Views on Gina Ford..?

[Highlandgirl]

Hi,

First baby due in Feb, but just wanting to find out as much about sleep or rather lack of it...!

What are your views on Gina Ford?

Thanks,

Some of her theories work ie putting the baby down at the same time each day to encourage naps but the harsh stuff about no eye contact during night feeds too strict
the weaning guide is helpful

I would not take any notice of a baby expert who has never had kids.

The "No Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley is good. It tells you how to encourage good sleep habits without your baby being convinced that she has been left to be eaten by lions.

My ex neighbour swears by the baby whispher if you want a routine. However I have never read it, so I can't comment.

ssssh! do not speak her name!

I liked the Baby Whisperer when I had dd1 as it felt like a bit of a crutch at a time when all the control I was used to having in my life had totally disappeared. She suggests a gentler routine to GF, and helps you understand your baby, why she is crying, when she is tired etc.

However, just use these books as a guide - don't feel you have to stick rigidly to them. And remember, above all else, your instinct is the most important thing. Stick to it.

i found her advise great. if you actually read her book she doesnt advise half the things reported in the press- it's all pretty sensible. I followed her routines with my LO now 21 months and he sleeps beautifully, chattering himself to sleep every night...

if you are the type of person who likes to know what you are doing rather than "going with the flow" i would advise you read her book... (I am a lover of list making!)

there isnt one right way to do it, just different styles suit different families I think.

good luck!

he he he he

I wish the best of British to her and all who sail in her.

And also remember...you might have read ...but your baby won't have

Take what you like from the books but don't make it the be all and end all

my advice is to cuddle your wee baby as much as possible, blink and they are all grown up.

It made me and my dd absolutely miserable. I have no idea why I did it, I feel quite ashamed now. What should have been a lovely bonding warm time was all, but she should be doing this now! and she isn't! both of us absolutely ragged with it. I read the harvey karp book on first 3 months - baby bliss and it was just perfect, very gentle and all made sense.

Good luck with your pregnancy.

I don't think she's as bad as she's made out to be, but her routines are hard work (initially at least) and not really designed for a breastfed baby. My 4 month old needs to sleep longer and feed more often than her routine for a 2-4 week old.

yes agree with Valpollicella- its just a guide but a good place to start when you have no idea!

She looks a bit like Les Dawson. Allegedly.

NOOOOOOO, don't speak of the one who must not be named.

mummyls I am also a list-maker and control freak and didn't want to go with the flow with my first DC. Having read GF I couldn't understand why when her routine said 'wake the baby up after 2 hours' and he woke up himself after half an hour and started to scream the place down - had he not read the book?

The fact that he didn't want to stick to the routine made me more stressed than I would've been just going with the flow and following my instincts.

I didn't quite have the guts to go the whole hog so I did read Baby Whisperer. Much looser principles to cling to which did work for my DS. More an order to do things the same each time than a timescale.

Good luck!

I just don't see how a women who has never had a baby herself or continually cared for a child for example by adoption can give any parents advice on their children.
Thats my optionion. Being a nanny/childminder/au pair...or have endless qualifications in childcare is not the same as being a parent..so how can she efficiently give advice.

Waves to Highlandgirl from Feb thread. I didn't use her with dds, am too lazy!!, but my sister-in-law did, and it worked for her. The only thing was they had to be really regimented re when the baby was sleeping, couldn't really alter routines etc.

And remember the baby hasn't read the book

*opinion.. god knows what happened to my typing there!

Agree with Belovedcunt

She hasn't met you or your unborn child and so doesn't know better than you do. And her breastfeeding advice is crap (am I allowed to say that?).

Mumsnet will be far more useful, you'll get lots of different ideas and advice and then you can pick which is best for you.

I agree with some of the others, read what you like but don't be bound to it.

My DD liked to BF for over an hour at a time, I generally fed for 11 hours in 24. It's what suited my thriving baby and me.

Be aware that you may have an experience totally different to everyone you speak to, no-one's right and no-one's wrong.

Follow what feels right for you, you are the expert of your baby.

SSSHHHHHHH!

Are you all mad?
You'll get us in trouble!

When I first came on MN ( 5ish years ago - ) there was some huge Hoo haa about Gina Ford. She's complained I believe and discussing her on here was officially forbidden. Not sure of current position...(those lovely 3 dots :) )

Wine anyone?

Hi tjandpootle. yes i have friends who found it stressed them out more and it just wasnt for them. for me it was more about having a rough idea about how the day should go and aiming for a certain bedtime that made me feel better. maybe i wasnt exactly a strict follower to the letter. not sure! DS is a gorgeous happy, confident toddler now. TBH he probably would have been whatever we did with him as a baby- i just found it was good to have some structure of some kind. Oh and he was EBF for first 4 months too.

OP- dont worry too much- just spend first few weeks getting to grips with being a mummy and take it from there :-)