Rating: 
Summary: Great for bottle feeders, bad for breasfeeders
Review: This guy knows nothing about breasfeeding. Breast milk digests in 90 minutes! Your milk supply and your babies well being will suffer. As a Mom and registered nurse I know better than to believe this made up info. It could work for a breast feed baby at 3 months of age when their stomachs get larger and they no longer need help getting to sleep. A newborn's stomach is about the size of a walnut. A 3 hour schedule is also great for a bottle fed baby, because you can see how much they are eating, plus formula stays with them longer. I am not an advocate of the other extreme of parenting which is attachment parenting. You can read about this in Dr. Sears books. I think you should read alot of books and take a little from each one to form your own parenting style. This author makes everything seem so black and white, not like the real world. He is almost threatening, telling you how you will do this, and will do that. I dont want someone with no medical training telling me what to do. I think a routine is great, but you have to be flexible. Every baby is different. Thats whey there are so many different reviews on this book. Because some babies just sleep through the night no matter what you do. My advice, if your planning on Breastfeeding, skip this book or read it when your baby is 3 months old. That way you wont be temped to try it on a new born. Your baby could become seriously dehydrated or malnourished. Feed your baby often, please at least in the begining if not forever.
Rating:
Summary: I'd give it zero stars, but it's not an option.
Review: This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I read it when I was pregnant. Right away it struck me as incredibly cruel. I would not even use these parenting methods to raise an animal, never mind my child. A baby deserves to be fed when it is hungry and held and loved, not forced to live by the clock. Ignoring a baby's cries does not "teach" it anything, except that mommy and daddy can't be bothered to feed or hold it. Keep in mind that Ezzo is not a doctor, is not supported by any doctors, and has no credentials of any kind. ...
Rating: 
Summary: Works
Review: I am writing this review to let others know that Babywise works as a guide and I have watched it work. I have read this book not on recommendation from friends but willingly becasue I saw what great, happy, well behaved children they had. None of the babies that I have seen this method used with have been malnourished, unhappy, socially maladjusted or withdrawn babies. Quite the contrary, they are the best babies I have ever seen. I have suspicions that some orf the negative reviews written by some are in large part to them following an inflexible schedule or they haven't read the book at all. The book clearly states that flexibility is key and listening to your babies hunger cues above any schedule are what is most important. As a parent to be this book has given me confidence and a place to start, it has not given me a mantra that I will follow with no exceptions. I look forward to using the principles that work for my child and have a Babywise baby.
Rating:
Summary: Helpful with breastfeeding
Review: This book was recommended by a friend of my mother. Her daughter is sleeping though the night after she tried the techiques from this book. I like this book because I had some questions about breastfeeding. I never knew about hindmilk and foremilk. The foremilk is really clear and watery, and the hindmilk is very rich much whiter. If you are breasfeeding you can see for yourself the difference. Before you get ready to feed your baby express alittle milk out with your fingers and you can see that the milk is almost has a clear look to it. Then when you are ready to switch breast, the breast the baby had just fed on express alittle milk out and see how much richer it looks. So the longer she eats the better hindmilk she gets. So if I were to feed her on demand she would be snacking all day and not get the good milk. That is true when I snack all day I do not want to eat a big meal. So it makes sense that if you are feeding your baby constantly she will not want to nurse enough to get the hindmilk which has the most high-fat-content and is rich in calories, which is stored higher in the breast. So your baby will be hungry more often.
My daughter who is 3 1/2 months old is on the APROXIMATE schedule of 2 1/2 to 3 hr schedule and is doing very well she is a very happy baby is sleeping through the night and is gaining the normal amount of weight. I can also lay her down for her nap and she will fall asleep without help and will not cry.
Life doesn't have to stop when you have a baby, we still do the things we use to. We take her everywhere and it is nice to know when she will be hungry so we plan around that. Like everything use the information in the book to fit your lifestyle and use common sense.
Rating:
Summary: Some good point--but can be very dangerous!
Review: While I found that Ezzo has some very valid and useful information in his book (ie routines are important to children). I also researched abotu Ezzo and how the method works. When Ezzo's principles are taken to extreme--they are very dangerous to the child's well-being. The AAP has issued many warnings about Ezzo--nis ideas, his supposed credentials, etc. Not only has the medical community spoken out against him--but so has his former church (who defrocked him) and Focus on the Family (concerning the religious version "Growing Kids God's Way"). If you are going to read this book--please also visit [online] to learn about why so many people are concerned.
