Rating: 
Summary: It's been the best 9.5 months of my Life!
Review: I bought the Babywise book after having spent a weekend with a family of 5 children! Most of you will have 'horror' stories already forming in your mind at that statement. But, to the contrary, they were the most well mannered, helpful children I've met. The mother and father were relaxed with them (even at MEALTIME)! The ages ranged from 2 to 9, and she was pregnant again! I asked them, "What's your secret?" First, they said, "God." Second, they said "We have used the Babywise method with all five." I was pregnant at the time, so I ran to my computer and bought the book. On December 27, we had a beautiful baby boy. Just over eight weeks later, he was sleeping through the night. At five months, he quit fussing to go down for his nap or bedtime. Though, up to that point, we had to endure 30 minutes (at least) of fussing. But, it was like a switch went off, and he stopped. Now nighttime is a pleasure, because we have his bedtime set at 7:15 pm (and he would actually prefer earlier). He goes to sleep and wakes up talking and laughing at 7:30 am. This gives my husband and I the evening to spend time together. He is also an amazingly active child. For example, he has been walking since 8 months. He has a sweet disposition and is always bright and cheery. I say all this, because I feel that having him on an appropriate schedule for his age has been what has helped him to form such good habits. We have been consistent, but not rigid with the schedule. It has made it a breeze when we've wanted to travel with him. We know when we need to stop to feed him, and then we're back on our merry way. It has taken so much of the questioning out of being first time parents. We have felt confident and rested all through these past nine months. I have read many reviews that have proported this book to be the source of making menaces of society out of our children. I would challenge those that any of the children I've met (including my own son), who are on a consistent routine for naps and meals, are some of the happiest and most well mannered children I've had the pleasure of being around. On the other side, most of the mothers with young children I know, who have no consistent routine for their children, are tired, harried, and not having a lot of fun. Often, they are so focused on their children and meeting their every demand that they have lost sense of themselves and their relationship with their husband. I encourage any new (or not so new) mothers to buy this book and establish a consistent, age appropriate routine for their child(ren). For us, it has made having a child a wonderful, not traumatic, experience.
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Summary: A book worth a million bucks! (If you value your sleep!)
Review: I read this book before the birth of my first child. I followed the principles and my baby formed his own schedule. He almost never cried unless it was time for him to eat or he was ready to go to sleep. And then only if I was not paying attention to the schedule. My child started sleeping through the night (9 hours) at 6 1/2 weeks. I had my second child 6 months ago, and at 7 weeks, he started sleeping 12 hours a night. And he still does! I am a much nicer and happier mother when I have had a full night's rest. They are happy too! There has been some bad press about the authors, but I think that comes about when certain readers are militant about sticking to every little detail no matter what. This book does not tell you to force your child to conform to whatever you decide is best. You just should use common sense and make sure that the babies are having an adequate number of wet and poopy diapers and gaining the right amount of weight. You will be able to tell if you just pay attention. If they are thriving, they will be happy! P.S. With my first child I nursed, and with my second I bottle fed. This method worked wonderfully with both situations. Good luck!
Rating:
Summary: Right on!
Review: This is an outstanding book and works for singletons or multiples. It walks you through how to get your child to eat & sleep through the night. By eight weeks our baby slept through the night! She is a good sleeper, napper, eater. Thus is well-rested and so are we. She has never had digestive problems, learns in her parent/infant class -- all which I attribute to this program. Everyone, who has not used Babywise, has commented on how well adjusted our baby is. My friends that have used Babywise just respond with an "I told you so" as their children are equally well-adjusted. Many friends with multiples have used this program successfully. Forget Sears and some of those other child experts. Our nephew was raised via Dr. Sears and at 3 years has never slept through the night, still sleeps with his parents and is a very whiny, codependent child.
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Summary: Those who actually read the book find it useful. We did!
