Rating: 
Summary: You should be giving credit to the babies, not to this book!
Review: This book suggests that you can safely impose a schedule upon your baby. So, for those readers whose babies "go with the flow", the advice seems perfectly fine. However, I disagree that you can generalize this sort of approach. Sure, there are babies out there who can function, even thrive, on scheduled feedings. There are babies who can sleep through the night at an early age. There are babies who are adaptable and cheerful. These, I believe, are each baby's inborn abilities and personality traits, NOT something each baby has learned from some method being imposed, however "modified to suit the parents' gut feelings". After three kids, each of whom had different feeding, sleeping and comforting needs, and each of whom just naturally fell into some sort of agreeable schedule that suited their own personality (and didn't always suit mine!), I feel confident in saying that people who believe the advice in this book is responsible for their children's thriving and easy-going approach to life are kidding themselves. These parents are purely lucky, not clever. And I agree completely with the serious concern that parents, especially new ones, might risk their baby's physical and emotional health by following this advice with a child to whom it is not suited. In the end, it feels like an excuse for condoning the methods of parents who aren't willing to put in the time and effort in meeting their child's needs (this from someone who has had two highly needy babies and one "easy, schedulable" baby.) Of course you're going to be tired and frustrated in those early (and maybe not-so-early) weeks. That's part of parenthood. But as adults, we hopefully can see that the day-to-day difficulties are more than outweighed by the joy and satisfaction of raising a child, meeting their needs as THEY convey them to US, not vice versa. Please just listen to your baby, not the advice in this book. All it is giving you is permission to be less of a parent than you ought to be.
Rating:
Summary: Cruel, "training" of infants
Review: I don't know how people can think that making their 8 week old baby "wail" to be comforted is something to be proud of. We're talking about babies here, not some thing to control and make fit into your comfortable life. Listen to your hearts as parents, not some crackpot's book. Tend to your children, let them build trust in you that you'll be there for them. A routine is important but a militant schedule is not. Please don't buy this book. Your children will thank you.
Rating: 
Summary: Practical Parenting
Review: Of my three children, I was babywise for two of them. What an difference this has made in my life!! I reccommend this book to anyone who asks why it is that my children are so cheerful and sleep through the night, and why I am obviously so well-rested for a mom who has three little ones. Don't listen to those who think this book offers "abusive" techniques, this book has reasonable, sound advice for those who are interested in loving parenthood. Those who see this as some sort of anti-parenting may need to find a sport, or some other way to express their anxiety and their need to defend their version of parenting. Buy the book, enjoy your children.
Rating: 
Summary: A sensible approach that really works. Try it.
Review: It's simple, it's sensible, it works. If you are ready to have your child sleep throught the night, this is the book for you. We did what was recommended and our son has been sleeping through the night since he was eight weeks old. Be prepared to listen to some wailing. Be prepared to be tougher than you think you can be. You and your child will be happy that you hung in there.
Rating:
Summary: Happy parents make better parents!
Review: One thing for all new Mom's (feeling overwhelmed) need to remember is that you will know your Baby better than anyone else. That notion, coupled with common-sense and this guideline for establishing a schedule with your baby will make for an excellent experience, that you will benefit for years to come. I read the book twice, pulled tactics that I wanted to employ, used common-sense and have a happy, healthy 20 month old who is in the 150th percentile, sleeps through the night (since 8 weeks) and thrives on his schedule. He travels well, is always happy, and acclamates well if I need to make changes to his routine based on life's hectic demands. I am continually told that we are very lucky to have such an "easy" baby. I know that luck had very little to do with it!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book w/practical guidelines for first-time parents
Review: I've read much of the criticism of this book and find it hard to believe there are parents out there who don't know how to utilize their common sense. My husband and I took the class Preparation for Parenting by Ezzo and are amazed at our child. We took what we wanted out of the book, left what we didn't agree with and have a very healthy 5 month old baby boy who is content in his surroundings, slept through the night at 8 1/2 weeks and is in the 90th percentile for height and weight. We used our common sense when it came to our baby's needs and he craves the routine that we give him. He is content with family members, does well in the church nursery and rarely cries (unless he is tired or hungry). This is the only book I read that gave me any sense of direction in how and when to feed my baby that didn't leave me exhausted or him irritable. We went on vacation for 11 days and he continued his routine with no problems. Please read this book and use the common sense God gave you. My baby has done everything early and I can't wait to watch him grow into a secure, confident child who knows his parents dearly love him.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent guide for parents!
