Rating: 
Summary: BTDT
Review: I am a mother of 5. I used these methods with my first two babies, and had nothing but glowing reports about the success of our methods. I was excessively self-congratulatory about my superior mothering wisdom (but of course, feigned humility among those other mothers who were working so much harder than me--the poor dears).By the time I was pregnant with my third, I realized something disturbing about myself. I had no compassion for my own children. I had listened to so much crying and done so much ignoring of my children's needs (because that is what this book requires for success) that I felt NOTHING when my children cried (even if they were injured). I had calloused my heart to their cries. Yes, my first two babies slept through the night at an early age. Yes, they seemed easy going and happy during the day. I was even able to breastfeed them. But at what price? When I realized how these methods and ideas had hardened my mother's heart I was grieved. With my third child I discovered sleeptight and Dr. Jeffrey Hull. His methods and ideas are much more compassionate and reasonable. These ideas helped my parent my third baby and she too slept well through the night without "crying it out." Most of all, though, I learned that good mothering is a whole lot of hard work. It requires a great deal of sacrifice and being sensitive to a babies needs. There are no easy formulas.
Rating:
Summary: DANGER! Ask your Dr. before trying this method!
Review: Top pediatricians and leading children's magazines have come out strongly against this book and the Babywise system has sent several babies to the hospital. Some of the messages and beliefs are appealing, and the schedules themselves seem fine. Having a parent centered household is a value I share and getting my kids on schedules was very helpful for all of us. Following this method strictly can be a dangerous way to achieve those goals, though, so please consult your pediatrician before rigidly applying this system. The main problem with the system is that it teaches parents to ignore their baby's cries for hunger. If you let a hungry baby cry too long she can get so upset that she can't eat when the clock says it is time. And it doesn't take very long for an infant to become dehydrated. Some children can go on feeding schedules like these just fine. Both of my children had reflux, though, which caused them to need very frequent small feedings. By the time they were six months old and medicated I could gradually move them onto a feeding and sleeping schedule (fairly similar to a Babywise one) just fine with no crying. There can be other physical reasons why children need more frequent or less regular feedings and some of those things (like growth spurts) can change over time. If you are breast feeding it is much more important that you respond with some flexibility to your infant's cues to maintain your milk supply. Secondly, research has shown that babies who are less than 5-6 months old are unable to learn to put themselves to sleep. So while my friend (who followed this book) found her baby did go to sleep after a half hour of crying, he ALWAYS cried at least a half hour and it never decreased. She was pleased with the schedule and luckily he was an adaptible and not very sensitive kid so he wasn't hurt. Some children respond very poorly to this treatment. After about 6 months many babies can learn to put themselves to sleep and the crying then diminishes rapidly. If your baby's crying at bedtime doesn't diminish within a couple days she either isn't ready or isn't able to learn from crying herself sleep. Also, small babies are just not smart enough yet to be manipulative--they just ask for what they need. So you should not feel that responding to a crying infant will lead to a spoiled teenager. If you read this book please discuss it with your pediatrician before applying the methods strictly. Working towards a schedule can be very helpful for the whole family. But always apply your common sense and listen closely to your baby.
Rating: 
Summary: On Becoming Baby Wise
Review: This book is extremely valuable in learning how to know what your baby needs and when. It is by far the best information on how to train your child to sleep through the night. Some people argue that it is too rigid or strict. I find these people are not truly reading the "guidelines" Gary Ezzo presents, but rather are legalistic in their approach to this method. Gary Ezzo advocates using your "common sense" and not be so rigid that you follow the schedule to the minute! This method offers a lot of freedom to "scheduling" your child and encourages you to use your common sense! I would not, however, recommend this for a parent who cannot follow a schedule or has to be "on the run" all the time or a parent who is not a "stay at home parent". These parents will not succeed with the method and unfortunately will achieve their goal and have a cranky unhappy child!
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Summary: Stops short of child abuse for highly sensitive babies!
