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Summary: Please don't buy this book!
Review: My husband and I were encouraged to purchase this book when we had our first child. WHAT A MISTAKE! We were new parents not knowing what was right or wrong and even though every cell in my body knew this was wrong my husband continued because of the encouraging of some people we thought were friends. This book teaches a dangerous way to parent. Teaching breastfeeding moms to feed only every 3 hours is not healthy for your child!Teaching parents to spank a child's hand at 8 months and by 18 months spanking on the bottom with something that will sting is horrible! We are dealing with some challenges with our firstborn, now 5 and I attribute much if not all of his challenges to this parenting style. We now have a 1 year old and I can't believe we did what we did with our first. Look at the Ezzo's credentials before investing one red cent into this book. Really study your Bible and compare it to what the Ezzo's teach. Do not buy this book. Love your child...hold him and love him when he want love...not on a 3 hour schedule!
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT BOOK!!!
Review: I have truly enjoyed using this book. It has helped tremendously in establishing a regular schedule for my five month old baby. It gives concise information. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone with a young infant. Your baby will thank you for it!
Rating:
Summary: Misleading and dangerous!
Review: This book can cause harm to your baby! The author of this book has no degree in child development or pediatric medicine, and I think it is obvious when you read his ideas and recommendations. There have been reports by pediatricians around the country who have seen babies suffering from malnutrition as a result of following this book's technique for getting a baby on a feeding schedule. In fact, parents have been accused of child neglect for using Ezzo's methods. Many of his statements are unfounded and some have been proven absolutely false.
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Summary: I'm a doctor and mother & this saved my sanity!
Review: The book offers new parents some much-needed perspective. I was frustrated with the lack of information on the cycle of a newborn's activities, and the exhausting concept of "feed-on-demand," preached by many lactation specialists. I was sure my colicky baby didn't want to nurse EVERY time she cried. The book helps you take control of the situation and teach Baby some comforting routines, including SLEEPING AT NIGHT!
Be flexible; Follow your instincts even if they conflict with the book sometimes. I've given 10 copies as baby/shower gifts.
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Summary: Wonderful--IT WORKS!
Review: I have the 1995 edition of this book & have used it with all three of my children. It is a lifesaver! All of my kids (now 6,4,& 2) slept 8 hours a night by 8 weeks & 11 hours a night by 11 weeks (with daytime naps!)--just like the book said.By helping the baby have a routine (eat, wake time, sleep time), the baby's "internal clock" is set and nighttime continous sleep is achieved. I also love that as a new Mom, it made it so easy--I always knew exactly what my baby needed--because there was a plan, all I had to do is follow it! This book is a MUST for anyone having a baby. I always give this as a shower gift. Also, the baby is so much more happy--with his needs met and getting proper amount of food and sleep at regular intervals. Having a newborn is a breeze & pleasure.
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Summary: Did not like this at all
Review: This book went completly against my insticts. If my baby is hungry, I will feed him, if he is tired, he can sleep; regardless of the order that happens. The Eat, Activity, Sleep cycle did not work for us. And since my baby did not fit the model, I felt like a failure. This book did not help my confidence and did not help us settle into a routine. It is not a priority of mine that my son sleep through the night. He will only be a baby once and I want to enjoy every minute of it instead of worrying about the EAS cycle.
Rating:
Summary: It works!
Review: On Becoming Babywise is indeed controversial; parents either love it or hate it. We happen to be some who love it. The theories explained in Babywise have to be taken with a grain of salt--it is not gospel. Use common sense, use what works for you and ignore things that don't. We had twin boys 4 years ago, and using the techniques in Babywise, they learned to comfort themselves, sleep without aid from us, and have grown to be very happy little guys who are secure in their environment and flexible. Our friends still marvel that our boys go to bed at 7:30 without a fight, without so much as a peep after the lights are turned off. It worked for us, and many people we know, too. Don't be frightened off by other's negative reviews. Read the book and decide for yourself whether it fits your values and lifestyles. Good luck!
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Summary: A MUST for new moms and dads!
