Rating: 
Summary: Take the principles that work for you.
Review: This book has some extremely helpful information. As a free thinking, responsible parent, I took the information and tips that applied to my baby. I never considered following everything to the letter. After molding the methods to my situation, I found great success
Rating: 
Summary: Do you want a well "Trained" pet/baby or a healthy happy chi
Review: I read these reviews and all the pro Ezzo views seem to be so happy that they have "well behaved children" and they are sure all the "little monsters" they see are a result of lax parenting? WAKE UP PEOPLE! As a psychologist I can tell you that it is RIGID parenting that leads to sociopathic, "rebellious" behavior in teens and young adults. Those hippie parents you are maligning have the better adjusted kids for overall emotional IQ. They behave because they WANT to not because they are "trained" to. Training is for PETS - not babies.My children are raised via common sense, love, and if anything, Dr. Sears. They are both extremely pleasant children who respect the rights of others. Granted I don't get the "my baby knows his hands belong in his lap during feeding" but then I guess that's because I encouraged my children to explore their own eating abilities - but if you want to spoon feed your kids forever perhaps the hands in lap would work well for you. Ezzo style parenting appeals to those who want A) an "Accessory" to be trained to fit into what they already planned for their adult wants and needs and B) a pet/child that reflects on them. Note the prevalance of concern with what OTHER people think of their children over what their CHILDREN want/think. As for "and my baby is happy being babywise!" factually most ABUSED children, even those severely so, claim to love and revere their abusive parents. Claiming your toddler is oh-so "happy" being raised babywise is facetious. They would likely be just as happy being loved and parented anyway by you - they love you as their parents, they trust you to do what is best for them. Babywise is not what is best for THEM longterm, although for a certain adult-oriented, child as accessory/reflection of self parent it may be best for the adult. Numerous experts, various medical establishments (Amer. Acad Pediatrics, AMA) all DECRY EZZO AS DANGEROUS! What, other than convenience, can possibly bely this point and make people think this is fabulous?
Rating:
Summary: There are better ways than this!
Review: Please don't follow the advice in this book. You can teach your baby to sleep through the night (once she is no longer hungry at night), to have a routine, and to learn what's right and wrong - simply by giving a lot of love and comfort. Your baby loves you, and loves predictability. There are 2 ways to teach her what to do, one by breaking her spirits from an early age (the Ezzo way) or by giving her confidence. Please choose the latter! I have a 1-year old baby who sleeps all night, is a great pleasure to be with, trusts me and the people around her, is thriving and full of life. Equally, we as her parents are happy. Please don't think you have to go through the Ezzo routine to achieve this.
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Summary: Do not be misled!
Review: It is misleading to review this book solely as a book providing guidelines on how to get your child to sleep through the night.Ezzo touches on almost every aspect of child development even though he is unqualified to do so. Skim through the book yourself before buying to read about his disrespectful child rearing methods. If you believe that love and parental instinct come first, drop this book because Ezzo does not believe in parent-infant bonding.
Rating: 
Summary: Baby Wise is the way to go
Review: I started my son on the Baby Wise program when he was 5 wks old and by 7 wks he was sleeping through the night. He takes naps like clockwork and my family is amazed by him. They choose to believe he was just born to be a good baby. I had to struggle with inlaws who didn't understand why I didn't feed him every time he wimpered, but I say to mothers out there - Be strong..this is your baby and you know him better than anyone, and Baby Wise helps take a lot of guess work out of the process. I have bent the rules on occasion and rocked my baby to sleep - you just have to use your own good judgment and common sense, but the basic principle of scheduling feeding, wake time, nap time is what is going to make the difference between a good baby and a potential problem child.
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Summary: another wise title for this book:how to raise your pet
Review: I could put my finger on any line or page of this book and tell you why Gary Ezzo's 'principles' do not make sense. His methods are bizarre and without any scientific basis, no wonder prominent child experts are harshly criticizing his books. How about this --at 2 1/2 if your child is not toilet trained or has an 'accident', you must hold the child 'accountable' and she must clean up herself including the soiled clothes! Read up on even more ridiculous methods as in teaching your child sign language since according to the Ezzos, at 9 months, your child has only 'some mental ability to communicate' or 'some verbal ability to ommunicate.' It just goes on and on. Any parent who considers this book as a great reference will seriously regret it later on. There is an overwhelming lack of empathy or respect for the child here--you'd think you were reading a manual on how to raise a dog.
