On Becoming Baby Wise

Rating:
Summary: The truth about babywise
Review: As a first time parent, I spent many hours preparing for the birth of our first baby. Unfortunately, it wasn't until my baby was a couple of weeks old that I starting reading Babywise (a gift from a family member with 5 children). I can not believe that the people who have rated this book a 1 have ever read this book, or applied it's principles. Parent directed feeding is the most sane way to raise your baby. My baby was "demand fed" for the first two weeks of his life. I dutifully recorded each of his feedings (I breastfed, by the way). I reacted and responded to each whimper only to discover that I was not learning about my baby and the signs that he was hungry, or tired, or lonely, etc...the demand fed baby, as I quickly learned, is no way to raise a child. He was fed 12-14 times a day, and mommy and baby weren't learning much about each other...I thought I was doing the right thing. Then I read Babywise and immediately incorporated the ideas and philosophy into his day. I learned that PDF babies (Parent directed Feeding babies vs. Demand Fed Babies) are much happier and well adjusted and do indeed sleep through the night (As my baby has been doing happily since 7weeks old). Now, I have a happy, and loving little 3 month old who people say all the time"your so lucky" to have such a sweet easy going and happy baby. Demand feeding is not a loving way to raise a child. I know that is not politically correct, but I have experience with demand feeding vs. PDF, unlike the people who commented negatively on Babywise. At 3 months, my son eats 6 times a day, and is on a 4 hr. flexible schedule. "Schedule" is not a bad word for babies. It is beautiful. I know when he is hungry, lonely, wet, sad...I am not immediately assuming he must be hungry and then breastfeeding. And no, it did not affect my milk supply. This book is a must for every parent.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Advice - When Used in Context
Review: My husand and I both read Baby Wise while pregnant with our twins, who were born 5 weeks early. While they were in the hospital in the intensive care unit, they were fed every 3 hours - on the dot. We maintained this schedule when we got home, applying the principles we'd learned in Baby Wise. It's worked wonderfully for us. Our babies are thriving and happy. All of us love having the predictablitity that a schedule gives us. I've nursed them for 9 months; they are great sleepers and nappers; and we've been surprised at how managable twins can be. Because they are fed, changed, and put down to sleep at approximately the same time, I honestly don't believe it's been twice the work as one baby - maybe one and a half times the work.

As with any parenting philosophy, this information must be applied by loving, thinking parents in the context of their home and beliefs. We love our children dearly, but they are not the center of our lives. Having a daily schedule has helped us to reserve time for each other, family and friend and other responsibilities while still attending to both our children's physcial and emotional needs.

For parents looking for a plan to assist you with bringing order to your busy day of raising a baby, I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: We used the advice and our kids are thriving!
Review: OK. So it's controversary, but it works. Both of our children (2 yrs. and 4 months) were fed according to PDF. We have two growing, healthy, well mannered, happy kids to show for it.

As this books states, there is no pat formula for raising kids--but there are principles to follow and this book helps you stand on your principles.