Review: ... Our daughter started sleeping consistently through the night (more than 7 hours between feedings) at 6 weeks. Now, at 8 weeks she has gone 7-10 hours per night for 10 of 13 days. Her weight gain is near the top of the charts (12 pounds, 12 ounces at 8 weeks), and she smiles and does all the usual cute baby stuff. She has as much cuddling and contact as she can handle, and she sleeps in her own room within earshot. We've had family babysitters twice, and she has cried with neither while we enjoyed evenings out. Baby Wise was a gift from a trusted friend. Over the years we have been amazed at the polite and cheerful demeanor of her two kids, and the 'serenity' of the parents. We asked her, 'How did you do it?!?'. This gift was her answer. We read the book together, pausing to discuss each chapter's implications as we went. We treat Baby Wise as a guide, not as gospel, and have consulted many other sources recommended by our pediatrician (who leans to demand feeding but accepts other methods) and friends. Careful reading shows that nothing in Baby Wise advocates mindless allegiance without thought. We were flexible, used common sense and didn't proceed blindly because 'the book says so.' We have incorporated pieces of several 'theories', but Baby Wise has proved to be among the most useful. Parent Directed Feeding has helped us find some sanity and reason in what can be a very frustrating time. At 3-4 weeks we weren't sure if we were doing the right thing; her feedings were strong, but she wasn't going more than 4-5 hours between nighttime feedings. We stuck with it however, and at 6 weeks she jumped one night to 10 hours. Of course we will never know what would have happened if we hadn't trusted Baby Wise, and I'm sure millions of people have been successful with other methods (methods which by the way change from year to year and decade to decade). Whether you choose Bottle or Breast, Parent Directed Feeding, Demand Feeding, or Scheduled Feeding, don't be guilted into your parenting method. All I can say is Baby Wise Parent Directed Feeding is working for us. I know that isn't good enough for some critics. I'll pause to consider that criticism while my wife and I sleep for the next eight hours. 4 stars for content, plus an extra star to counteract the votes of people who rated without reading.
Rating:
Summary: Worked for us and many of our friends...
Review: I was introduced to Babywise years before having my first child. A close friend of mine shared the book with me and since she had 3 great kids, I thought I'd try it when my time came. Since then many of my friends have used the principles in Babywise, with excellent results. When it came my turn to be a new Mom, I eagerly read the book and was excited to use it with my newborn. Yes, it did work and yes, she slept through the night at 8 weeks (she's 9 months now) and yes, she has been sleeping 12 hours a night since and no she doesn't cry when I lay her down and yes, she is extrememly happy and receives a ton of love and attention. People always comments on how "lucky" we are to have such a great, happy baby. I just say "thanks". But, I know it takes work and dedication to raise great kids, no matter what parenting style you use. There seems to be 2 types of people. One type, love the book and would recommend it. The other type usually hate it and recommend Dr. Sears. If that's your choice then go with it. No one parenting style is going to work for every person. It's ridiculous to think that. Babywise worked for us! Dr. Sears would not have worked for us. I won't judge you for doing Dr. Sears and you don't judge me for loving Babywise. Do I follow the book to the letter? No, the good Lord gave me a brain and I do use it. There's only one book I would follow to the letter and that's the Bible (which is another discussion). I've read many books on parenting and Babywise was the one that worked for us. Parent-Directed feeding and having her a routine was some of the best advice I was giving. I share the book with all my friends (but, I don't look down on the if they choose not to use it). Most people that I've given to book to, come back later and thank me. I love my child and would do anything for her. I would recommend this book to any new parent. If you don't like, then don't use it. But, don't be so quick to judge others.
Rating:
Summary: Right on!
Review: This is an outstanding book and works for singletons or multiples. It walks you through how to get your child to eat & sleep through the night. By eight weeks our baby slept through the night! She is a good sleeper, napper, eater. Thus is well-rested and so are we. She has never had digestive problems, learns in her parent/infant class -- all which I attribute to this program. Everyone, who has not used Babywise, has commented on how well adjusted our baby is. My friends that have used Babywise just respond with an "I told you so" as their children are equally well-adjusted. Many friends with multiples have used this program successfully. Forget Sears and some of those other child experts. Our nephew was raised via Dr. Sears and at 3 years has never slept through the night, still sleeps with his parents and is a very whiny, codependent child.
