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The New Contented Little Baby Book: The Secret To Calm And Confident Parenting
The Contented Little Baby Book, based on Gina Ford's personal experience of caring for over 300 babies, was first published in 1999. It quickly established Gina as an influential new authority on baby and childcare issues and has remained one of the bestselling parenting books in the UK. This completely revised edition of The New Contented Little Baby Book contains the most up-to-date advice available to parents. Using the feedback from numerous readers and website members, Gina has been able to develop and elaborate on the information in her first book, while clearly setting out her philosophy on simple feeding and sleeping routines. By creating routines that match a growing baby's innate natural rhythms, Gina prevents the hunger, overtiredness and colic that can lead to excessive crying. Babies who are settled into Gina's gentle routines are happy and contented because their needs for food and sleep are appropriately met and they should sleep for their longest spell at night from an early age. With detailed, prescriptive information on everything parents need to know, this book includes chapters on: - Preparation for the birth - How the routines evolved and the benefits of following a routine - Milk feeding in the first year - Understanding your baby's sleep - Establishing a routine - Introducing solid food in line with government and World Health Authority guidelines - Common problems in the first year. Whether you are expecting your first child, or are experiencing difficulties with an older baby, this comprehensive guide contains all the expert guidance you need to help your baby feed and sleep well.
368 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2002
638 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
May 29, 2008
This book is awful. A friend of mine read it and declared she was either going to burn it or give it to me if I was curious. Now that I've read it I think I may well burn it, lest it fall into the hands of a mother who would be quite fine with her new baby without being told _every second of every day_ what she should be making her child (and herself) do.
To the author Gina Ford, routine is everything. If you compromise your baby's routine, you're damned and doomed. She's against feeding on demand, despite all the splendid evidence that this method is good for both mother and baby; and she makes parents let their children scream (in one ghastly case study a parent "gave in" after letting her child scream for THREE hours) themselves to sleep, and then when the baby has collapsed exhausted the parent must pick up the child lest he/she sleep past the strictly regimented time-frame of nap.
Basically, the book is inhuman. It treats children like some species of wild animal. It treats parents like they have to be trained not to love their children. Horrid.
Mothers and babies need love and support, not wagging fingers and blacked out windows and measured-out-to-the-millileter-and-millisecond feeding and nap times.
Please, if you find a copy of this book, burn it too.
To the author Gina Ford, routine is everything. If you compromise your baby's routine, you're damned and doomed. She's against feeding on demand, despite all the splendid evidence that this method is good for both mother and baby; and she makes parents let their children scream (in one ghastly case study a parent "gave in" after letting her child scream for THREE hours) themselves to sleep, and then when the baby has collapsed exhausted the parent must pick up the child lest he/she sleep past the strictly regimented time-frame of nap.
Basically, the book is inhuman. It treats children like some species of wild animal. It treats parents like they have to be trained not to love their children. Horrid.
Mothers and babies need love and support, not wagging fingers and blacked out windows and measured-out-to-the-millileter-and-millisecond feeding and nap times.
Please, if you find a copy of this book, burn it too.
November 20, 2016
I buy Gina Forde's ironically named books from charity shops to prevent people reading them. My contribution to humankind. These books are more of a manual on how to be a shite parent and a lack of confidence on part of the parent. Let the baby be their own individual manual and not ruled by GF iron fist.
Her POV comes from WORKING with babies, so her philosophy is managing babies, like a business. This isn't parenting. Babies are not to be managed but loved. GF doesn't care if babies grow up to anxious or aggressive.
This woman needs to be silenced. I'd burn her books but Hitler made that too uncool.
GF is probably the cause of many cases of anxiety.
I'm too ashamed to mark this book as Read.
Her POV comes from WORKING with babies, so her philosophy is managing babies, like a business. This isn't parenting. Babies are not to be managed but loved. GF doesn't care if babies grow up to anxious or aggressive.
This woman needs to be silenced. I'd burn her books but Hitler made that too uncool.
GF is probably the cause of many cases of anxiety.
I'm too ashamed to mark this book as Read.
March 7, 2012
This book scares me. I know so many mothers who feel trying to follow these routines caused them so much stress that it interfered with bonding with their baby. The routines are incompatible with breastfeeding for most people but mothers are not warned about this. Avoid.
