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Summary: This book saved my sanity and marriage!!!!
Review: I have nothing but praise for this book!! What a breath of fresh air in the midst of confusing parenting advice out there. Up until two weeks ago, my husband and I were trying to follow the "child centered/ on demand" schedule that is so pushed by lactation nurses and others with our first child. She was up all the time, fussy and screaming, I was nursing her what seemed like nonstop, and my husband was sleeping on the couch. My husband and I were at odds at what to do, and completely sleep deprived. We felt like we were in bondage. Then a friend recommended this book, and OH MY GOSH!!! I didn't know parenting could actually be enjoyable! I am an RN and even I didn't know what to do!! This book's common sense approach and flexible scheduling are just awesome. Our daughter is so much happier, and so are we. The critics that call it rigid must be out of their minds, because it is no such thing. We are far from rigid, and now we are a happy family of three. Our 6 week old sleeps 5 hours at night, takes regular naps throughout the day, and is healthy and growing. She is alert and smiling and so content. As an RN, I agree with everything in the book. It is healthy advice in everyway. Thank God for this book!!!
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Summary: Common Sense Parenting
Review: First, Ezzo advocates common sense. He does not suggest that you ignore, neglect, or abuse your child. He, instead, suggests a plan and a pattern to help you better understand the needs of your child.With this understanding, a parent can more effectively meet the needs of their child. He suggests that if a parent feeds the child when he/she is hungry, then the baby will not need to cry for food. Therefore, a parent knows that if the baby is crying while awake, then there must be a reason besides hunger. If a parent allows for adequate sleep, then the child will not cry from being tired. Therefore, if the baby's crying, there must be another reason for it. My seven month old has been THRIVING through a schedule guided by Ezzo's book. We have modified the schedule to meet our daughter's needs (i.e.; at one point it was obvious that she was getting hungry between feedings, so we adjusted her schedule to meet her needs), and Ezzo basically suggests this technique. Overall, if you just read for a regimental schedule, then this book has it, but parents must realize the needs of their children and make adjustments as Ezzo advises. Don't fall into the trap of ignoring this book by claims ... of UNINFORMED people who think that parents are abusing their children. You will provide for your baby's needs before they have to ask for it. I can't think of a better definition of a nurturing parent.
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Summary: Used sensibly & with flexibility, the book helped me!
Review: I *loosely* followed "Babywise" at 6 months with my older son and then at 4 months for my younger son. I did so out of desperation: my older son wouldn't take more than a 10 minute nap during the day. He was breastfed on demand, had no schedule whatsoever, was carried around in a sling all day and never allowed to cry for more than a few seconds...and he wouldn't sleep when you tried to put him down! It just got worse and worse as he got older. I tried for 17 days straight to just put him down in the crib for naps, checking on him every 5 minutes or so...he would scream himself to sleep after 2 hrs and then wake up 15 minutes later, screaming. Within 2 days of putting him on a very flexible feeding schedule per the Babywise book(and not putting him down right after a feed), he was taking short naps without falling apart (which was enough for me at the time and I never followed the plan anymore than that).I still breastfed, carried him in a sling and attended to his cries-I just stopped stuffing his face *every* time he cried and I gently but firmly put him down for naps. The 2nd time around, my baby started off taking naps, but ended up like my 1st son by 4 months and I was exhausted! I 1st fed him every 2 hrs(I was feeding him sometimes more frequently than that!) and started putting him down around the same times everyday for *scheduled* naps.....sure, he screamed, but within 2 days, he started falling asleep without even a whimper! By 4 days, I started feeding every 3 hrs during the day and 2 hrs in the evening (he seemed hungrier). It has only been 1 week, but he slept 7 hrs straight thru the night one time and he naps during the day, usually without more than 5 minutes of crying. He has gone from being fussy and irritable to much calmer and smilier! For me, following the"feed/wake/sleep" pattern does provide a reference point for my son's "typical" behavior. Also,I don't just "plop" him in the bed- I always pat him and kiss him and gently say "it's time to go to sleep" for about a minute (as a bridge for him to get ready to go to sleep). I think the book allows for some flexibility...ask yourself, "is my baby *really* hungry or is he tired?" and I think that is one of the keys to this book. If your baby is older than one month and truly tired, if you keep feeding him every 30 minutes and he keeps fussing, screaming, or falling asleep at the breast, maybe he's sleepy!!!
I think some babies really need a schedule and it does help them get organized and synchronized....At least for me, loosely following the book has made a difference and has allowed me to get some more sleep and have a bit of personal time (which makes me a happier, more patient mommy!).
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Summary: This Book Saved My Sanity!
Review: This book was recommended to me by 2 different friends. I read the book before my TWINS arrived and finally pursuaded my husband to read it when they were about 2 weeks old. We started implementing Babywise when they were 3 weeks old and experienced an IMMEDIATE sleep improvement. It was absolutely AMAZING! We were sold on the book's theories right then and there. Some of our immediate family were somewhat skeptical, but they became converts after a very short time. They were astounded when they'd visit and we'd simply lay our children down in their cribs when it was nap time or bed time and they'd happily go to sleep on their own without a single cry. They were equally surprised when they would wake up in a fantastic mood (not crying) and ready to play. You may think that it was just the baby's personality -- but both of them? (boy/girl twins, not identical twins)? This book REALLY works. I recommend it to all my friends!