Rating:
Summary: on second thought ... it's GREAT!
Review: Our first reaction at some of the suggested techniques for becoming "baby wise" was one of disbelief. However, after trying all of the methods of a well known breastfeeding support group, we turned in desperation to the Ezzos. The principles within this book have changed our lives and the life of our baby. We are now happier and enjoy parenting so much! We continuously get compliments on how well behaved and happy our 17 month old son is. THANK YOU EZZOS!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: These principles work!
Review: We have read the Babywise I and II books as well as the book, The Smart Parent, and have implemented these principles in our home. We have been through the course, Growing Kids God's Way, and these programs have revolutionized our home. Our marriage is back in first-place, as opposed to a child-centered-home, and everyone is learning to be a "joy and a blessing to others." We like the emphasis on the "preciousness of others" taught in this curricula and recommend it highly. Children need to know the biblical reasons behind what they are taught. We have seen the obedience rules work in our home and in others, and these children are so pleasant to be around.(Obey right away -- all the way -- and with a happy spirit.) Our 10-month-old has been sleeping 11-12 hours nightly since age 8-weeks and goes down in his crib without complaint. He is currently learning the sign-language suggested in BW II. This is good stuff! It works.
Rating:
Summary: another book for my "worst parenting books" list
Review: Ezzo is at it again with advice that I wouldn't apply to my dog, let alone my baby. This book advocates spanking and other harsh punishments for a baby who merely crawls off a blanket placed on the floor for "blanket time" playing. I could go on and on about the insanity of this advice.... I defer instead to gentler books by Dr. William Sears and Marths Sears R.N., such as "The Baby Book" and "The Discipline Book". If you still think you'd be interested in this book I urge you to browse a copy before spending the money, so you can decide for yourself what you think.
Rating:
Summary: "As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you."
Review: Isaiah 66:13 I find several serious dangers in this book. One of which is breastfeeding. As a breastfeeding mother and a health care provider, night breastfeeding is so important to a young newborn. A newborns stomach is much smaller than ours and needs frequent feedings to allow for proper nourishment, growth and development. Ridgid scheduled feedings may times cause growth retardation, emotional harm, failure to thrive(which many of "Ezzo's Babies" have been diagnosed with!) and countless other problems. Rigid scheduled feedings also affect the breastfeeding mother (engorgement, infections of the breast etc..) Anyone who claims this is good for the mother or baby is seriously medically mistaken. I could list you countless consequences that this "program" causes to the breastfeeding mother and child. As far as I am concerned this is not PRO-breastfeeding. Another concept I am concerned with is the "crying it out". How can you seriously think a 6 week old baby is manipulating you to hold him or feed him. It is impossible to love a child too much. Rocking, holding, touching, singing, contact with a baby is vital to thrive. Read the research and statistics on babies that are left in their beds to "cry it out", left untouched, not spoken to, not fed when they need food. You will find that these children have higher rates of SIDS, malnutrition and failure to thrive and I could go on and on. BEWARE of "programs" that are an all-inclusive, quick-fix, "IF you aren't doing it this way--IT is not God's way" As a mother--When my newborn cries, I feel it in my deepest parts. I feel an overwhelming motherly compassion. I know that when I cry out to my God, HE answers me everytime. Sometimes it is Yes, NO or wait---but He answers. Just think about this--I know I need love as a person. I like to be cuddled and held by my husband....I like sleeping next to my husband!! When I am hungry---I eat. I don't look at my watch and say to myself, "No, you can't eat now, it is not time!" (especially breastfeeding--you need to eat often to supply vital nutrients) A newborn needs lots of care and it is selfish of the parents to deny him that. After All, that baby was in you for 9 mo feeling your constant care,touch, movement, closeness & comfort. No wonder why children die of failure to thrive from parents who abandon them by ignoring the only means of communication that baby has. I beg you mothers to follow your heart and not some man who claims this is "God's Way". YOUR BABY NEEDS YOU!
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