Rating: 
Summary: Don't buy this book.
Review: If you love your baby don't buy this book. If you own it throw it away. Feeding your baby on a PDF schedule (parent directed) and denying him food when he's hungry is awful. Letting him cry himself to sleep and calling it a schedule is emotional abuse.
Rating:
Summary: I love my son too much to do this
Review: I'm glad I read some of this book instead of relying on the sales figures. After getting a knot in my stomach perusing this book, I decided to learn more about the author.
I found that he's a pastor with no medical background, yet he dispenses medical advice. I learned the American Academy of Pediatrics has denounced his practices. I learned his publisher, Multnomah, has cancelled his contract. His system of "training" children starting in infancy had been used by many church sponsored parenting classes. Thank goodness that's changing!! Focus on the Family DOES NOT recommend this series of books, and many others are following their lead.
Christian parents are realizing one thing -- that God's gifts to them -- i.e., their nurturing instincts, ability to nourish their babies, and good sense -- are gifts to be shared with their children, not weaknesses to be overcome.
Rating:
Summary: Not that babywise...
Review: As a long time nanny, and first time mom I have read the majority of the parenting books on the market. I was very surprised, and rather disgusted by the things I read in this book. Having studied early childhood development in college this goes against everything I've ever learned as a student or felt as a mom.
There is nothing wrong with structure; in fact I'm quite fond of it. However, there are truly better and more loving ways to acquire such structure. The bible teaches us to keep from exasperating our children, I can not think of a more appropriate word for this man's ideals and suggestions.
Babies come into this world as tiny, helpless, and innocent little beings. Fully deserving of our love and even our respect. Giving respect, in order to gain it is a basic bible principal. Babywise lacks respect, honor and love for your child. I do not recommend this book.
Dr Sears has written the ideal parenting handbook, and I hope you take the time to compare the ideals. My 6-month-old has been raised with my heart in the lead, and Dr Sears by my side. She slept through the night at 2 weeks and is known as the "smiley baby". Obviously good parenting can be found elsewhere than in this controversial book. Go with something a little more proven and well reviewed.
Rating:
Summary: Please don't do this to your child
Review: I'm sad and scared to see so many people following this man's advice. Children have been hospitalized and even died from dehydration and failure to thrive from parents using the methods in this book. The Child Abuse Prevention Council and the American Academy of Pediatrics both warn against following the practices subscribed in this book.Gary Ezzo has neither a medical degree or any expertise in child development. He makes numerous unsubstantiated medical claims. Please don't do this to your children.
Rating:
Summary: This book is just wrong!
Review: I was given this book as a gift. Some of the ideas sounded a little harsh but I tried them for a while just to be fair. Horrible! My daughter was not gaining weight properly and the 'sleep schedule' was more like a screaming schedule. Finally I asked her pediatrician. He told me to throw Ezzo away and that a number of his patients had similar problems with his program. The doctor told me to be sensible. If a rabbit is smart enough to know when it is hungry so is my baby. Same with sleeping. Not that we are animals, but that hunger is a basic need and denying the baby food because it isn't 'time yet' just seems cruel. Don't waste your money on this book.
Rating:
Summary: I'm a doctor and found Babywise appalling!
Review: After reading Babywise I'm concerned that the rigidity of the feeding program the Ezzos' advocate puts newborn infants at risk of inadequate weight gain and dehydration, especially in the sensitive first weeks after birth. In addition to this, it is unnatural to use the EAS (Eat, Activity, Sleep) system to effectively bond and nurture an infant. I certainly won't use it with my baby and would never recommend it to my patients without fear of malpractice!!! I strongly recommend parents ignore the Babywise book and instead take some time to review the Dr. Sear's series for an instinctual and natural way of infant and child-rearing.
Rating:
Summary: I'm sickened and saddened by this book...
Review: While reading this book I found myself wondering and conversing with others to see if there was any evidence that any of his "theories" were accurate. His portrayal of parents who are "attatched" to their children is pitiful. The idea that one would want to TRAIN their child shocks me! Ezzo writes as though children are a nuissance rather than the joy that they are. For all those looking for an uplifting, empowering book about raising a child, don't end your search with this book! The AMA strongly warns against using the methods in this book for raising a child. Numerous doctors are now coming out saying that they are coming in contact with more and more parents who raise their children with these methods and that as early as 2 months, babies are showing signs of SEVERE depression, and malnourishment. Think before treating another human like this! Ask yourself if you'd be happy being treated as he expects parents to treat others... especially thier OWN CHILDREN! Parenting is a rewarding "career". Let's let our children UNDERSTAND that their presence in our lives is WONDERFUL!
Rating:
Summary: ABUSIVE!
Review: This book is abusive. Since writing this diatribe of horrors Ezzo has been dropped by both his church and his publisher. The methods outlined in his book are guaranteed to fail breastfeeding, create insecurely attached children, and undermind a parent's natural instinct to parent with love and compassion. His feeding schedules for newborns border on cruel and will ensure low milk supply. His instructions on how to force your infant to cry themselves to sleep are beyond reprehensible. His advice to spank a child with a spatula or to squeeze their hands when they "misbehave" are medievil. Not every parent need be an Attachemnt Parent but Ezzo advocates a shortcut to parenting. Yes, it is easier to force your newborn to scream themselves to sleep than it is to night parent them. It is easier to spank than to discipline with love. It is easier to feed a baby every 3 hours as opposed to when their tummy is empty. Is all of that ease worth breaking a child's spirit? I encourage parents everywhere to ban Ezzo from your lives. Treat your child like a human being, not a pet. Ezzo claims that you should not have to change your life to accomodate a child. I ask you; do you really want to be that parent? Now, go and get yourself a copy of The Baby Book.
Rating:
Summary: Would be laughable
Review: As a mother myself, I would have found this book laugable if it were not so disturbing. To let infants cry, deprive them of nutrition and engage in corporal punishment of toddlers is inexcusable. Ezzo, with no medical training has been revealed for the charlatan, for profit Christian that he is by the American Academy of Pediatrics and lawsuits are pending due to children that have been measurably harmed in physical and emotional development due to the heartless, non-instinctive, child devaluing propoganda in this book. Please do not buy this book and support these cruel practices. Children, especially infants do not have the same sleep cycles and requirements as adults. Dont let this mysoginist, child hating quack tell you otherwise no matter how tired you are. Please get The Baby Book by Dr. William Sears instead. You'll sleep better and so will your precious gifts, your children.
Rating:
Summary: Dangerous and heartless advice
Review: Strictly concontrolled schedules; recommendation to use physical punishment for toddlers; and no research to support their methods. The author has no professional background in child development or medicine, although he implies that he does. The infant-feeding advice is inconsistent with standard medical recommendations, including that of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and when followed for newborns can be downright life-threatening. There are plenty of baby books out there, this is not one I would recommend.
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