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148 reviews for:
On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep
Gary Ezzo, Robert Bucknam
3.32 AVERAGE
148 reviews for:
On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep
Gary Ezzo, Robert Bucknam
3.32 AVERAGE
Cannot over-emphasize how much I disliked this book. It really did nothing more than make me feel like a bad parent. I borrowed it from a friend and I think I actually may have lost it, because I can't remember returning it . . . high five to me, I guess, for removing one copy from circulation.
I will say that the idea of a schedule for your child is a good one, but certainly nothing original that you need to read the book for--honestly, I found that a schedule happens on its own without any real encouragement or effort from mom. Certainly didn't need a book to instruct me on doing something that will fall into place naturally.
I will say that the idea of a schedule for your child is a good one, but certainly nothing original that you need to read the book for--honestly, I found that a schedule happens on its own without any real encouragement or effort from mom. Certainly didn't need a book to instruct me on doing something that will fall into place naturally.
There were some good things in this book that I will definitely try to use, others that I probably won't use. It wasn't anywhere near as extreme as I was expecting after reading some of the reviews for it.
Not that I have a ton of baby-rearing-book experience, but this one was clear, well layed out, level headed and seemed like good advice.
As with any parenting philosophy/technique book you need to pick and choose what fits your beliefs and style. I appreciated the time frame offered in the book on when you can expect your baby to be healthfully sleeping through the night, and the routine of the baby having feed then wake then sleep time (vs. wake then feed then sleep) fits everything I've learned in my child development and psychology classes. It will more easily promote a routine in your child's life, whatever you, as the parent, say the time frame for that routine should be.
Second read through for second child, so mostly skimmed. 4 stars just because it worked so well on first child, but reading it again (and a later edition) makes me see that they really toned down their regimen probably after the AAP spoke out against this method of sleep training. That being said, was extremely helpful as a FTM to navigate how to organize a baby’s day. There is a lot of extra medical knowledge/mommy advice in there that I could have done without. Probably won’t read it again for future children - key points are - sleep training is good for children and the family, schedule the day so that they can sleep through the night
This book was recommended to me as the best method for infant sleep. As a new mom, I appreciate the method and I’ve started implementing this plan. Only time will tell if it helps us, but at the very least it makes sense.
Other than the sleep method, I think this is a good resource for new parents as it addresses common issues, gives benchmarks for development, and offers advice from experience.
Other than the sleep method, I think this is a good resource for new parents as it addresses common issues, gives benchmarks for development, and offers advice from experience.
informative
informative
medium-paced
As a new mom, this is exactly the type of guide I was looking for. Of course, I may not follow everything exactly to the letter, but I appreciate having a comprehensive guidebook to look to when I have questions. At least now I have a basic framework and a place to start.
Three days after I read this book my first child was sleeping thru the night at just over 6 weeks of age. While you need to balance what they say with common sense (there are rabid critics out there) it was immeasurably helpful. (Of course, my second child was completely impervious, so it is not a magic cure, just a good suggestion.)
I recommend it to all friends who are expecting!!!
I recommend it to all friends who are expecting!!!
I read this a while ago but forgot to review it for some reason.
I googled this book before I read it and was told it would be a child torture manual, which of course it isn’t. I think 99% of it (at least more current editions, maybe they were crazy in 1994 or whatever, I’ve never read the older copies so I have no idea) is basic common sense advice. “Cry it out” is basically not mentioned, the most it says is that a little crying won’t hurt your baby, which of course it won’t.
As with Babywise II, I mostly ignored the nursing specific stuff because I just feel confident in my breastfeeding knowledge already. However, I do think the “parent directed feeding” (PDF) approach is helpful and most of all “eat wake sleep” was an absolute game changer for me compared to my first child. If you read this book and implemented only that part of the routine I believe you would almost certainly see a more calm child and a less hectic day. :)
I also disregard outdated sleep advice ie using blankets or putting baby to sleep on tummy (I don’t think they directly suggest to do this necessarily but I can’t remember the wording). I’m pretty cautious with sleep safe stuff.
I think with any parenting book, you could face problems if you treat it like the Bible. Same with homeschooling curriculum or anything else. I find this book EXTREMELY valuable as a guide, but as the authors acknowledge, your instincts and knowledge as a mother are above any routine.
I find the idea that having a baby on a routine would inherently lead to failure to thrive (you’ll see this claimed on various articles about Babywise, it’s a pretty misleading claim as they say “the AAP says” but it’s one AAP doctor in what amounts to an AAP news site. It’s not even a study, it’s an opinion) pretty ridiculous. Preemies in the NICU are on a routine, yet you expect full term healthy infants will fade away if placed on one?
My daughter has been on the low end of the growth curve her entire life. She was always VERY sleepy as a newborn. Had I “fed on cue” and not fed or attempted to feed her every two hours, she may have had genuine issues gaining weight (my fully demand fed firstborn also wouldn’t even latch initially and was extremely tired for weeks, too. Go figure…). She was clearly not able to communicate her needs very well for the first month or more of life.
You may say, “who would take feeding on demand that literally? That’s just incompetent parenting.” Well, I feel the same way about schedules/routines including Babywise. They’re a guide - not a rule book. I’m ultimately in charge of doing whatever my child needs.
That said, my older child was very much fed on demand, bed shared until 11 months old, and so forth, and he’s a happy healthy kid, too. But so far things are MUCH more harmonious this time around.
I googled this book before I read it and was told it would be a child torture manual, which of course it isn’t. I think 99% of it (at least more current editions, maybe they were crazy in 1994 or whatever, I’ve never read the older copies so I have no idea) is basic common sense advice. “Cry it out” is basically not mentioned, the most it says is that a little crying won’t hurt your baby, which of course it won’t.
As with Babywise II, I mostly ignored the nursing specific stuff because I just feel confident in my breastfeeding knowledge already. However, I do think the “parent directed feeding” (PDF) approach is helpful and most of all “eat wake sleep” was an absolute game changer for me compared to my first child. If you read this book and implemented only that part of the routine I believe you would almost certainly see a more calm child and a less hectic day. :)
I also disregard outdated sleep advice ie using blankets or putting baby to sleep on tummy (I don’t think they directly suggest to do this necessarily but I can’t remember the wording). I’m pretty cautious with sleep safe stuff.
I think with any parenting book, you could face problems if you treat it like the Bible. Same with homeschooling curriculum or anything else. I find this book EXTREMELY valuable as a guide, but as the authors acknowledge, your instincts and knowledge as a mother are above any routine.
I find the idea that having a baby on a routine would inherently lead to failure to thrive (you’ll see this claimed on various articles about Babywise, it’s a pretty misleading claim as they say “the AAP says” but it’s one AAP doctor in what amounts to an AAP news site. It’s not even a study, it’s an opinion) pretty ridiculous. Preemies in the NICU are on a routine, yet you expect full term healthy infants will fade away if placed on one?
My daughter has been on the low end of the growth curve her entire life. She was always VERY sleepy as a newborn. Had I “fed on cue” and not fed or attempted to feed her every two hours, she may have had genuine issues gaining weight (my fully demand fed firstborn also wouldn’t even latch initially and was extremely tired for weeks, too. Go figure…). She was clearly not able to communicate her needs very well for the first month or more of life.
You may say, “who would take feeding on demand that literally? That’s just incompetent parenting.” Well, I feel the same way about schedules/routines including Babywise. They’re a guide - not a rule book. I’m ultimately in charge of doing whatever my child needs.
That said, my older child was very much fed on demand, bed shared until 11 months old, and so forth, and he’s a happy healthy kid, too. But so far things are MUCH more harmonious this time around.