June 11, 2024
This book receives a lot of unfair criticism. Like any non-fiction book, its contents should be taken with a grain of salt and supplemented with another book. Of course it’s impossible to follow each schedule to the minute, and I’m not sure why anyone would expect to do so perfectly. Rather, the schedules should be taken as guidelines about how each day can be structured, including showing how self-care for moms is still possible to fit in to each day. The author sets out to explain how just 10-15 minutes difference can affect an entire day, but never implies that you should be setting a timer to stick to it literally. Yes, some of the information is now outdated, which again is the case with any non-fiction book.
For those readers who say that the author’s routines and suggestions are “cold,” this isn’t a how-to book on providing your child with what he or she wants on-demand, and if that seems harsh then it’s just not your style. This is a book that’s meant to explain how routines can ultimately benefit your child and your entire family. I never got the impression that following these routines was somehow unloving, especially since the author explains how overhandling and overstimulating your baby is not in anyone’s best interest.
My only major criticism of this book was that it was redundant and could have benefited from a better editor. I often felt that I was reading new, heavy information only to realize sections contained the same times or tips previously mentioned. This made the book seem a lot more intense than I think it was. I believe this book will continue to be an excellent resource throughout baby’s first year given that the reader doesn’t try to live it verbatim.
For those readers who say that the author’s routines and suggestions are “cold,” this isn’t a how-to book on providing your child with what he or she wants on-demand, and if that seems harsh then it’s just not your style. This is a book that’s meant to explain how routines can ultimately benefit your child and your entire family. I never got the impression that following these routines was somehow unloving, especially since the author explains how overhandling and overstimulating your baby is not in anyone’s best interest.
My only major criticism of this book was that it was redundant and could have benefited from a better editor. I often felt that I was reading new, heavy information only to realize sections contained the same times or tips previously mentioned. This made the book seem a lot more intense than I think it was. I believe this book will continue to be an excellent resource throughout baby’s first year given that the reader doesn’t try to live it verbatim.
August 17, 2011
In the circumstances, I have to reserve judgement on this one to some degree since there is so much specific (ludicrously so, seemingly) advice in here - so I'll look at what I've written here toward the end of the year maybe.
Having noted that I was reading the book, my respected friends-with-kids were unanimous in their hatred of the "Queen of routine". I didn't get such a strong reaction myself, but I expect I'm more likely to once the kid arrives - though I will say Ford has an unfortunate tendency towards smugness which is not going to help in winning over her critics.
Firstly, I have no idea who this woman is - there's no author biography in the book, just vague claims about "my babies". She was, apparently, a "maternity nurse"*. The book employs a "talking in statements" style (copyright Rob Langham) and supporting evidence is rare. Thus, you're taking advice on trust from someone who exhibits some classic signs of untrustworthiness.
GF insists on many occassions throughout the book that "her babies" all slept through the night/didn't get colic/blah and therefore her methods are proved correct. Well, how unscientific is that? It doesn't appear to occur to her that she doesn't work with a random selection of parents and children - far from it, since she's helping out people who can afford her and - by definition - you could switch the language around and just say that the conclusion from this book is: get a nanny.
It seems that the benefits brought about by these books could be somewhat akin to a placebo - if reading this book gives you confidence or reassures you then it can't do any harm. I think that this approach probably isn't for me - if I had a better memory and could internalize the "golden rules" then perhaps I think there may be some sense in there. As it is, I expect the book would cause more stress in trying to remember things than any possible benefit. I'll probably read the excruciatingly titled "Baby Whisperer" next.
One other thought about this: books that sell in the millions have often been bought by a significant number of people who really hate them. There should be a system where you can claim back the royalties or something.
* I'm still not sure what a "maternity nurse" is - a nanny?
Having noted that I was reading the book, my respected friends-with-kids were unanimous in their hatred of the "Queen of routine". I didn't get such a strong reaction myself, but I expect I'm more likely to once the kid arrives - though I will say Ford has an unfortunate tendency towards smugness which is not going to help in winning over her critics.
Firstly, I have no idea who this woman is - there's no author biography in the book, just vague claims about "my babies". She was, apparently, a "maternity nurse"*. The book employs a "talking in statements" style (copyright Rob Langham) and supporting evidence is rare. Thus, you're taking advice on trust from someone who exhibits some classic signs of untrustworthiness.
