This book does not take into account growth spurts, and the babies individual growing needs. Breast feeding is well established by allowing the baby to cluster feed, and demand feeding. Here is an author who doesn't have children

The ideas seem good in theory but in practise i just had a sad baby and a sad mamma. Most of what Gina Ford advocates went against my instict as a mother. From memory Gina does not have children and it is evident by what she advocates

I thought this book was brilliant - my son was following many of the routines before I bought the book, but reading hte book really reinforced that I was doing the right thing. I didn't follow it to the letter, made adjustments to suit my situation. I'd highly recommend giving it a go.

I hated this book within 3 chapters I wished I'd never brought it or polluted my brain reading it. Her theories sound good but she makes you feel if you don't follow her every word then your doomed to have a well adjusted, excellent sleeping bub.

As a first time Mum I need some theories and some suggestions I can adjust to suit my life and my baby. All Mum's know that no two babies have the same health, same patterns, same anything just as their mummies are never the same so you need to be able to put the building blocks down and adjust to suit your particular situation.

I would reccommend Dr Sears and Ana May over this author anyday, I doubt she's had her own kids and just sounds like one of the agro midwives you can run into in hospital!

The Sear's books give your building blocks so you build your child's routine, empowering you as the mum which is what you need when your having a baby. You don't need to be made feel bad especially cos you want to have your baby sleep in your room for a while! A big no no according to this author!

If your a smart thinking mum looking for a routine I'd search further afield, if you like being told what to do with your child no questions asked then I'd say this book is excellent cos she'll soon tell you exactly how you should be raising your child.

I think this book can be quite detrimental for new mothers - it can leave them feeling that they've somehow "failed" when they discover that babies aren't little robots who will submit to an arbitrary routine. That's how it made us feel. We were very lucky to read other books at the same time (eg Sears "The Baby Book") which recognised that all babies are different and the important thing is for parents to become experts on their own baby. The Sears have 8 kids and are paediatrician and nurse respectively - last time I looked Gina had no kids. It's just the law of averages that this book will work for some babies, but I'd guess it won't for most. Babies are people, not pets - they will be inconvenient, but it's better that you learn to get on than fight their good and natural needs. We find ours sleep much better because their needs were met as babies.

I'm a fan!!! I bought this book for my 1st born was 11 weeks old .. only wish I'd had it earlier; it really helped correct a few emerging problems he'd had when unable to feed. I used the routines and found them fantastic, knowing that I was going back to work, and would need a solid routine to ensure we all coped.
I am again referring to Gina with my second child; and she really responds well. She likes more sleep than suggested for her age, but I ensure that any extra time is structured at the appropriate 'nap' times.
This is not worth attempting (a routine) if you are not willing to be structured yourself or are doing demand feeding/parental bed sleeping etc., but if you are willing to hang in there after a fortnight you will start to smile at 8pm when the little dears are fast asleep and you can have some adult time.
PS I am gleeful when hearing of pregnant with #2 wondering how they are now going to get #1 out of their beds ...

This book wasn't actually what I was looking for, I thought it was more about contented sleeping. Its based on very structued routines and wasn't something
i was interested in reading about.

This book gave me back my sanity. I didn't know what to do when I brought home my first child and this helped tremendously. I especially like the section on getting the babies room ready. I’ve referred back to this book for all 3 of my children and I purchase it for all my friends who are expecting.

I brought this book looking for a routine for my 11 week old daughter. There is so many good ideas in this book. The routines are good and well structured so you can't possibly loss your way. I don't have a problem with getting up to my daughter at night; she sleeps with us at night. So I use most of what she says and tweak it to fit our lifestyle. I recommend this book bacause a lot of women today don't think they should stay home and look after their baby when she advocates that you should (at least for the first 3 months). I am from a generation that has lost its way with bringing up children so this book is necessary

Gina Ford rocks. My friends can't belive that my 20 mth old still sleeps in a pram, day or night, which means I can go out with him. It's only because he learnt good sleep associations early on and I still stick to a routine. He has never had sleep or food issues. Thank you, thank you, thank you Gina!