Rating:
Summary: Baby Not Wise
Review: When you are adult you go get something to eat without thinking, when you are infant all you know is to cry to get what you need. An infants stomach is only as large as his/her tiny fist. How can you not feed a baby every 1 1/2-3 hours??? I have read this book, and I am totally against it. I believe that a child is fed on demand, held/rocked to sleep (not left to cry), and carried by his/her parents is going to become self confident. I believe this because as a child you need to know love and not being left to decide on your own what to do (being left to fall asleep crying). With that confidence kids will become successful and very self reliant. If you are a parent who is trying to decide how you want to raise your child, please read everything you can get your hands on. Don't just stick to one thing either. If you want to raise a child that is self confident and knows that his/her parents are there to take care of them and love them no matter what I suggest you NOT read Baby Wise by Gary Ezzo, a more natural approach, instinctual approach is anything by Dr. William Sears. Read everything before you make a final decision on how you want to raise your child. You don't want them to not gain weight and not be healthy mentally and physically.
Rating:
Summary: Parenting......Babywise way
Review: When you have a child, it begins to rule your life. You have to remind yourself that you brought this child into the world, and they should have something to say about it. When you are hungry, you know as an adult what to do; go to the fridge and get something to eat. When an infant is hungry all they do is know to cry if they are hungry. When you follow Gary Ezzo and are a breastfeeding mother (who's baby eats every 1 1/2-3 hours) You aren't able to follow the feeding pattern that he sets. If you restrict a child to eating, sleeping, and waking during certain times then that child will not learn that they can receive food without crying or getting almost to that point. A parent should be able to read their child's cues and see if they are hungry, tired, or whatever. A child that is fed on demand, held and rocked to sleep, and is carried around by a parent will learn that their parents give them the security and confidence to become independant children. I truely believe that having your children attached will make them independant and not searching for something,which BabyWise implies. If you are a new parent I would encourage you to read different books that deal with parenting. As your child gets older they will fall into their own sleep pattern. Hence, not needing to follow the BabyWise way.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book
Review: This book gives great insight on a real problem for most of today's parents....getting their baby to sleep through the night. Even though it goes on a bit too long about the why it is such a good system, it is worth the read. I do wish it had more practical information about how to apply its principals after the 5th month. I have given the short version to several friends and they are friends for life now because their babies all sleep through the night. It is a short book and a fairly quick read, I recommend using a highlighter for the important parts for a quick reference later on. There is a lot of criticism out there about this "method" but if you do what says and use your own judgement as a parent, the cues from your baby, and the knowledge of what time you did feeding, playtime and sleeptime; you can be successful. Those who fail may be those who go to the extreme and do not trust their own instincts parents.
Rating:
Summary: Very rigid system
Review: Rigid adherence to Ezzo's system has killed several babies (they were substantially underfed) and his original publisher dropped the book because of these dangers, despite its enthusiastic sales. It's self-published and highly controversial, use with caution.
Rating:
Summary: A Parenting Philosophy that REALLY works!
Review: As soon as I read the first chapter I knew this book was a keeper. It's based on the philosophy that a child is a MEMBER of your family, not the center of your family. Your marriage should come first because ultimately that is your child's primary need - security - knowing that mom and dad are happy, therefore the child is happy. Practically speaking, I was new at babies and had no idea how much sleep they needed, how often they needed to eat after the newborn stage and how to get them on a schedule so that I could step out of the house and not worry that I would have a screaming baby on my hands. Babywise is an easy read, I read it over the weekend and had my daughter on a schedule by Monday. I noticed a huge difference in our day immediately! She was finally getting enough sleep so she was a much happier baby, she thrived on the schedule. Children need structure and feel more secure when they have it. The book also guides you on how and when to drop feedings and naps. My first child slept through the night by 10 weeks and my second child by 31/2 weeks (because I knew what I was doing from the start). Finally a book that tells you what you really need to know - with conviction! So many people comment on how good my baby girl is, how content she is and how lucky I am that she's been sleeping through the night for so long. It wasn't luck, it was smart parenting with the help of Babywise. There is also a chapter on Crying, which I found to be extremely helpful. There are times when it is normal for a baby to cry, eg.when they're tired (having them on a schedule helps you to know when that is, which reduces the guesswork). Feeding on demand and never letting your baby cry are the two worst mistakes a parent can make early on. I think that way of thinking has contributed to the self-centered generation growing up in our society today. Knowing when to let your baby cry so that he or she will learn good sleep habits is one of the best things you can do for them and for yourself. A well-rested Mom is a better Mom and a baby that gets enough sleep is a joy to everyone. Feeding on demand teaches a child to snack instead of eat meals, which is why so many children don't eat well. My 4 year old snacks very little but eats healthy, well-balanced meals - because she's actually hungry at mealtimes. Babywise has given me the tools and confidence that I was looking for as a new parent, and now with my second baby I'm enjoying every moment knowing I'm doing what's best for her and our entire family.
|