GF insists on many occassions throughout the book that "her babies" all slept through the night/didn't get colic/blah and therefore her methods are proved correct. Well, how unscientific is that? It doesn't appear to occur to her that she doesn't work with a random selection of parents and children - far from it, since she's helping out people who can afford her and - by definition - you could switch the language around and just say that the conclusion from this book is: get a nanny.
It seems that the benefits brought about by these books could be somewhat akin to a placebo - if reading this book gives you confidence or reassures you then it can't do any harm. I think that this approach probably isn't for me - if I had a better memory and could internalize the "golden rules" then perhaps I think there may be some sense in there. As it is, I expect the book would cause more stress in trying to remember things than any possible benefit. I'll probably read the excruciatingly titled "Baby Whisperer" next.
One other thought about this: books that sell in the millions have often been bought by a significant number of people who really hate them. There should be a system where you can claim back the royalties or something.
* I'm still not sure what a "maternity nurse" is - a nanny?
July 17, 2007
She is one scary woman-- she advocates running a newborn baby's routine like the way you would run the military or boot camp. Any baby could be guaranteed to sleep through the nite by six weeks if he cries himself to sleep.
May 21, 2012
I was given this book by my sister-in-law and told to read it with a grain of salt. I did read it, cover-to-cover, 5 months ago, during the last few weeks of my pregnancy. Even at the time, I found certain suggestions such as ironing your baby's sheets (which will only be pissed/shat/puked on within 24 hours) absurd. Parents of infants barely have time to get themselves showered let alone iron bedsheets. I also developed a great deal of skepticism upon reading that Gina Ford does not have children of her own. However, having absolutely no experience with babies or children, I decided to reserve judgement on this book until after a few months of real life with a baby.
Now... I have a 4 month old baby boy, and I am constantly receiving compliments about how happy, contented and well behaved he is. He has already been on 4 transatlantic flights and hardly made a peep for any of them. And guess what.... there isn't a single shred of routine in his life! He sleeps when he's tired. He eats when he's hungry. He plays in between.... and we are all getting on just fine.
I think Gina Ford's perspective is skewed by the fact that she is a professional who gets called in for children with problems. Therefore, she thinks ALL children will develop problems if they don't follow her routine. I think that's as silly as thinking that every child who eats sweets will develop diabetes. Babies are individuals, and they all have different personalities. Trying to fit them all into one little box is ridiculous.
I have given this book 2 stars (instead of 1), because there are some good tips, and it is worth keeping habit forming in mind. I'm sure that there are some people who had babies with sleeping problems who have found this book a godsend. It's possible that I may have a second baby in a few years who isn't as contented as my first born and find this book the answer to my problems. However, as general reading for expecting parents, I advise avoiding this book.
Now... I have a 4 month old baby boy, and I am constantly receiving compliments about how happy, contented and well behaved he is. He has already been on 4 transatlantic flights and hardly made a peep for any of them. And guess what.... there isn't a single shred of routine in his life! He sleeps when he's tired. He eats when he's hungry. He plays in between.... and we are all getting on just fine.
I think Gina Ford's perspective is skewed by the fact that she is a professional who gets called in for children with problems. Therefore, she thinks ALL children will develop problems if they don't follow her routine. I think that's as silly as thinking that every child who eats sweets will develop diabetes. Babies are individuals, and they all have different personalities. Trying to fit them all into one little box is ridiculous.
I have given this book 2 stars (instead of 1), because there are some good tips, and it is worth keeping habit forming in mind. I'm sure that there are some people who had babies with sleeping problems who have found this book a godsend. It's possible that I may have a second baby in a few years who isn't as contented as my first born and find this book the answer to my problems. However, as general reading for expecting parents, I advise avoiding this book.
September 7, 2015
This book isn't totally dire if you are utterly los and in need a rigid timetable then her routines are spot on (in my experience as a nanny and mother) but her methods of achieving them are awful. Leaving a newborn to 'wait' blackout rooms, avoid eye contact, timed feeding are all determental to bonding.
