 I think I agree with average. Babies are as unique as we are so what works well for one won’t for another. The key factor is that the family feel comfortable with what is happening

I used GF very loosely to find some sort of structure to my day. It really helped and it help my DS learn night from day too. Once he had settled into a gentle routine I learned to adapt things as he grew. x