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Summary: A godsend- or rather- A pediatrician-send
Review: I find it hard to believe the offense people might take to this book in some of the reviews offerred. I do believe there are multiple ways to raise an infant/ toddler- but I think we can all agree, as parents, that a routine is the most important established step in raising a healthy child. After 8 weeks of child demand feeding,as recommended by every lactation specialist I spoke with, resulting in 2-3 hours of colicky behavior a day, feeding schedules that mimicked once an hour feedings in the morning and at night, I realized that proper feeding techniques are essential. I had an excellent latcher- and a wonderful "snacker" on my hands-but not a baby who knew how to eat efficiently. Volume wasn't a problem- if I didn't mind feeding him 12 times a day, with no more than 3 hours of sleep at a time at night at 8 weeks. I just felt as a mother that by 2 months, babies should be sleeping more along the lines of 4-5 hour stretches by then. That is when my PEDIATRICIAN recommended this book by Gary Ezzo- and within 72 hours of starting the schedule at 8 weeks of age- my baby was sleeping 7 hours through the night. WHAT A GODSEND!. My baby is happy, thriving, growing immensely, and frankly has absolutely no fussy periods in the day at all. Even his bowel movements are more regular, less gassy, and he wets 8-10 diapers a day so hydration is not a factor for us. I think we can all agree that different routines work for different babies- and as mother's we have to try on many different "routine hats" to find what works for our own children. But to irately state that this is " child abuse ", by one reviewer, is offensive to the mother's out there whose babies do well with this schedule. I highly recommend this book and schedule to any mother willing to try something new if what they have isn't working. At 12 weeks- I have a bright, happy, energetic and beautiful 14lb baby- who has doubled his birth weight already, and he has two parents who are rested and ready to meet his energy demand. In fact my nephew is 15 weeks- and not "babywise" and is still only sleeping 4 hours at a time, and while he was bigger by a full pund at birth- he is now a pound down versus his cousin.
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Summary: Helping babies become confident and secure
Review: I read this book at the suggestion of a friend, though I was wary when I read some negative reviews such as are seen here on Amazon. I was quite surprised by how much sense the book makes, in light of charges of child abuse. I followed the main guidelines of this book with my son, also being flexible to his needs (as the book suggests), and he was a well adjusted, well rested, successfully breastfed baby. Again, I'm not sure where charges of child abuse come in, since the main premise of the book is to help children breastfeed more successfully, to achieve weight gain by nursing on fat and calorie rich hind milk, instead of fore milk, and to sleep better by achieving a regular schedule. Every parent knows that babies are creatures of habit, and this book helps foster successful habits. Just as parents don't let their toddlers eat candy all day, or let their six year olds watch tv to their heart's content, this book helps parents of infants set a routine to benefit their development. Every person I've ever recommended this book to has had great success. The track record of more infant-centered approaches (let the baby dictate what they want, when they want it)has not been so successful, in my experience. Rather, this book helps parents anticipate what babies need and when they need it. Don't listen to inflammatory critics. Read and judge for yourself. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, as was I.
Rating: 
Summary: Child abuse in print
Review: I bought this book thinking that it showed some new technique to help babies sleep. I was amazed with the ideas in the book. Letting a baby cry to sleep and let the baby sleep in its vomit is surely abuse. My son sleeps 12 hours straight every night and has no problems taking naps, but he never cried to sleep. The book went to the trash as soon as I was finished reading it. My son is well adjusted and with patience and routine, he learned to calmly go to bed after our bedtime ritual, a book and a song. We have the same routine since he was a newborn, he knows we will be by his side if he cries, he knows we love him and because of that, he sleeps peacefully. New parents be aware that letting your baby cry is not the solution to sleepless nights. Trust yourselves, not a horrible book. Love your kids, do not torture them. Kids need love and consistence.
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Summary: please find other "experts" to help you learn how to parent
Review: Everyone wants a good night's sleep, but this is no answer. He offers the seductive idea that your life can be like it was before you had a baby--predictable, ordered--and while this may or may not be true this is a cruel way to effect that end.
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