You are still a parent when the sun goes down. Gina doesn't seem to understand that babies have emotional needs too she's all about the eating, sleeping and nappy changing. As if the baby is simply a machine to be programmed rather than a life to be nurtured.
You are still a parent when the sun goes down. Gina doesn't seem to understand that babies have emotional needs too she's all about the eating, sleeping and nappy changing. As if the baby is simply a machine to be programmed rather than a life to be nurtured.
July 3, 2010
this book saved my existence as a descent human being. i was thinking my baby would tell me when he was hungry, wet, tired...WRONG. and i was going insane trying to figure him out. since this maternal instinct has not completely 'kicked in' i needed some help. this book was wonderful in laying down the law and bringing some routine to the day and restored a bit of my confidence.
May 12, 2018
When my first child was born he started crying and cried for 4 weeks until someone gave me this book and I started following Gina’s routine. I was beyond desperate, had not slept for longer than 2-3hrs in any 24hour period and had postnatal depression. He would not breastfeed and when I was in hospital (2002) the midwives (one of whom described my newborn as “a little bugger”) put me on a routine (not my baby, me) of hand expressing every 2hrs (round the clock) in addition to demand feeding my baby using a bottle in an effort to keep up my milk production for when baby learnt to breastfeed. While I was in hospital midwives advised giving water in a bottle to baby so he would not become dehydrated and it was the midwives that gave him his first bottle of formula because he wouldn’t breastfeed. The I was given advise from GP to give baby medication for colic. It was all to much.
This book saved me and my relationship with my first born. My mother and mother in law loved this book. They cared for their own babies in a very similar way and it made sense to them.
A friend who I had not seen for over a year came to visit my new born when he was two months old and said “I have never seen such a happy baby, you are lucky, some people we know have baby that cry’s all the time”.
My second child was a completely different story. He really was the quintessential ‘good baby’ I don’t think it would have mattered if he was demand or routine. But by then I was settled in my mothering and rather than anything “cruel” described by some readers I have the most wonderful memories of my time with my happy chubby babies 👶👶❤️❤️
This book saved me and my relationship with my first born. My mother and mother in law loved this book. They cared for their own babies in a very similar way and it made sense to them.
A friend who I had not seen for over a year came to visit my new born when he was two months old and said “I have never seen such a happy baby, you are lucky, some people we know have baby that cry’s all the time”.
My second child was a completely different story. He really was the quintessential ‘good baby’ I don’t think it would have mattered if he was demand or routine. But by then I was settled in my mothering and rather than anything “cruel” described by some readers I have the most wonderful memories of my time with my happy chubby babies 👶👶❤️❤️
March 20, 2014
Great advice about many many things, given in a non-pushy way. Other books push the advice on you, but this one feels more like suggestions being offered by a friend.
My only complaint is with the section on items to buy. It is outdated, and would be great for the author to provide an update. For example, when looking for a crib, the author says to check the drop down bar to make sure it doesn't squeak and glides easily. When I went to the store looking for said drop down bar, I was told these were deemed unsafe and outlawed years ago. The thing to look for now is, since the bar doesn't move, make sure you can lean over it easily to pick up and put down the baby. Other than this one outdated chapter, I learned so much from this book. We'll have to see how well it does with helping me raise a contented baby in a few months!
Update: I think this book is even more amazing now that my baby is fully on schedule (at 4 months old). She sleeps 7pm-7am, with being woken up for a 10pm feeding. From what friends and family (and even the pediatrician) say, this is pretty amazing!
My only complaint is with the section on items to buy. It is outdated, and would be great for the author to provide an update. For example, when looking for a crib, the author says to check the drop down bar to make sure it doesn't squeak and glides easily. When I went to the store looking for said drop down bar, I was told these were deemed unsafe and outlawed years ago. The thing to look for now is, since the bar doesn't move, make sure you can lean over it easily to pick up and put down the baby. Other than this one outdated chapter, I learned so much from this book. We'll have to see how well it does with helping me raise a contented baby in a few months!
Update: I think this book is even more amazing now that my baby is fully on schedule (at 4 months old). She sleeps 7pm-7am, with being woken up for a 10pm feeding. From what friends and family (and even the pediatrician) say, this is pretty amazing!