Review: I found this book to be one of the best books on parenting around. It will be the only one I reread for subsequent children. I have read the criticisms of this book and I have to say, my son has been sleeping through the night since 5 weeks... he is now 19 months old and is thriving and happy. Parents need to tailor the book's recommendations to their own lifestyles and beleifs (about parenting). If you have the slightest bit of common sense, you and your child can benefit from this book. I have given it to all of my friends who are expecting and most of them agree. I was also surprised at the comments that the author was a religious zealot, as I found no such evidence in the text.
Rating:
Summary: Please don't do this to your baby!
Review: This is a horrible book. It is deeply saddening that some parents do such terrible things to their babies. If you are considering using this book's suggestion, please read "The Baby Book" or "Nighttime Parenting" first. Cruelty towards helpless babies is just plain abuse.
Rating:
Summary: CAUTION!: Contains medically inaccurate advice
Review: Be extremeley careful when following the advice in this book. Do not, follow the advice blindly - research the controversial information on the material presented and find that most all professionals (from Dr.'s to Lactation Consultants) strongly disagree with it. This book was written based off a Christian Parenting Class taught by the Ezzo's, yet, as a Christian myself, I am dumbfounded as to the extent of CHRISTIAN organizations who do not support the material. Is following their advice worth breaking your child's will? Or, worse, treating their only means of communication as a manipulation tool - how sad! Trust me. IT IS NOT WORTH IT! My husband and I had a healthy baby boy. However, after following their guidelines (not ridgidly, mind you) he became Failure To Thrive to the extent that he now has to be fed via a feeding tube. Doctors are convinced that this parenting method is what contributed to his current condition. Occupational Therapists that we now see are astounded to learn of the methods they teach, and all are in agreement that the feeding schedules, high chair manners, etc. are some of the WORST things you can do with a child. Others may say, "it worked for us," but, once again, at what cost? Have you done damage that can't even be seen yet? Love your baby, don't just rule over it. We are in touch with professionals and parents nationwide who attribute the Ezzo's material with Failure to Thrive children. DO NOT BE ONE OF THEM. At the very least, get a well-rounded view of parenting by reading other books too. However, you are safest to disregard this one altogether. For suggestions, try books by Dr. Sears or James Dobson.
Rating:
Summary: Dangerous and causing health problems
Review: My peditrician has seen an increase in health problems caused by this book, namely dehydration and failure to thrive. Below are the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics which are completely counter to this philosophy. The physical effects do not take into account the profound emotional damage caused by infants who are being taught that their needs will not be met by their parents as they cry from hunger during growth spurts. CHICAGO - Recent media reports have focused on the issue of whether scheduled feedings or demand feedings are best for babies. In response to these reports, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reaffirms it's stance that the best feeding schedules are ones babies design themselves. Scheduled feedings designed by parents may put babies at risk for poor weight gain and dehydration. The AAP has always advocated breastfeeding as the optimal form of nutrition for infants, and in December 1997, the AAP issued its latest recommendations about breastfeeding infants. The policy statement says, "Newborns should be nursed whenever they show signs of hunger, such as increased alertness or activity, mouthing, or rooting. Crying is a late indicator of hunger. Newborns should be nursed approximately eight to 12 times every 24 hours until satiety ... In the early weeks after birth, nondemanding babies should be aroused to feed if 4 hours have elapsed since the last nuring."
|
