Baby Wise..thoughts

luckyladyinjune · August 2009

Just starting reading the book and trying the meathods, has anyone used this? Thoughts? Thanks!

eastbaygirl · August 2009

I don't have any personal experience, but I've heard from several LC's and the RN who taught our infant care class to stay away from that book and that it has been linked to infants with "failure to thrive." That being said, I have a college friend, very smart and a great mom, who swears by it and she has two beautiful little girls.

I don't know a ton about it, but IMHO trying to create a strict schedule for a newborn does sound a little scary.

Celyn · August 2009

apparently, his total rigidness has changed a bit in the latest reworking of the book. the first was quite dangerous in so far at the feedings went, which is why the ezzo.info website was put up.

ashleyhuney · August 2009

There's quite a controversy over babywise, it's been linked to failure to thrive and there are stories out there of spiting blood from too much crying. I actually have a friend who follows Babywise and she thinks that the negativity is evil attacking Christian values and that it's a great method...there is quite a Babywise following in some churchs. I don't know what to think about it, but I stayed away. Here's a link I was given about the controversy.

https://www.ezzo.info/Articles/ezzo-babywise-controversy-101.htm

CAkelly · August 2009

I haven't read it but I have a friend who thought it was great. She followed it, but not too strictly and said that it really helped when she went back to work and her ds went to a nanny. Her kid was an awesome sleeper from the start so I don't know if that made things easier for her.

My.ABC.Life · August 2009

eastbaygirl:
I don't have any personal experience, but I've heard from several LC's and the RN who taught our infant care class to stay away from that book and that it has been linked to infants with "failure to thrive."

Ditto. I haven't read it... or followed it... but I heard negative things about it.

My.ABC.Life · August 2009

A second thought... what is your current feeding/sleep schedule... and what would you like to change about it? I didn't read many sleep books, instead I got a LOT of great information here on the Board. I've been very "happy" with Andrew's sleep habits. (And they are really starting to get better now).

Celyn · August 2009

I don't think the Christian values are being criticized. I think the perception of infants as master manipulators is not an idea that I'm comfortable with. He just seems to take a terribly negative view of children, who have to be forcibly molded into the family unit. And here I must say that I haven't read the updated version. There are parts of the original book that make great sense and then others that make me go "what the h*ll?" It's just quite extreme.

kittylove · August 2009

I have read it (new version) and think it is a good book for people who want a schedule. Personally I prefer baby whisperer though. It is quite rigid and there are lots of horror stories out there about it. But I think those are from people who don't use their mommy gut and follow all the rules in the book blindly. IMHO any book can be dangerous if you follow it blindly. That is just my 2 cents.

ashleyhuney · August 2009

Celyn:
I don't think the Christian values are being criticized. I think the perception of infants as master manipulators is not an idea that I'm comfortable with. He just seems to take a terribly negative view of children, who have to be forcibly molded into the family unit. And here I must say that I haven't read the updated version. There are parts of the original book that make great sense and then others that make me go "what the h*ll?" It's just quite extreme.

That wasn't what she meant. Basically, this friend thinks that Babywise methods are attacked because of the faith base...not that you or I are attacking it because it's Christian, but because the devil made us do it, kwim? It's hard to explain, but it's a real thought process among some Christians.

I have read parts of Babywise, enough to know it is not for us. There was a section of parent time that I thought was particularly strange. They recoed putting your child down and spending time on the couch with your spouse. When the child cried, don't go to them, just tell them that it's mommy daddy time and you'll go to them when that time is over. I don't remember what age they said to start, but that just sounds cruel to me.

jsugrin · August 2009

Someone gave me a fairly recent copy when Andrew was around 6-7 months old. I read it, mostly because there is such drama about it on the National Boards I wanted to know what all the fuss was about. After reading it I honestly thought, hmm what's all the fuss about? Some parts are really good and helpful and others not so much, IMO, and I have felt that way about every single book on kids I've read. I know in the first version there was so stuff about smacking your kids, starting when they're around 6 months, so they learn to behave and I think it was crap like that that sticks with people. People also get all wound up about a 8 week old STTN but he clearly states that STTN means 5-7 hours so really it's not all that unreasonable to expect. I just think most typical people think STTN means all night long.

Personally I think that a baby led schedule is a great thing.

fricksgirl · August 2009

I am ALL about a schedule but I personally stayed as far away from Babywise as possible. I think it's pretty scary!

Newborns are not meant to have a schedule. You need to do what your baby needs, for the first months they are so new, days and nights mixed up, feedings off, etc.

I had great success with Happiest Baby on the Block and then moving in to the sleep training method used in Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weisbluth. That book gives options for every style of parenting, but it very good about making an AGE-APPROPRIATE schedule for your baby and helping parents see that they needs to adapt their schedules as well in order to truly have a "Happy baby"! It's my baby bible and I swear I would marry Dr. Weisbluth if I didn't already have a husband! The man is a genius!

GirlStylist · August 2009

I read it when Cam was 6 weeks old in a day cause I was so frustrated with his sleep and crankiness. I read it and KNEW it wasn't for me. I have a girlfriend that swears by it. I did however take from the book, the pattern of wake, nurse, play, wake, nurse, play etc. That worked great for us.

I am very much a schedule person, but not to the point to where I wouldn't let my child nurse when he needed to !

I'm glad I read it, but also glad I didn't follow it ( just for us imo ) Wink

luckyladyinjune · August 2009

Thanks everyone, I just started looking thru it and don't think I will follow it. To much to soon for a newborn. She is doing great IMO. She is sleeping about 4-5 hours thru the night. I did like the wake, nurse, play and sleep pattern, I think I will try this. We also need to stop always holding her while she sleeps. When we put her down she wakes right up. Thank you for your opinions, very helpful! Smile

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