January 22, 2009
I don't care about the controversies over this book; I got a lot out of it. It has really helped to shape the first few months of my daughter's life. It's worth a read even if you don't follow the "routine" as it's laid out. It gives a lot of good tips and just gives you something to aim for in a day.
January 17, 2022
Wow… this book is a bunch of some old-fashioned rubbish from someone who doesn’t have the emotional competence to advise parents. Being a nurse for a thousand years won’t give you the understanding of being a parent for 1 day. If I could give 0 stars I would.
There are more up-to-date and sensitive ways to bring up a child, please choose wisely and stay away from Gina Ford!
There are more up-to-date and sensitive ways to bring up a child, please choose wisely and stay away from Gina Ford!
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March 13, 2011Terrible advice for new mums; how to set yourself up for failure!
May 17, 2013
terrifyingly regimented. not for me!
December 31, 2023
Not my usual type of book but felt an appropriate book to end the NY on at 9 months pregnant 🤰🤍 lots of good advice for a woman who loves being organised and structured… may have to amend my rating depending on how things go when baba arrives 👶✨ happy NYE! Until 2024 Goodreads! 3*
May 31, 2024
Joa.
Ich sag mal so: Es wird sich zeigen, ob das was taugt. Kann 1/5 werden, kann auch 5/5 werden, je nachdem wie sehr der Kleine mit diesen Tipps hier demnächst zu bändigen ist.
Stay tuned für das Update dieser Review in 3-6 Monaten. Bis dahin wünsche ich mir einfach selbst viel Erfolg.
Ich sag mal so: Es wird sich zeigen, ob das was taugt. Kann 1/5 werden, kann auch 5/5 werden, je nachdem wie sehr der Kleine mit diesen Tipps hier demnächst zu bändigen ist.
Stay tuned für das Update dieser Review in 3-6 Monaten. Bis dahin wünsche ich mir einfach selbst viel Erfolg.
February 12, 2021
Mucizevi bir kitap. Pandemi nedeniyle doğum sürecinde ve yeni doğan bebeğimle tamamen yalnız ve tecrübesiz bir anneyken hamilelikte okuduğum bu kitap hayatımı kurtatdı, kolaylaştırdı. Çevremdeki herkes bebeğimle olan iletişimime ve bebeğin düzenine şaşırdı.
Kitap önce bebek için ne almanız gerektiğni, bebeğinizi ne sıklıkla beslemeniz gerektiğini, emzirme pozisyonu ya da biberonla beslemeyi tercih ettiyseniz biberonla bebeği besleme pozisyonu gibi bölümler içeriyor. Sonrası da bebeğin uyksunu, yeme düzenini ve alışkanlıklarını anlamaya yönelik bölümler ve sık sorulan sorular içeriyor. İlerleyen bölümlerde ise 12. Aya kadar her ay için saat saat örnek rutin programı var. Son olarak ise bebeklerin karşılaştığı problemlerden bahsediliyor.
Olumsuz yorumlara kulak asmamanızı öneririm. Öncelikle hangi kitabı okursanız okuyun her bebeğin farklı olduğunu unutmamak gerekir. Dolayısıyla kendi bebeğinizi tanıyıp Ford’un yöntemleriyle harmanlarsanız bence başarı elde etmemeniz mümkün değil.
Bu kitap sayesinde ilk aydan beri bebeğimin gece ve gündüz uykuları düzenli, banyo rutinimiz, günlük rutinimiz, beslenme rutinimiz uyum içinde. Gün içerisinde sürekli düzeni değişmeyen bebek ve iyi uyuyan bebek haliyle son derece mutlu, huzurlu ve öğrenmeye açık oluyor.
Tabii ki kitapta yazan her şeyi uygulamadım. Örneğin saat 22 den sonra bebekle göz kontağını kesmek, bebeği kundaklamak, ilk aylardan gündüz uykusunda oda ayırmak gibi bana uymayan şeyleri yapmadım. Ayrıca sabah 7 den akşam7 ye kadar olan bu rutinin saatlerini sabah9-akşam 9 olarak değiştirdim çünkü bence 7 de yatan bebeğin babasıyla geçirdiği zaman çok kısalıyor. Ancak herşeye rağmen saat saat anneye program veren, annenin yemek yemesi gereken saate kadar düşünen,böyle güzel programlanan bir kitap daha okumadım. Önerdiğim tüm anneler de memnun kaldı, işlerine yarayacak bir şeyler buldular. Gina Ford rutininin baştan sona uygulanmasa bile büyük bir yol gösterici olduğu kesin.
