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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Contented Little Baby book

41 replies

Bobley · 28/04/2006 18:58

Hi, I am expecting my first baby at the beginning of August and I bought a copy of the best seller "Contented little baby book" by Gina Ford.

After telling my midwife and my friends that I had bought this book they said I may as well use it as toilet paper as it is totally ridiculous and never works let alone trying to get the routines established!

Has anyone tried the routines in the book?! They do seem very complex but if it leads to having a baby that sleeps through the night at an early age that can't be a bad thing?... can it?!

OP posts:

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Harpsichordcarrier · 07/05/2006 22:16

good work Twiglett

cheeseypeas · 07/05/2006 22:17

Cheers Twiglet.

Shouldn't really have put those personal Gina-bashing things in my post. Like I said, was typed out fast as I feel so passionately about this.

cheeseypeas · 07/05/2006 22:18

Have they really deleted stuff from Mumsnet in the past for Gina-bashing?

That's scarey.

Tatties · 07/05/2006 22:20

I second Angeliz, read Three in a Bed by Deborah Jackson. It's brilliant. I've only just read it and ds is 13mths. Wish I'd read it when I was pregnant, I would have been a lot easier on myself in the early days of motherhood!

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 07/05/2006 22:24

Thanks everyone for contacting us - cheasypeas have a look at \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1374&threadid=168372&stamp=060506151643\this thread} for an explanation. Cheers,
MNHQ

satine · 07/05/2006 22:25

People have said some quite personal and unpleasant things about GF, which imo were out of line and irrelevant in the debate about her routines.

busybusybee · 07/05/2006 22:26

I have just typed out a response to this thread and deleted it cos I know it wouldnt say what I want to say

busybusybee · 07/05/2006 22:30

tatties your post has helped me to form my opinion! I have read 3 in a bed too and tbh although I ditched most of GF ideas. I did find the concept of routines really helpful.

I much prefered routines and baby fast asleep all night in his cot to the alternative 3 in a bed offered tbh

I did co sleep for the first 6 months and carried dd in a sling for the first 4 which I dont regret at all - but I also loved it when she was able to sleep in her cot all night and allow me to sleep better too.

Some can co sleep perfectly and relish life without routines but not me :)

beartime · 07/05/2006 22:56

I love it and EVERYONE comments on how happy and contented ds is - and he slept thru at 6 weeks (though TBH that was on a 3hrly feeding schedule - I only went to GFs after that cos I wanted to make sure he got enough milk and my supply was stimulated enough early on as I didn't express)

Twiglett · 08/05/2006 07:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted

tigermoth · 08/05/2006 07:48

good post cheeseypeas and good work, twiglett. Such a useful and thoughful post to save.

It's been a good few years since I had a baby, but bobley, I think you should definitely read a variety of books to see the range of opinions out there. And don't take any as gospel truth.

Celou · 08/05/2006 10:31

I see that some people do really feel passionate about this.
I would like to add that personally I didn't do the swaddling bit.
I never had to let dd cry and be distressed in a dark room and I don't think I could have done it.
I do not at all feel restricted by the routine, in fact it's the opposite. DH and i know that we can enjoy time together from 7pm, every time, and at lunch time for 2 hours at week ends.
If we have to go somewhere and she is due for a nap, we either wake her up arly from her nap or put her down later, and it's not a problem at all.
Dd would never sleep in a pushchair either but I don't see why that's a problem, if we're out surely she's better off making the most of it.
Everyone does things differently. The main thing is that babies and parents are happy surely.

Windsor30 · 10/05/2006 13:57

I'm expecting my first in November and feel animosity towards baby books in general already. All my friends have kindly given me tombs on both pregnancy and parenthood and all they have served to do so far is confuse and frighten me. I may well change my mind but I don't want to bury my natural instincts under a weight of conflicting and often patronising advice. I'd much prefer to learn from real experiences on sites such as this (the Mumsnet book is also brilliant0.
Just a quick word on GF slating; I've studied libel law and you can berate her book as much as you want as that's criticism. Hold back on personally pulling the woman apart though as that's defamation.

ggglimpopo · 10/05/2006 13:58

Off we go.........

moondog · 10/05/2006 14:04

lol at 'tomb' and 'tomes'
I've read every parenting book under the bloody sun.
Something tells me i should have just had a laugh with my kids,but then again I regularly find myself reading up on other countries when I'm abroad so I'm obvioulsy just perverse.

It is weird to want a newborn to 'sleep through' at a very early age though.

motherinferior · 10/05/2006 14:10

I'm not a CBB follower but believe that 'instinct' is overrated. I had absolutely none about either of my babies.

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