My First 300 Babies

by Gladys W. Hendrick, Jan Steele (Illustrator)

The wonderful guidance provided by this book’s greatly loved and respected author will bring peace of mind to nervous first time parents and will bring security, love, and tranquility to your infant’s budding new life.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

136 pages, Spiral-bound

First published June 1, 1964

Reviews

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read. I don’t agree with all of her methods, schedules, and reasonings; my own experience/choices/advice from different books have proved better or just as well. This book is dated, so that did influence some of her guidances. Ironically, my favorite part of the entire book wasn’t even about the infant, but the older children and family life (chapter titled “Harmony with Multitudes”); very good practical advice and support. The recipes and simple menus sections were a neat idea!

Nonetheless, I do have some food for thought now as I prepare to enter the new baby stage again and evaluate if there are any adjustments I want to make to what I’ve previously done!

[Rebecca Hartshorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book saved my life as a first time mom! Only a few sections of this book were relevant for me, but they were life savers! The idea of a schedule gave me hope & a goal to work towards when I was felt like I was drowning after coming home from the hospital, which turned the whole experience of a new baby around. Also the idea of you being in charge as the parent & not just reactive to every fuss or cry from the baby helped me a lot. I also appreciated the little paragraph on eliminating the middle of the night feeding. I had my first 2 kids sleeping through the night by 6 weeks using this method. I just skimmed over the outdated sections and used the helpful sections as a good starting point to adjust to fit our family's needs. With the 3rd baby I read Baby Wise and found it to echo the parts of this book that I liked, but with lots more relevant info. Baby Wise was closer to what I actually did with all my babies. Like focusing on establishing an eat, wake, sleep cycle versus an eat, sleep wake cycle as recommended in 300 Babies. With my 3rd baby, I'm going to try the Baby Wise method to eliminate the middle of the night feeding. It's a little different.

[Annie Bruza · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some very valuable lessons in this book. The most important, which can be applied to all of life and not only child-rearing, is that it doesn’t matter what happens but how you respond to it.

The other idea that is emphasized in this book is that children, especially infants, need order in order to function successfully within the family. This order is presented to the child so that he will adjust to the schedule of the family, not the family to him. The child is not the most important member of the family and should not be treated as such. These are two ideas that, due to my understanding of human nature and natural family structure, I wholeheartedly agree with.

Unfortunately, I think that this idea can be, and absolutely has been, applied too rigidly. While the baby needs to adjust to their parents way of life and schedule, the child is not yet aware that his parents are there to take care of him and that crying is his only, primal means of communication with them. Not only does a child need order and structure, but he also needs comfort at these times in order to further set him up to be a successful member of the family.

All that to say, I agree in principle with many things in this book, but there are times where her very specific instructions on how to soothe and how to fill the child’s “wake time” seem to not take into account individual personalities and needs.

[RtBell]

My wife and I were given this book to us 32 years ago and used it to start raising our 4 sons. The practice of schedules and philosophy holds true today as it did then. We gave this book to our eldest son and his wife. They keep wondering on why our new grandson won't take naps, etc. We have tried to politely to mention "the Book." And they say that they read it. But the little guy takes naps just fine when he is at our house for an afternoon.... I try to give a copy to all new parents. (I just bought 3 new copies). We still have our book and there is a cup stain on the page with the schedule!

[Kate M. Dahlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally used this book as my giude book to my babies with the added notes of one other book. This was the perfect guide for me! old school and simple.

[Isaiah Espinoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

As we’re expecting our first child I wanted to prepare as best I could. The lessons in here are still applicable to these modern times.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for new moms who need a plan with baby

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great tips for a "tough love" good discipline household from the time you bring home your baby. She teaches you how to not let your children run the show and so they can enter your life and you be able to maintain your routine... Old school in alot of ways but good read... alot of tips i will be using and recommending too :)

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was slightly entertaining, slightly useful, and slightly shocking. Be sure to take the publication date into account while reading it. The schedule stuff was useful, though I would recommend not starting it so rigidly (as the book suggests) right off. I waited to use a schedule with my daughter until she was 3-4 months old, and she took it very well at that time.

[Kristene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good sound advice on caring for babies and establishing routines and order in the home.

[Rebekah]

Recommended by Elisabeth Elliot.
By a very wise midwife who had delivered 300 babies and helped the parents understand "It's not what the baby does- for away times he would seem unpredictable- it is what you do about it."