Review: I read this book when my first child was 8 weeks old. Until then, she was not on a schedule, and was feeding poorly and too often - snacking instead of getting a good meal. The principles in this book completely made sense, and I was able to directly relate them to my baby. I had her on a 3 hour schedule within days of reading it. She was eating better, and was able to fall asleep on her own without being rocked or nursed to sleep. She would wake up from naps happy, and exactly when it was time to eat again - it was amazing! My second child was on a schedule from the beginning. She never had to cry to let me know when she was hungry. She started sleeping through the night at 12 weeks, and continues to do so every single night, now at age 20 months. I put her in her crib, we blow each other kisses, she rolls over and goes to sleep. I have given this book to countless friends, and they have given it to their friends. Most of us attribute our babies' good eating and sleeping habits solely to this book. It is a must for new parents, and is by far the best baby gift I received!
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Summary: Sleeping through the night at 7 weeks! Bliss!
Review: Babywise doesn't work with every family--not even with every child within a family--but it is a viable alternative. The authors give practical advice for those who chose not to follow attachment parenting or strict scheduling parenting. What worked for us was that the authors stressed flexibility within the method and that they only gave examples of how the method could be worked. They never stated a strict schedule had to be followed--in fact they are against strict scheduling as much as they are against attachment parenting. My daughter never cried herself to sleep and she was never hungry. I believe in Babywise--my child slept through the night at 7 weeks in her own crib; is in the 95% in both height and weight; she was nursed until 14 months; and she has an extensive spoken and sign vocabulary as well as picking up Spanish (discussed in volume 2). The second half of the book gives practical information on babyproofing, disciplining, taking time for husband and wife. I'm so glad my friend recommended it. Like the authors state though, it doesn't work in every situation or with every child so I am realistic in knowing my other children may not be as responsive to Babywise.
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Summary: Incredibly Excellent Book!
Review: This book is a dream come true (pun intended!) I applied the principles in this book to both my children when they were born and both babies slept through the night at 8 weeks just like the book said. Sharing this book over the years with many Moms in a very active "Mommy Town" has created two very distinct groups. Moms who rave about Baby Wise and Moms who condemn it...there is no in between! So let me give you some facts. I personally know of 16 Moms (counting me) who have read the book. 8 Moms with a total of 16 children chose to follow the book and 8 Moms with a total of 17 children chose not to follow the book. For the 8 Moms that did follow the principles in the book, ALL 16 children slept through the night at 8 weeks and NEVER had any sleep problems as they grew up (the oldest child now being almost 7 years old) For the 8 Moms that chose not to read the book, the majority of them today while bashing BabyWise, in the next breath are complaining about feeding their 6 month olds at 4:00 am or complaining that they are still up in the middle of the night with their 18 month old. These same non-BabyWise Moms feed their babies continuously all day long--they have a bottle with them at every moment so they can plug it into their babies mouths for a quick suck every time they whimper. A BabyWise Mom knows exactly when her baby is going to eat and sleep, so she can go out on errands and not even have to bring a bottle! A non-BabyWise Mom rocks her baby to nap and then tiptoes out of the room praying that her baby will sleep for more than 20 minutes. A BabyWise Mom puts her fully awake baby into the crib at naptime, walks away and knows her baby will fall asleep on her own in minutes and will sleep for 2 hours. The notion that "a baby knows what they need", i.e. eat and sleep whenever they want is ridiculous. How can an infant possibly know what is best for them? Moms--this is your choice. Let your baby do whatever they want which means have several cat naps a day, wake up several times at night, snack continuously all day, be continuously cranky and fussy or you can have a baby that sleeps all night long, takes 2-3 (depending on age) scheduled 2 hour naps a day and eats approximately every 3-4 hours a complete meal, rarely cries and is happy all the time. It is your choice. People who condemn the book and its feeding guidelines as bad or dangerous are ignorant people who aren't smart enough to apply common sense to those situations that warrant it-like if your baby is ill or is not eating at all. My advice is to be smart and choose to be BabyWise and then stay close to home for the first 4-6 weeks of your babies life and teach them valuable eating and sleeping habits that will reward you and your baby for years to come.
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