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Rating: 
Summary: Sanity Saver for Mother of Two
Review: As a mother of a fourteen month old and a six week old, I believe that using this method of scheduling has been beneficial, not only for my children, but for me as well. I am able to make wise decisions about the needs of my children. This book took a lot of the guess work out of being a new parent and all of the decisions involved as far as meeting the physical and emotional needs of my children. This book is a wonderful guide for new parents or for experienced parents expecting again. For those who feel this method is too rigid, flexibility is the key word.
Rating:
Summary: Just what the Doctor Ordered
Review: My wife and I discovered preparation for parenting when we were pregnant with our first child. We now have three children ages six months to four years. The principles we learned from preparation for parenting and also the later courses in the Ezzo curriculum have helped us greatly. Repeatedly in this course the Ezzo's instruct us to think about our parenting not just react. They warn us that they will not think for us, but that they will only give us issues to think through. When this course is taken in this light it is a very helpful course. I am a medical doctor and have found the medical facts that are the basis for what the Ezzo's suggest to be very sound. I suggest this course to all the parents of the newborn babies in my practice.
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Summary: First enthusiasm, then remorse. . . Avoid Prep for Parenting
Review: Two friends sent me Gary Ezzo's "Babywise" when I was expecting our first. It was interesting, a bit strange--nothing like the other books I had read about infant parenting. But the way in which it was written was persuasive and I found myself skimming over it again. Then the "Preparation for Parenting" classes were offered at our church. In the end, we implemented the PDF routine--with common sense, flexibility, and encouragement from "Contact Moms." My son seemed to do great on it at first--but my son went from a hefty 16 lbs at 3.5 months to 14 lb 2 oz at 6 months. Later I found out that milk supply loss and slowed weight gain is normal within families that implement Babywise. Why? Because it goes against how breastfeeding works, chemically, hormonally and physiologically. And Babywise if full of other *medical* errors, that parents tend to overlook because of how persuasive Gary Ezzo can write. And no, I was not being "legalistic" in how we used Prep. If you are interested in the full story of our experience with Babywise, Toddlerwise, and Ezzo materials in general, google "Confessions of a Failed Babywiser". In summary, the problems with Prep include: 1. Medical:
In all of the Ezzo books I've read, I've seen a consistent lack of knowledge of basic child development, and lousy information about breastfeeding and infant growth. The AAP specifically warns against the medical advice found in this book! Parents have to close their eyes to science if they want to follow Prep. 2. Moral:
The Ezzo's proclaim a "higher moral standard," yet personally don't live up to the same standard they require of others. He's been subject to church discipline repeatedly and has a pattern of leaving churches rather than dealing honorably with it. The elders who know him very intimately have declared him "unfit for public ministry" at this time. http://www.midwestoutreach.org/02-Information/02-OnlineReference/04-Etc/01-TheJournal/Volume8/No2-AdventureInEzzoland.html 3. Misuse of Scripture:
Ezzo's materials are based more on his opinions than on "Biblical princple" as he likes to claim. A good summary of this is available from Pastor Kent McClain.
http://ourworld.cs.com/kent1750/GKGW/contents.htm Also, I recommend this series related to Biblical Hermeneutics (using specific examples from Ezzo.) At the very least, Gary Ezzo is very sloppy in his use of Scripture.
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-ppezzo&msg=4286.1 To be completely honest, I know that there are some great Ezzo families! However, I am convinced it's because those parents love their children dearly and are deeply committed to being active and involved in their children's lives--not because of the "principles" taught by Gary Ezzo. It's interesting that many "Contact Moms" have come to similar conclusions and left the Ezzo ideas far behind. . .
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