Rating: 
Summary: Don't Wait 'til the 2nd Birthday!
Review: As John Rosemond makes clear, the secret to raising a healthy, happy two-year-old starts long before the child's second birthday. Fortunately, we found the common sense and heart-felt humor in his advice to be a sanity check for most of what we'd already thought was right. Anyone with questions will undoubtedly find much to help with the sometimes difficult and always rewarding responsibility of raising a small child.In a book so full of useful information -- offered in a firm but loving tone -- it is difficult to identify the most significant piece. We bought the book for a complete description of Rosemond's potty-training method (try it; it works!), but there's much, much more there. "Making the Terrible Twos Terrific!" contains probably the best perspective ever written on the difficult transition that children go through from infancy to toddler-hood. Remember, Rosemond tells us, when your baby was born, he opened his eyes, looked at the world and thought, "Wow! Look what I did!" It's from this completely egocentric outlook that the toddler begins his transition into a social human being. Given that viewpoint, it is easy for parents to learn how to best manage and nurture this wonderful, magic time. Read the book. Keep it for reference. Enjoy it. Then go and enjoy your little person-to-be.
Rating:
Summary: Sanity Regained!
Review: Before I had children of my own, I babysat for at least 15 different families over the course of 15 years. I saw firsthand the kind of parenting that worked and the kind of parenting that did not work. Quite frankly, by the time I was 18 years old, I had enough sense to realize that the best behaved children were the ones with the parents who provided effective discipline. It was maddening to be told to put a child to bed by 8:00, only to have that child have a meltdown before bedtime and then..to top it off..have the parents come home and allow the child to stay up anyway! I saw both major brats who were allowed to run the household and secure, wonderfully behaved children whose parents looked like they were enjoying being parents! For some reason, when my son was born 3 years ago, I allowed myself to read much of the parenting psychobabble books in the stores today. I also listened to my sister in law, who was practicing attachment parenting with her own 2 year old son. Thinking I was going to harm my child if I parented with my own instincts, I practiced the family bed, breastfed on demand (and by the way, I DO advocate breastfeeding) and basically allowed my home to become child-centered--all to the detriment of my own sanity, sleep and most importantly, my marriage. My husband tried to play along but after 21 months of sleepless nights and never spending any alone time with my hubby, I decided to read this book. All I needed was validation that my own experiences and instincts were correct. This book made me realize that and more! It also made me appreciate my own mother and grandmother who sat back for 21 months and allowed me to make my own mistakes but who after I admitted to them that I was wrong, told me to use my good old' noggin' from now on----just like they did. I cannot tell you how happy I am! My son is so happy, so sweet and so well-behaved--and I didn't discipline with an iron fist, like some of the other reviewers would have you believe Rosemond advocates. All I did was set up a secure routine for my son and let him know that Mommy and Daddy were the bosses of the household--not him. The best complements we've received are from babysitters (because now we go out) who tell me that my son is well-behaved, sweet and fun-loving. Also, I cannot tell you how liberating it is to plan nights with my husband after my son is in bed---something we could never do before, as he had no bedtime. Another point of validation is my sister in law's son. He is overtired, cranky and a very misbehaved 5 year old. The school just told them that he is uncontrollable and has no impulse control. Now...maybe attachment parenting works better for children who are more docile or less stubborn, but for my active son, loving structure saved the day!!!
Rating:
Summary: A must read!
Review: Buy this book and read it before your child turns one. Refer to it often in later years. Dr. Rosemond is a welcome, down to earth friend in a sea of unrealistic, unpractical, guiltmongering, child-coddling "advice givers." He will restore your confidence in your own ability as the true "expert" on your own child.
Rating:
Summary: No more sleepless nights!
Review: Dr. Rosemond is a genius. This book was a lifesaver when my 2 year old wouldn't go to sleep. If you can follow his plan, it will pay off for years. My 2 kids go to sleep without any fuss and sleep for 12 hours straight! This book is a must for parents with small children.
Rating:
Summary: Common sense & an easy read!
Review: I buzzed through the book in a weekend! Its reader friendlyformat makes it a great reference tool as well. I appreciated theauthor's no nonsense, common sense approach to dealing with the Terrible Two's. He understands what toddlers need during this critical time and helps parents achieve it almost effortlessly. I have been using the information from the book and have seen marvelous results in my 18-month-old. This book could be a lifesaver!
Rating: 
Summary: Very good book for parents of twos
Review: I could not put this book down. I read it and felt like I had all the answers. The common sense approach of the author and gentle humor will ease your confusion and guilt from reading all of the other books on the market. Warning: ease into this way of disapline or you may find a rebelious spouse as well as a confused toddler on your hands
Rating:
Summary: Highly effective!
Review: I have used John Rosemond's methods to raise four children. "Making the Terrible Twos Terrific" was the first Rosemond book I read. It began me on a journey of sensible "like I was raised" parenting. John recommends a healthy midpoint between permissiveness and authoritarianism and he gives humorous advice on how to achieve that. My kids are polite, well-behaved and happy. I tell them to do something one time, and they do it. That is success!
Rating:
Summary: Did the negative reviewers read the same book I did?
Review: I just finished this book and thought it had many positive insights. A friend gave it to me and I was a bit turned off by the fact it was an 'older' book. But to my surprise it offers a lot of common sense approaches to problems. Just like all parenting books, I take what I think will work for me and use it and massage any other techniques that I think need massaging. I read some of the negative reviews on this book and I can't believe some said he advocates spanking! He actually writes that he is AGAINST spanking in almost all circumstances. He also does not advocate letting your baby cry all night in bed - to the contrary! He suggests that you go in every five minutes to hug and kiss your child to reassure the little one. What is cruel about that? We are talking toddlers here, not infants. I still can't understand how others read the exact opposite of what I read.
Rating: 
Summary: Not appropriate for older toddlers
Review: I love John Rosemond, and I look forward to his column in our paper every week. This book was recommended to me by several people. I have a 3 year old with sleep problems (night waking, delaying) and I'm sad to say this book did not help me at all. I agree with the theory of establishing routine (which we did, until it stopped working) and most of the other stuff in the book related to sleep, but none of this will work with an older toddler who knows what mom and dad are up to.
Rating:
Summary: bcck to basics
Review: I loved this book. He is trying to get us back to the basics of raising kids. He also confirmed that staying at home is a good thing to do and not a cop out. I'm not sure about sawing a bedroom door in half but his advice for the most part is great.
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