Kitap önce bebek için ne almanız gerektiğni, bebeğinizi ne sıklıkla beslemeniz gerektiğini, emzirme pozisyonu ya da biberonla beslemeyi tercih ettiyseniz biberonla bebeği besleme pozisyonu gibi bölümler içeriyor. Sonrası da bebeğin uyksunu, yeme düzenini ve alışkanlıklarını anlamaya yönelik bölümler ve sık sorulan sorular içeriyor. İlerleyen bölümlerde ise 12. Aya kadar her ay için saat saat örnek rutin programı var. Son olarak ise bebeklerin karşılaştığı problemlerden bahsediliyor.
Olumsuz yorumlara kulak asmamanızı öneririm. Öncelikle hangi kitabı okursanız okuyun her bebeğin farklı olduğunu unutmamak gerekir. Dolayısıyla kendi bebeğinizi tanıyıp Ford’un yöntemleriyle harmanlarsanız bence başarı elde etmemeniz mümkün değil.
Bu kitap sayesinde ilk aydan beri bebeğimin gece ve gündüz uykuları düzenli, banyo rutinimiz, günlük rutinimiz, beslenme rutinimiz uyum içinde. Gün içerisinde sürekli düzeni değişmeyen bebek ve iyi uyuyan bebek haliyle son derece mutlu, huzurlu ve öğrenmeye açık oluyor.
Tabii ki kitapta yazan her şeyi uygulamadım. Örneğin saat 22 den sonra bebekle göz kontağını kesmek, bebeği kundaklamak, ilk aylardan gündüz uykusunda oda ayırmak gibi bana uymayan şeyleri yapmadım. Ayrıca sabah 7 den akşam7 ye kadar olan bu rutinin saatlerini sabah9-akşam 9 olarak değiştirdim çünkü bence 7 de yatan bebeğin babasıyla geçirdiği zaman çok kısalıyor. Ancak herşeye rağmen saat saat anneye program veren, annenin yemek yemesi gereken saate kadar düşünen,böyle güzel programlanan bir kitap daha okumadım. Önerdiğim tüm anneler de memnun kaldı, işlerine yarayacak bir şeyler buldular. Gina Ford rutininin baştan sona uygulanmasa bile büyük bir yol gösterici olduğu kesin.
January 6, 2011
The jury is still out for me on this book. I have a couple friends that swear by this book and their babies were sleeping from 7pm to 7am by nearly 12 weeks. This was NOT the case for me.
However, there were a couple tips that I found helpful. Even though I was breastfeeding the author suggests introducing one bottle feed in the late evening (that dad can do) between 2-4 weeks old. This definitely helped me get some much needed sleep early on. And now Archer can seamlessly go from a bottle to breastfeeding without a problem.
The other tip that helped me was to start the day at a specific time no matter what happens in the night. So when 7am hit, we were up and running and he would get his first feed even if it had been less than 3 hours since his previous one. That way we could keep our entire day on track and not have it adjusted according to how his night went.
However, there were a couple tips that I found helpful. Even though I was breastfeeding the author suggests introducing one bottle feed in the late evening (that dad can do) between 2-4 weeks old. This definitely helped me get some much needed sleep early on. And now Archer can seamlessly go from a bottle to breastfeeding without a problem.
The other tip that helped me was to start the day at a specific time no matter what happens in the night. So when 7am hit, we were up and running and he would get his first feed even if it had been less than 3 hours since his previous one. That way we could keep our entire day on track and not have it adjusted according to how his night went.
