Books : The New Contented Little Baby Book: The Secret to Calm and Confident Parenting

Rating: - Am keeping my fingers crossed Gina!
I think Gina Ford really knows what she is talking about and unlike some reviewers I do not find her tone patronising or bossy. I have a two year old boy and am currently expecting twins.

I have only just read this book so did not use the routines for my two year old and as I read through the book I could recognise exactly where I have gone wrong and am determined not to make the same mistakes again. Good sound practical advice is provided throughout. I read this book as it was recommended to me by someone else who had twins, read Ginas "Contented House with Twins" and thought it was a rehash of this book but not as good.

My reason for only giving 4 stars is that I haven't actually tried the routines yet but my twins are due in 5 weeks so fingers crossed I can try and adjust the routines around twins. Also, I think there is far too much information regarding breastfeeding and as Gina mentions in this book and I have been told by several midvives, if formula was not good enough for babies, or in anyway endangered them, it would have been banned years ago!

---

Rating: - Trust your instinct not Gina Ford!
I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend and it was a complete waste of money. The only use I have found for it is reading out choice quotes to my mother and baby group for general amusement, such as Gina's golden rule: "never pick up a crying baby"! Gina is patently not a mother herself based on the inhuman advice she provides. Gina advocates absolutely strict routines ("baby should be up by 7am" - why 7am? why not 7:05 or 7:10?), often with a great deal of detail, but there is no mention of a young baby's needs for love, attention, patience, warmth and empathy. Babies are extremely demanding and Gina has completely unrealistic expectations of them, expecting them to function like machines and regaling the reader with numerous tales of letting babies scream for hours so that they "learn" to sleep through. Of course, if you don't want your lifestyle to be invconvenienced by your child in any way, this is the book for you. But if you're prepared to respond to your child's needs, even though this may be demanding at times, then learn to trust your maternal instinct and enjoy mothering your baby, and don't let Gina Ford undermine you with her ideas about those "poor mothers" who choose to respond to their babies' needs and pick them up and breastfeed them on demand. As a mother of two who got up in the night to feed her babies, I can assure you that they do sleep through when they're developmentally ready. I would have given this book a zero-star rating but unfortunately it is not possible so I have given it one star! Spend your money on something nice for your baby instead.

---

Rating: - The best book I own
Without Gina Ford and her Contented Little Baby Book I would be a mess. Gina brought calm and organisation into our lives. It was the only book that made sense, some of other baby stuff out there is so wishy washy.
I cant recommend this book enough, if you are having a baby or have a baby then buy this book, it will transform your life - guaranteed!

---

Rating: - Fantastic
This book and Gina's approach are by far the most thoughtful and most understanding of a babies needs i.e good sleep means good feeding means good sleep. It is not and never intends to be prescriptive and looking through many of these reviews I am disapointed that the reviewers are not able to see that Gina is giving a system to meet your babies needs - she assumes that you know how to cuddle and love your baby so obviously does not give you a time to day to do it!! I for one needed to be reminded to take care of myself and really appreciated Gina's advice on diet to support breast feeding and having breakfast! I am consistently amazed by the level of feeling around Gina's structured approach as I know my daughter, my many nieces and nephews have thrived on it. I incidently have never left my daughter to cry so I am trying to dispel some of the anti Gina myths that are always bandied about so if you are about to be a parent please please do not be put off by some of these reviews, I honestly beleive that some people are not informed enough to review this book and therefore have a limited knowledge of Gina's philosopy.
Morgan.

---

Rating: - Life Saver
This book is clearly written in an accessible easy to read style and just makes total sense! Gina understands the natural rhythms of babies and her routines work! My son has had a tricky start in life, yet now he eats, sleeps and plays well - all down to the genius of this book! Everyone comments on what a contented baby he is - even his consultants. Since being able to get him into the routines, he as never been happier. Having predictability and structure in his life helps him know where he is up to and feel secure and helps family life. Though we stick carefully to the routines most of the time, we adapt them for special occasions and holidays, but once over, he is immediately back on track. He is adaptable because he gets so much quality sleep each night and day to recharge him. Knowing what will happen throughout the day just takes the guess work away and I know that his needs will be met day in day out! I can't praise it highly enough!

One thing though, I am staggered by some of the negative reviews - fair enough, if you don't like the idea of a routine at all and you prefer a baby-led approach then the book is not for you - although worth looking at to find out what the routines can do for you and your baby - you maybe pleasantly surprised. There is quite a lot of information explaining the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches and a baby-led approach is not necessarily the easy approach you might think of.

Moreover though, I think to suggest that putting your baby in a routine is damaging is worryingly misleading. My baby and several others I know thrive in it. This book meets baby's needs and contrary to belief offers flexibility within its firm principles. It recognises that babies are individuals and have slightly different needs and offers advice on what to do through different case studies.