Rating: 
Summary: I'm sure glad my parents didn't have this book!
Review: What an awful concept of child-rearing. What are this authors credintials, anyway? Yes, children may grow and sleep like clockwork on this "program", and their parents may blissfully sleep thru the night, since their babies know that their cries are not worth responding to. But what about babies emotional needs? They are human, you know- the most fragile, vulnerable of all humans and in desperate need of the physical conact and responsiveness of other humans-namely their parents. If you want something to "train" and to fit very conveniently into your lifestyle, get a dog. No, that might require too much effort- get a lizard. And people wonder why so many people in this country are emotional wrecks and lonely-- the foundations are laid in infancy with books like these. Don't buy it-be a real parent and follow your instincts, [...]
Rating: 
Summary: History
Review: I have seen this book work for many people. But for it to work, the parents have to be commited to the child, to each other and to God! There is no way around it. I have seen it work with nieces and nephews in my family. I can't compare the positive comments that the parents receive from those observing the child as it matures in this happy environment. I can very well pick a child out of a group of children that have been raised by this book compared to those that have not. The difference is eye opening. Those parents that do not care for this book have the right to their own opinions. But those that don't believe in God and his principles, will never understand the purpose behind this book. If you had the older version of the book it is all biblically based and you can't understand one without understanding the base for the book, The Bible!
I am pregnant now. I plan to use this book for my own children after seeing all the positive results in the families that I am close to. I look forward to having this work for my children as well.
Rating:
Summary: Decide For Yourself
Review: Before I had my 2 1/2 year old daughter, I read the Baby Wise book for myself to see what everyone was so worked up about. Some people loved it, and some were so strongly against it. After reading it, I tried it. I was very impressed with the scheduling system for feedings and naps. I tried it with my daughter from day 1, and I will never regret it no matter who hates this book. My daughter is and always has been very healthy and in the 75% percentile in height, size, and weight. She was sleeping through the night at 8 weeks of age. This book helped our family enjoy one another through stabilization and routine. I just had my baby boy, and I used the same program for him. He is as "chubby" as they come and is sleeping through the night at 7 weeks old. Because of his schedule that I adopted from the book, he and my daughter are happy and healthy. They know they are loved and have never felt insecure due to lack of routine. I strongly would recommend this book, but you must read it for yourself. Don't read some of these previous negative reviews and say "forget it." Read it for yourself and then decide if you think this program will work for your family. ***One more thing: I was so nervous as a first time mom and had the "baby blues" pretty bad. This book helped bring structure to my life and my precious baby's life. I loved the outcome so much that I used the same program for my son, and because I knew what I was doing now, this time around it was so much easier.
Rating: 
Summary: wonderful book for happy healthy children
Review: I have used many of the things suggested in this book and my children are happy and healthy. As with any parenting book, take the techiniques and use them with common sense. I have 3 content, healthy, and still fully spirited children ages 1 to 5 who have blossomed while using much of the advice in these books. But keep in mind that this isn't the only way to have happy and healthy children, just one way. Parenting is a very sensitive topic to most parents and everyone seems to think their way is the best. There is a lot of strong emotions out there from the attachment parenting group as some of the reviews on here show. Ignore the fighting over which parenting method is best - and search your heart for whichever one works best for you. I loved the Ezzo's books and my children are flourishing - but every child (and parent for that matter) is different so know that there are many great ideas out there and that this is just one of them.
Rating:
Summary: What a Great Book
Review: We were the last of our friends to have children. We watched our friends parent their children according to various philosphies. Those who used the book On Becoming Baby Wise had children sleeping through the night as early as 12 weeks, babies who didn't cry when put down for a nap, didn't need to be read to and truly loved their cribs. We had twin boys and knew that we were going to follow the philospohy of this book. It worked great. We have healthy, happy, well adjusted babies. Parents should realize that every time a baby cries, he or she does not need to be fed. This is just common sense. A lot of what the book expouses is just common sense. I couldn't have made it through the first months of my children's lives without it.
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Summary: It Works!