Review: I have read and reread this book several times. And it does have some good advice, but in practice, for some babies, it stops short child abuse. Not all babies are alike, more sensitive or tempermental babies should NOT be forced onto this program! I put my 7 week old on this program for 24 hours, I followed it to the letter. It resulted in a baby that ate half of her normal intake and a baby that was so traumatized that she became jumpy and frightened at the slightest of sounds made. Be an informed parent! If you have any reservations about this program, DO NOT use it! For those that have highly sensitive babies, I recommend that you read and use the techniques in "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weisbluth, MD. The methods taught in this book allow the child to set it's own schedule naturally, rather than force one on him or her. And the transition is much easier on both the baby and the parent!
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Summary: Alternative to demand feeding
Review: This is the best book about babies that I have ever read; it gives practical ideas about your baby's feeding, playing and sleeping based on a parent centred rather than child centred approach. My first baby was sleeping through the night (with no night feeds!)at fourteen weeks and my second at two weeks. If sleep is a priority then BUY THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Book!
Review: Apparently some of the others who have not rated this book well have not actually read it in its entirety! This was the most wonderful tool I had as a new mother and now being pregnant with my second I will use it again. It in no way "starves" your child, on the contrary! It puts your infant on a feeding schedule...how smart! Talk about keeping your baby's metabolism on track! And as for sleep....hello....babies are supposed to sleep alot! My son was sleeping through the night at 5 1/2 weeks - 8 hours....by 8 weeks he was sleeping 11-12 hours...this is what you want your baby to do! I encourage every new mother AND father to read this and use it!
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Summary: How to Know Exactly WHY They are Crying!
Review: Babywise has helped my baby be a happier, more content baby. Babies need consistency, as any parent knows, and the routines suggested in Babywise provide that consistency. My baby is drinking as much as the AAP recommends for her weight and height, and has been on a 4-feedings/day schedule since just less than 3 months old. She only dehydrates when she is sick, and at that time, we alter her routine to make sure she is getting enough nutrients and liquids to get through the stuffy nose that makes nursing so difficult. I especially approved of Babywise's focus on nursing. It is true that your baby can be sleeping through the night by 10 weeks, even on breast-milk! The new revised version of this book is very thorough in explaining exactly what things you must be firm on and what things can vary a little. Overall, the only thing I found hard to get through was the great amount of philosophy in the chapters. But, even though I didn't agree with every single thing in the book, I found the main idea to be of great worth. Most importantly, that the authors urge the reader to get to know their baby (as each baby is unique): know their cries and what they need at a given situation. When your baby is on a schedule, you are able to know why they are crying at a given time because you know when it is time to eat, when they are most likely tired, and when they are crying out of the ordinary for reasons such as sickness or teething. I would urge anyone who cares about the well-being of their baby, as well as their own needs to buy this book, study it, and apply it.
Rating:
Summary: Learn about the authors before you accept their preaching
Review: The goal of Babywise is to force into being children who are outwardly compliant, sleep a lot, and don't interfere with their parents' lives, rather than teaching parents how to develop happy, healthy, contented, intelligent babies. Who in their right mind wouldn't want a happy, healthy, contented, intelligent baby and child?
Rating:
Summary: Frightening book
Review: I totally agree with the nurse and the others who were disturbed by this book. I too am a nurse, with several years of pediatric experience. I currently work in a program that helps first-time-mothers learn parenting skills, which includes bonding with and "listening to" their babies. This book completely goes against everything we have learned, and everything we teach. If you read this book, please keep an open mind! Remember, newborns cannot go for long periods without eating. Their blood sugar can drop, and they may become unable to awaken. Please use caution!
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT Book with GOOD Advice
Review: I wish we would've read this book sooner when we had our first son. He was a "snacker" and wasn't latching on well, but we hadn't heard this from anyone before - not doctors, nurses or even some of the so-called lactation experts in the area. The nurses in the hospital were absolutely useless in fact. Our daughter is now 13 days old, gaining weight beautifully, sleeps a 5-6 hour stretch during the night already (and DOESN'T wake up crying). My mom has been a nurse for 35 years, but couldn't really provide any help or advice since she didn't breast-feed any of my brothers or sisters. Whether you breast or bottle feed, the information presented in this book seems well explained and backed by the experience of many parents.
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