The New Contented Little Baby Book: The Secret to Calm and Confident Parenting Paperback – International Edition, March 13, 2012

In a world where very few of us are around small children enough to know what is normal/good for sleeping and eating, most of us need guidance. I wanted to know when she should nap, eat, etc. I bought this book looking for schedules, and it was perfect. It met my needs and changed the way I parent.Now here's the thing, I call Gina Ford the Schedule Nazi, but I mean it in a good way. Use your common sense. Things aren't always going to work on schedule, but both of my children (breastfed exclusively until 13/12 mths respectively)have greatly benefited from regular bedtimes and naptimes. Neither ever required extensive bedtime rituals, crying it out or any of that stuff. When I followed the schedule, they slept well. Period.BTW, on the breastfeeding, I never found it a problem. My firstborn always nursed at 3-4 hr intervals, and at night from about 8 wks on, I went at least 5-7 hrs without nursing her. Your body adjusts. Sure the first night is hard. Big deal. It never compromised my milk supply, I never supplemented with formula (not once!),and she was always on schedule growth-wise at her check-ups. My 2nd was a mth early so he ate more often as a preemie, but around 6 weeks, he too went on the longer schedule with no problems. His growth has also been fine, and he walked sooner than my daughter.Overall, some people have a real aversion to schedules. They think children should be allowed to find their own schedule. I think that's the biggest bunch of nonsense I've ever heard. We teach them how to eat, walk, talk, not hit,. . . and the list goes on and on. Why would teaching them how to sleep (at night/naps) and putting them down at set times most beneficial to them be any different than that? Parents know best--not babies. It's ludicrous to think they're born knowing what schedule is best for them. Puh-lease--they know the basics of how to suck, sleep, cry, and defecate/urinate. But that doesn't mean they're even any good at those.I laugh when people say breastfeeding is natural--that babies know how automatically and so do moms. You've got to be kidding. It's a skill you learn like any other. And it's not always easy to learn or to teach the babies. Why do you think so many women give up breastfeeding? It's b/c they don't know how to do it!Use the book. Take what you need. I didn't use the food advice as much as I did the sleep stuff. However, I recommend this book to all my friends, along with Babywise.Good luck, Moms & Dads, and remember there are a number of right ways to do things. Some, however, are easier than others! Don't make things too hard for yourself!BTW, I glanced over some of the reviews, and I had to laugh at one comment. **All the people who complained about Gina Ford giving advice but not having any children.** I think it's safe to say that she has worked with more newborns than most of us "real" moms will work with in our entire life. Along the same lines, how many of us had doctors we trusted to deliver our babies--but who never had children of their own? Either b/c they were MALE or b/c they were childless females?If we're going to criticize, criticize her advice, not her person.

I bought this book while I was pregnant, but in all honesty did not open it up until about seven weeks after my baby was born. It was recommended to me by two of my female relatives who've found it useful as well. Reasons for not using the book right away were1) my first baby2) not having any image of what motherhood would be like3) I was determined to just 'go with the flow' and take the advice of lactation consultants etc.So truth be told, I only started using her routines and only as a 'guideline' from about seven weeks onwards. The reason I finally opened the book was that my breast milk had come in and was well established. I'd already experienced two growth spurts and I was finding waking up all hours and feeding anytime my baby seemed upset was leaving me very tired and drained.What I took from the book and its routines is that* sometimes the baby is crying because of a wet diaper and not because he's hungry* sometimes the baby is crying because of tiredness and not because he's hungryThe question is - how do you know when these things are happening? I had gotten into the habit of feeding him, changing him, letting him play or sleep; and repeat. As a new mother I was clueless as to how often a baby should sleep during the day and how often he should be exercising, eating... etc. I was starting to feel a bit trapped by his needs and unable to meet my own!Having followed (as a guideline and NOT to the letter) her routines... I don't give my baby cooled water though I was interested in how to sub in formula occasionally... I found the book to be very helpful. It also helps me set a schedule for when I can come and go and what to expect. He doesn't always follow the book to a T but at least there is some schedule that allows me to plan out my day and feel much more confident in my mothering abilities.Now, as my son approaches his fourth month - I am interested in introducing a bit of food early.I read some of the criticisms of this book - and bottom line is - no one is forcing you to follow the book to a T. Its up to you to take the good and reject what you consider to not be useful. My baby is fully breastfed with the occasional bottle. Pumping breast milk was not easy for me earlier but has started to become easier as both me and my son become a wee bit more independent of each other (bonus if my husband can give him a bottle from time to time!).