October 2, 2013
After reading many books that focused on theory and lacked detailed directions, I thought this was exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunately, this was too far to the other extreme for me, but I do think it still has a lot to offer. If you are looking for a very concrete schedule with specific times and detailed instructions, then this is the perfect book for you. At a time when I was still trying to learn about my baby, I found this to be extremely overwhelming to follow and after a few days of waking her for feedings, I learned that my baby objects to being woken up! I also found that I spent more time stressing over what came next than enjoying time with my baby and I felt that she wasn't particularly supportive of breast feeding. Please don't misunderstand me, she never frowns on it directly and there are entire sections dedicated to it, but since this style of parenting accounts for every detail, not knowing how much a baby has eaten doesn't quite fit with that model. Especially since a baby who wants to nurse longer than her time allots for throws off the rest of the schedule. That being said, there were still key concepts that I found helpful and have incorporated into my routines, like starting the bedtime routine around 6 pm, treating all feedings before 7 am as nighttime feedings, not picking up the baby immediately when she wakes from naps if he/she isn't complaining, and giving a bottle of expressed milk at the 10/11 pm feeding. That last point has made a HUGE difference for me since knowing how much the baby has eaten takes the guess work out of middle of the night wakings (i.e. if she wakes only a few hours after eating I know it's for the pacifier and she's not hungry).
July 29, 2016
I've read 7 books now on baby sleep, and here is what I have learned: Babies are different.
Here are the more memorable books in order from easy to hard. #1 on this list assumes that your baby will be easy and naturally fall into a schedule of naps that works for them and everyone else. On the other end of the spectrum, #6 on this list assumes that your baby needs to be forced into to be a rigid, drill-sergeant schedule, to basically sleep-deprive them during the day so they will sleep 8 hours in a row at night, for the sake of everyone's sanity.
1. Baby Sleep Book
I have to put this one at #1 because it's obviously the first one on the spectrum. Sears is famous for giving advice to co-sleep, demand feed, basically do whatever baby wants. But if that worked, I wouldn't need to read books to get our lives in order, so I didn't even bother reading this one.
2. Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Twins
"Sleep begets sleep." Hahaha no.
3. Secrets of the Baby Whisperer
Best attitude, mostly good advice. I wish this had worked for us.
4. Baby Wise
How to set up a schedule and understand the shifting sleep needs of your growing baby.
5. Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems
How to "cry it out" once your child is developmentally ready. Definitely read the book instead of just googling how to do it. Interesting to read the psychology of what to do and why.
6. Contented Little Baby
A rigid, probably somewhat arbitrary timetable. Great for twins, because if you don't keep a timetable they will not nap at the same times, and then your household is chaos.
Here are the more memorable books in order from easy to hard. #1 on this list assumes that your baby will be easy and naturally fall into a schedule of naps that works for them and everyone else. On the other end of the spectrum, #6 on this list assumes that your baby needs to be forced into to be a rigid, drill-sergeant schedule, to basically sleep-deprive them during the day so they will sleep 8 hours in a row at night, for the sake of everyone's sanity.
1. Baby Sleep Book
I have to put this one at #1 because it's obviously the first one on the spectrum. Sears is famous for giving advice to co-sleep, demand feed, basically do whatever baby wants. But if that worked, I wouldn't need to read books to get our lives in order, so I didn't even bother reading this one.
2. Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Twins
"Sleep begets sleep." Hahaha no.
3. Secrets of the Baby Whisperer
Best attitude, mostly good advice. I wish this had worked for us.
4. Baby Wise
How to set up a schedule and understand the shifting sleep needs of your growing baby.
5. Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems
How to "cry it out" once your child is developmentally ready. Definitely read the book instead of just googling how to do it. Interesting to read the psychology of what to do and why.
6. Contented Little Baby
A rigid, probably somewhat arbitrary timetable. Great for twins, because if you don't keep a timetable they will not nap at the same times, and then your household is chaos.
December 27, 2016
i picked this up after seeing the author's methods referenced positively on a couple of baby message boards. I'm excellent at logistics (obsessed one might say) and even i think this book this is far over the top. perhaps this process has worked for her, but I can say with strong certainty that for almost all parents, this exact scheduling advice is not helpful in any way. I picked up a few tips, but the idea of scheduling your child's life down to 15-30 minute increments every day is so unrealistic its laughable. I found myself wondering when the parents can find time in her suggested schedule to shower, eat, go to the bathroom or do anything for themselves at all...
August 17, 2020
I am going to recommend this book no matter what the critics say. I am a baby photographer, a registered baby massager and have 3 kids of my own who went through the routines, slept through at 3 months, and I got the luxury of time to myself and for other people who also needs us. I think the people who slams this book probably either did not thoroughly read the pointers, slamming the book for so called morality, had a lot of help in their lives, or simply had not had the courage to try to get some normality in their lives. This book is godsend for first time mums.