Review: I had a baby a year ago. Like every other mother-to-be, I was receiving helpful and not so helpful hints from everyone on parenting. But one thing everyone seemed to agree upon was that when the baby came, there would be no more sleep for me for a while. In the beginning, that was very true. Fortunately I had been told by a few friends about the book On Becoming Baby Wise. Each of the women that told me about this books suggested that I buy the book and read it before I even came home with the baby. They were so right. With the help of this book, my son was sleeping through the night in about 8 or 9 weeks. That made him happier and it made my husband and me happier because we were much less sleep deprived. I know people with babies that are a year old and are still not sleeping through the night. That is because they never tried the methods used in On Becoming Baby Wise. At a year old, my baby is thriving. Many of the people I knew said that the methods in this book wouldn't work. I am here to tell you that they do work. Every parent to be should have this with them on the way to the labor room.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Despair
Review: We have friends who used this technique with excellent results - their kids are happy, have good manners and pleasant, sweet kids. We bought the books thinking they would lead us into parenthood. We were in for a rude awakening. Our son cried seemingly all the time and was very fussy. I felt like a failure b/c I couldn't schedule him. Then I started doing things to survive - putting him in bed with me. Nursing on demand with the goal of trying to schedule him(the book seems to promote formula over nursing). When I lightened up and let my son lead me into parenthood - baby and parents did much better. He is now on a sleeping schedule and an eating schedule, but not b/c of the book. The books don't talk enough about loving them and listening to them. I am an orderly person and my son is doing well, but not b/c of the books. I would not recommend them to other parents. If you feel miserable b/c you fall short of this author's lofty expectations, don't despair. You are in good company!
Rating:
Summary: A philosophical debate
Review: We allowed our first child to dictate her schedule the first six months of her life (after all, infants know what they need, right??? WRONG!) The result was lots of late nights trying anything to just get a few hours of precious sleep! As a result, both mom, dad and child were tired and cranky during the day.Many friends told us about Baby Wise, but they sounded a little TOO enthusiastic if you know what I mean... Come on, they just got lucky and had children that were good sleepers! Finally, before having our second child we read the book and were overwhelmed with the common sense of it. How could we have been so dumb with our first child? As an engineer I was very impressed with the data to support the conclusions. Our "baby wise" son (who was on the program from day 1) is eating well and sleeping through the night at 3 weeks (well, not totally through the night because as the book suggests, we wake him to feed him until he's at least 3 months old, but between feedings he sleeps like a baby... excuse the pun). As a result, everyone is much happier, including him. In addition, the flexible schedule really makes life nice for mom during the day. She can plan activities like shopping and housework because she has guided our son onto a shedule... Either people hate it or love it. There are not a whole lot inbetween. The reason is philosophical. Either you agree with the fundamental philosophy of the book or you don't. The fundamental philosophy of the book is clearly stated in the forward. ... My suggestion; read the book and then make a decision...
Rating:
Summary: Totally uncaring and totally unrealistic
Review: ...[Gary Ezzo] discourages breastfeeding and holding your child closely and tries to convince the reader that any parent who devotes time and attention to their child's needs is weak....
Rating:
Summary: This is the handbook to a happy, confident baby
Review: What can I say. I have bought and followed the babywise books since I was pregnant. My son is now 13 months old. During our last visit to the Pediatrician the doctor commented on how smart and confident our boy was. She said our baby already had a strong sense of himself and a lot of self-esteem. The doctor is aware that we have followed the Babywise concepts and she added in all her years as a pediatrician she has seen this over and over again with Babywise children. I've also observed that all the mothers in my mom's group that have utilized Babywise have had the same results...good sleeping habits, good eating habits and good dispositions. The other moms' children the result has not been as consistent. Many a new mom has asked me about babywise concepts. All of them have had success when they are consistant and stick to the Babywise ideals. As to the sleeping...I've learned it's very simple. Babywise teaches the baby to fall asleep on their own. Not like Dr. Ferber that suggests you let the child cry themselves to sleep nor using the bottle or nursing as a crutch to getting your child to go to sleep. It's all very healthy and natural and makes for a happy baby, a happy dad and a happy mom.
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