Rating: 
Summary: Beware the wolf in sheep's clothing
Review: I urge everyone to search the internet for more information on Mr. Ezzo and his credentials, the background and history of this book, and the reaction of medical and child care professionals to it. I've found compelling criticisms published by Dr. C. Everett Koop and many other prominent doctors across the country. Do your research first, then decide.
Rating:
Summary: Back to the Dark Ages
Review: Just when it looked as though we might be getting somewhere... Over the last twenty-odd years, an undercurrent of parenting ideas and practices has begun to make its presence felt in the West. I refer to, among others, Continuum Concept, Taking Children Seriously, and much of what comes under the umbrella of Attachment Parenting. The practices have in common the notion that young children, and above all babies, know, better that any parenting manual, precisely what it is that they need in order to develop in the optimum fashion. The idea is that by listening (literally or figuratively) to our children, and also to our instincts, while believing, as a guiding principle, that Nature really does know best, we can allow our children to achieve close to their potential fill of happiness and well-adjustedness. Then...along comes a book like this one to return us to the Dark Ages, so to speak. Gary Ezzo's parenting techniques are not new; in fact, they are depressingly familiar. It is a soulless, simplistic, repressive approach to the awesome task of caring for babies and young children which plays/preys on the understandable desire of most new parents to reintroduce a little order (and sleep) into their lives. As for the ideas themselves, by and large they are opinions and assertions, backed up by little in the way of evidence based on either research or well-documented observation. Full of half-truths and disingenuousness. Sad...above all for the defenceless victims of "Ezzoism".
Rating: 
Summary: If this is abuse, then I must be horrid!
Review: In reading other reviews of this book, I am not very suprised that the "psychologists" are touting the Ezzo's as abusive. I read the first babywise book (I still refer to it), and no where in the literature is there any hint of abuse. I think I have finally found out where the selfish, annoying people are made. They must reside in the homes of those parents who let the kids run the show. My husband and I are constantly being told what a happy, giggly baby we have. I have to believe that some of that disposition comes from the routine that he has been placed on. He slept through the night at 9 weeks. He is 5 months old now, but to the naysayers dismay, he is a strapping 20 lbs. and 28 inches! Please do not let negative reviews of this book discourage you from at least reading what the concepts involve. As always use COMMON SENSE in deciding what will and will not work for you and your family. God will guide you in the proper way to rear your child-without this book. He wrote His own, you know.
Rating: 
Summary: Care for your baby while maintaining sanity
Review: People interested in the common sense approach to parenting will love this book. The basic premise: You, as a parent, know how to meet your baby's needs best; you dictate the schedules. Once you realize this principle, taking care of your new creation becomes easy.We read the book before our baby was born so were prepared for the challange ahead. We did not start on the process discussed in the book until just after 6 weeks, as the book recomends. Once started, by the 8th week our beautiful boy was skipping the 3am feeding, and after the 10th he was skipping the 12am feeding thus sleeping from 9pm to 6 am. After 12 weeks he was sleeping from 8pm to 7:30am. It was difficult to let him cry for 15-30 min. at a time. But this only lasted for one to two nights at most with our boy. After that he slept fine. There was NO danger at all to him or his health, as some reviewers have stated. He was born 9lbs 15oz, we have now followed this plan for 1 year and he has been in the 95-105% in weight and size, since birth. Like ALL parenting books on the market I have read, this one is also very opinionated (if you do not do this then your child will somehow not function in society). As a discerning parent you have to take all advise with a grain of salt and apply what works and does not work, including mine. As a foundation, this plan works, our sanity and nights of peace are proof.
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Summary: This book was a lifesaver!
Review: I highly recommend this book! Before reading it my baby was waking up several times a night and not napping during the day. I was totally exhausted and at my wits end. This book changed all of that. At 7 weeks of age my breastfed daughter was sleeping 6-8 hours a night and taking 3 naps a day. By 3 months she was sleeping 10-12 hours a night! The philosophies taught in this book really work and completely changed our life. My baby is very happy and well adjusted. This book will be my standard gift for any future baby showers I attend.
Rating:
Summary: Should babies this young sleep through the night?
Review: After reading this book, I am a little concerned about its message. I am worried that parents might blindly accept its "lessons" and neglect the needs of their children. It is not easy with such young babies to interperet their cries to see if they are hungry, cold, in pain, tired, wet or dirty. Hunger is not the only reason they cry. I am concerned that people are nowadays not willing to be disrupted by their children. Have we forgotten that young babies ARE an interruprion to our ADULT routine? They need feeding (and sometimes at night), especially at the age this book is focusing on. They also need to know their parent is there for them at such a young age. They have no understanding of an adult who wants a full nights sleep, they have such primal needs, and ones that aren't hard to deal with either. I think this sort of parenting approach is not really appropriate for newborn babies. I realise some people disagree, but think readers should consider WHY they are trying to make their baby sleep through. Is it for the baby, or perhaps a slighly more selfish reason.
Rating:
Summary: A great guideline not a "bible".
Review: I had been a successful breastfeeding mom for 10 months of a baby boy. I read Gary Ezzo's book and although there are points I don't agree with, this book was an AWESOME base for setting up a good schedule. I weened my son at one year and that is where I saw this book really work. I am not sure I could have done it while breastfeeding but I will try next time. I don't agree with letting a child cry when they may be hungry. However, feeding when you haven't looked for another cause of a problem, doesn't work. I suggest reading this book and as with any advice, take what you can to succeed. Good Luck.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent GUIDE, not a Bible
Review: This is an excellent guide for mothers that need structure in their own lives. My greatest fear while I was pregnant was sleep deprivation. The basic principle of this book, feed your child on a schedule so they will organize their days and nights, worked for us. Our little girl is breast fed and growing, and she slept through the night at 7 weeks. Like any advice book, use your brain to evaluate and adapt what works for you as a parent.
Rating:
Summary: 4 under 4
Review: I would just like to say from a mother with four kids under four years of age, two boys and two girls I would be in a mental hospital from sleep deprivation if I had not followed these guidelines! To all the reviewers of "failure to thrive"comments....All of my children have been above the 90th percentile in weight through the age of one and continue to thrive. I recommend this book to any person who wants their children to not only be a joy to their own family but a joy to people around them. If you are willing to endure the first couple of weeks of training yourself to the needs of your child and recognizing the fact that this is all common sense parenting that in the last generation we lost, this is for you. You will be in control of how to recognize what your baby needs and not drifting in the wind and not knowing what to do.
Rating:
Summary: Helpful Book
Review: My 12-month old daughter had very bad sleep habits (fostered by me nursing her at any cry). I was tired and cranky; so was she. This book was a great help, and although I have read a few very negative reviews, I saw nothing in the book objectionable. The book recommends following (and learning to follow) your baby's cues. There was some crying for a few nights, but now a few weeks later, we are all sleeping through the night and much happier. We are expecting another baby, and I plan to use this book as a reference.
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