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September 29, 2017Grāmata paliks bez vērtējuma ne tāpēc, ka tā būtu slikta, bet gan tāpēc, ka mazuļa audzināšana, kopšana un rūpes par mazo ir katras ģimenes ļoti intīms un personīgs process.
Grāmata pasaulē izraisījusi ļoti daudz diskusiju un ārkārtīgi daudz pretēju viedokļu. Ja vēlaties skaidras norādes par to, kad, kur, kā, cik daudz darīt ar mazuli, tad, iespējams, grāmata ir jums.
Nederēs tiem, kas uzskata, ka zīdainis pats spēs saregulēt savas ēdienreizes un jauno vecāku dzīves.
Grāmata pasaulē izraisījusi ļoti daudz diskusiju un ārkārtīgi daudz pretēju viedokļu. Ja vēlaties skaidras norādes par to, kad, kur, kā, cik daudz darīt ar mazuli, tad, iespējams, grāmata ir jums.
Nederēs tiem, kas uzskata, ka zīdainis pats spēs saregulēt savas ēdienreizes un jauno vecāku dzīves.
December 15, 2011
Many friends recommended this book but while at the hospital it was universally scorned by the midwives and nurses. I took bits & pieces from the book to use, the rest I've ignored. The routines seem so complicated. I can't see how anyone could follow such strict, rigid rules for a baby.
February 21, 2021
Gina Ford advocates for strict schedules when raising a baby. This is terrible advice. Having become a parent almost 12 weeks ago, I can’t imagine the stress of attempting to force timings on a newborn.
I’m glad I bought this secondhand because it is OUTDATED NONSENSE.
I’m glad I bought this secondhand because it is OUTDATED NONSENSE.
November 13, 2021
I ignored the haters and tried to go by this book anyway because my husband wanted to, but they were right. Gina Ford is full of shit. We did everything by the book and it did not work at all. Babies are not one-size-fits-all. Don't waste your time.
May 30, 2025
I only read this book when baby was two months old, so I couldn’t implement the steps from day 1; and honestly, it might have been too overwhelming to try and follow any steps from day one. But I found this book at exactly the right time and it made all the difference. I didn’t have any structure with my first born, but with the help of this book, the journey with my second child has been much easier. Obviously you don’t have to follow all the advice to the t, but having the guidelines and so many helpful hints made my days so much easier and predictable. I’m implementing the suggested routine in a gentle way (i.e. no crying or pushing boundaries) and guess what, my baby seems much more contented! 5 Stars from me!
August 24, 2021
For new parents and parents-to-be who like having a step-by-step schedule as a guideline for baby routines, this book would be perfect for you.
For me, this book eliminated a lot of anxiety because I liked having some sort of guideline to aim for. Of course, I realised that the reality could be different as different babies would react differently to routines, but it still gave me peace of mind to have some structure to the approach.
For me, this book eliminated a lot of anxiety because I liked having some sort of guideline to aim for. Of course, I realised that the reality could be different as different babies would react differently to routines, but it still gave me peace of mind to have some structure to the approach.
October 22, 2020
Horrible book and it makes me scared that there are some first time mums that might follow the advice the author is giving. This woman is a danger to a healthy development of any baby, routine from day 1, cry it out method.
The bit that is stuck in my memory the most is the story of parents that took a sleeping pill with a glass of wine and went to sleep while their baby was crying for hours next door while being trained by Gina. How cruel one can be when trusting the advise of 'the expert'.
Studies explained over and over what happens when CIO method is used, babies freeze, they learn that noone is coming and stop crying to preserve life.
I threw the book away, just to make sure noone else finds it and decides to read it!!
The bit that is stuck in my memory the most is the story of parents that took a sleeping pill with a glass of wine and went to sleep while their baby was crying for hours next door while being trained by Gina. How cruel one can be when trusting the advise of 'the expert'.
Studies explained over and over what happens when CIO method is used, babies freeze, they learn that noone is coming and stop crying to preserve life.
I threw the book away, just to make sure noone else finds it and decides to read it!!
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