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Summary: This book plus a little common sense= good baby
Review: My husband and I read this book together- we couldn't put it down. It helped us put in to words our own beliefs and the practices we wanted to adopt as our own once we had our baby. Our baby is now 5 months old. She's been sleeping through the night since she was 2 months old. Everyone comments on what a well behaved baby she is. At all of her pediatric check ups she is in the 95 percentile of kids her age for weight. Some people say the methods recommended in this book are 'unhealthy'??? My daughter is proof that that is simply untrue. Like some of the other reviews have said, if you follow his advice as guidelines and use your own common sense this method really works. I believe that because if this book our daughter is a much happier baby and we are much better parents also. You have to be silly to let your baby run the schedule in the house. They need limits and guidelines from the get-go....this helps them learn trust- that you will take care of their needs.
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Summary: On becoming Baby Wise - baby wise 1
Review: This is the best baby book that I have read. As a first time parent, I had no idea what I was doing and this book brought me thru all of the tough steps - napping, feeding, sleeping. At 8 1/2 weeks old, our son started sleeping thru the night thanks to this book and the structure it brought to all of us!!! I would have gone crazy without this book!!! It is a must for all new parents and for some parents down the road who are struggling with guides and rules and structure and schedules. I can not praise this book enought!!!
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Summary: Enabling the narcissist...
Review: Here's the problem with BabyWise: babies are individual beings. They have different personalities and different needs. They are not little pieces of machinery who need to be programmed to sleep for the convenience of their parents. And they are not little works of "original sin" who need to be taught a lesson. When a baby cries, it is for a reason. This is their way of telling you that they need something, not some sinister attempt to manipulate you. Actually, BabyWise is a white-washed version of Ezzo's original program. In the original program, he compared letting a baby scream in its crib to God's decision to let Jesus cry out on the cross without intervening. He explains how glad he is that God didn't respond to Jesus' cries and seems to imply that God was providing parents a model for how to treat their children. In my humble opinion, this is sick. A baby may scream for two hours and then go to sleep, but in the process they have gotten a very clear message from their new world: "Your needs are unimportant, so you just better give up." So after their throats are soar, their noses are stuffed up and they're physically exhausted, they do give up and this becomes a permanent imprint on their little minds. Is that really the message we want our children to take with them for the rest of their life? And you know what? For every well-meaning parent that Ezzo draws into this "program", there are a load more who are really glad that they now have "permission" to just "let 'em scream." After all, the point is to have a "parent-centric" family where children "fit in" and aren't too much of a bother, right?
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Summary: be careful, and take with a grain of salt...
Review: I was given this book by someone who believed in it, and have heard from several others that this is the way to go. I even thought it was great myself. I certainly want my baby to sleep through the night, in her own bed, and be on a perfect predictable schedule. HOWEVER, you must be flexible with babies. There is so much more going on. This book made me feel guilty for doing what I felt was right at the time (comforting my baby, rocking her to sleep, etc.) and made me feel obligated to stay on a schedule regardless of the needs of my baby. When you're breastfeeding, sometimes you need to feed every hour or two during growth spurts, for example - otherwise, your milk supply will not increase as needed, and you and your baby will both be unhappy. I couldn't find where the book addressed that issue. Still, the idea of setting up a routine is a good one, and the child *shouldn't* be the center of your universe - these are ideals you should strive for... But the author is entirely too opinionated (and adamant!) on the subject, leading new inexperienced parents to feel guilty for following their instincts. Also, he mentions several strategies which are not explained, such as putting your baby down for a nap. The way this is discussed in the book, you should just be able to walk a fully awake baby into his room, plop them in the crib and go on about your business. According to Ezzo, the baby will cry himself to sleep within minutes. HA HA HA. I tried this a number of times, even using the Ferber method of checking in every 15 minutes or so. 2 hours later, I ended up giving in and feeding my daughter. Some babies just don't take to this as well as others, I guess. So, Ezzo - just how do you get the baby to that point??? You left that very important detail out of the book! You know, the transition from womb to world is just a little to harsh to be imposing all these strict ideals so early on. Be flexible, and follow your instinct. Use this book as a guide, but not as a bible!
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Summary: Loved it!
Review: I have twin girls and someone suggested reading this while still pregnant....I did and thought there's some interesting ideas. Then I joined a group called mothers of multiples....they suggested I read it and said when you have twins, without a schedule, you will go crazy and not have any sort of a life. Use the book, follow it, always know there are exceptions to any rule, use your gut instincts and you, too, will have well adjusted, happy, healthy babies! My babies slept through the night at around 11 weeks, they are extremely healthy, very happy and a joy to be around. I followed the main jist of the what the book was telling me and made adjustments here and there....don't be so silly as to think this is the bible and follow it to the letter - it's only a guideline and every baby is different. Open yourself to new possibilities and you'll be amazed at what you'll find!
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Summary: Dangerous,AAP does not approve his methods...
Review: I have read several of his books, including this one so that I could properly comment. The books are dangerous, misguided, misleading and you would think this man does not like children. His scheduling and sleeping recommendations have caused Failure to Thrive Syndrome in several infants, some of them requiring hospitalization, please do a search on Ezzo and read what has been said, his original publisher dropped him because they ahve found that his claims can not be proven and directly oppose the American Academy od Pediatrics and the AMA. Please refer to DR Sears series of books instead.
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