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The Contented Little Baby: The Simple Secrets of Calm, Confident Parenting by Gina Ford
Book Summary InformationAuthor: Gina Ford Edition: Paperback Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 2001-10-01 ISBN: 0451202430 Number of pages: 192 Publisher: NAL Trade
Book Reviews of The Contented Little Baby: The Simple Secrets of Calm, Confident ParentingBook Review: Bottom Line - Routine follows natural biorhythyms! Summary: 5 Stars
Despite some negative reviews here, I bought the book to see if her detailed routines could help my 15 week old son get more sleep. The very first day HE followed her routine to the minute, because I woke him up at 7:00 am! He had already been in the sleep patterns she recommended, but because we all got up at 8:30 am, he was off all day, not getting enough feedings, so up at night a lot. I was concerned because all the other books I have on sleep say he should not be up more than 2 hours, and in the evenings he was up from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. He also wouldn't take full feedings, and was eating every 1.5 hours or so. Sometimes he'd go 3 hours, then 4, then 1. I never knew what to expect.
Enter Gina's book, which is readable in a few hours. I cannot speak for the newborn routines, but I loved the 3-4 month old routine! We all got up at 7:00 am as she suggests, and she explains WHY it is important to get up at 7:00. (She also explains why he would cry at 6:30 am; I'd sleep holding him to 8:30. Other books had mentioned darkened rooms, she gives a story as to WHY. I needed the WHY'S!).
His first nap was 45 minutes like she suggests. Just like he had been doing, but now earlier in the day (9:00 am instead of 10:30).
Next, following her lead on when to feed him, which IS NOT every 3 or 4 hours like my other books say, her times on feeding actually VARY, s/t 3 hours, s/t 4, s/t a 5 min feeding (I don't give water like she suggests they do over in Britain), which best follows his natural biorhythms, I played with him even more which distracted him from crying, which I always interpreted as "feed me." Now he is less gassy as well, and still getting plenty to eat, because now I KNOW he's taken both breasts. Before he'd only take one, and keep sucking. I never knew when to change him over, when he was done. Now I do. It all makes sense now!
Because he is full, he sleeps for 2 hours at noon! Before, s/t he'd sleep 2 hours in the am, s/t in the afternoon, but usually he'd sleep for 1 then cry & I'd get him up. Now I know his natural biorhythm is to sleep for 2 hours. I laid down with him, regardless if he was asleep, for 2 hours. And he does sleep! He still wakes up briefly, but I'm there with him and just pat his back and say "shhhh." I either nap with him, clean the room, or read. I stay with him because I don't believe in crying it out.
Because I don't believe in crying it out, I have never left him alone when he drifts off. He started out crying, but because I knew he was full, had a clean diaper, and had been burped, I just held him (laying down), kissed his cheek occassionally, and kind of rocked him lying down. He would have cried too if we were sitting up, but this was my way of sleep training. He cried 8 minutes before his nap, and 20 minutes before bedtime the first day. Then he SLEPT. That very first night, he slept from 7:06 pm, to 10:30 pm when I woke him to feed, then 11:00 to 4:30 am, then to 7:00 am. Our days are soooo gooood! He is rested and happy now!
In response to other reviwer's concerns - I never saw any reference to vomiting being fun. If that is in the book then they need to give the page #. I also understand the girl's concern whose aunt was too rigid with the routines. Routines are guidelines! Babies sleep better at home, not in the car, not in the store, not visiting. Most days we should be home. However, like Gina explains, when good sleep is established, you can then do more. Every morning his 45 min. nap is taken in the stroller on our walk. Then I come home and garden until he wakes up. Or I plan my drive to my mom's at 9:00, and once I arrive 20 min. later I immediately put him in the stroller to continue sleeping on a walk until 45 min. are up. Then he's happy all day. Again, if I have to drive I plan it around his sleep and wake times the best I can, on most days. It is not a straightjacket! Some days will be off. You are the parent and must decide, and that includes deciding when to stay home most days to help your baby get the sleep he needs. We have 1 visting day and 1 errand day, minimum. Other days other things crop up. I can also plan his portrait sittings after his afternoon nap, since I know he will be rested and happy.
Because Gina knows that babies and their routines are constantly changing (the reason I could never figure it out on my own)she has many different routines based on how old they are. They are specific to help YOU, not general like the baby whisperer or sleep books. You guide your baby, and see if he follows. My baby did, and he was not a "self-soother" to begin with like the other reviewer stated.
Give it a try - what do you have to lose?
Summary of The Contented Little Baby: The Simple Secrets of Calm, Confident ParentingLearn the secret to getting your baby to sleep through the night--so you can get the rest you need. You?ve heard horror stories about babies who cry constantly, need to eat every two hours, and never learn to sleep through the night. And now, whenever you think about your soon-to-be-born bundle of joy, you can?t help wondering how you?re going to manage those two a.m. feedings and non-stop crying jags--and how you?re going to live your already-hectic life on little (or no) sleep. Relax! If you follow the practical, real-life advice in The Contented Little Baby Book, your baby should be sleeping through the night at around six to ten weeks. You?ll learn why you shouldn?t follow the conventional ?feed on demand? advice. You?ll understand why even older babies can benefit from sleeping and eating schedules. And soon you?ll have what every parent wants--a happy, healthy, contented little baby. Drawing on twelve years of experience researching and studying the natural sleep rhythms and feeding patterns of young babies, one of Britain?s top maternity nurses shows you how to? * Recognize the difference between hunger and tiredness * Hear what your baby is really saying * Establish a good feeding and sleeping pattern from day one * Choose baby equipment and clothes * Set up the nursery * Deal with crying and colicky babies * Wean baby from breast to bottle * Introduce solid foods
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