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Gina Ford - Genius Or Baby Hitler?
Hi ladies, I was just wondering what your opinions on Gina Ford were? I have just finished her book, and whilst I love the idea of routine, I think waking a baby at 7am regardless of what time it last fed is ridiculous! Also, she says to wake baby if it has napped too long. Again, I couldn't imagine ever waking Hannah up!
Do her routines really work? Or is she too harsh? ?
Cate
Do her routines really work? Or is she too harsh? ?
Cate
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Replies
xx
And yes we always woke LO up after 1-2 hours max of sleep in the day in the first months. So that we could feed him regularly and so that he learned to sleep more at night. But obviously we made sure he slept enough in the day. So I think some of the ideas are really helpful, but you can't follow a very prescriptive routine rigidly as every baby is an individual. Plus it would drive you nuts xxxx
I've often thought that i'd love Gina Ford or Supernanny to come in a have a crack at Max-i think he'd run circles round them!xx
I am a big fan of reading all the "experts" advice though - and then doing your own thing, so I would recomend people do have a thub through her books if they have a spare few minutes, but then make it work for themselves and their babies.
Nx
I understand it's each to their own but i was quite strict with a 7pm bedtime so i wanted to encourage a 12 hr overnight routine quite early on.
Once mine had got to a few months old and started on solids I found that they went into a feeding/napping routine very easily and thrived on it. But imo a routine is not something which needs to be forced on a newborn.
Mx
Everyone who has dealt with me throughout both my pregnancies have all had children themselves - even the gp's we see now have all got kids too, because, in my opinion, you just have NO idea about certain aspects of parenting unless you have kids.
I dont like Gina Ford, and her attitude with the 'thread' on mumsnet (?) a year or so ago just reinforces my opinions of her - she tried to stop people talking about her (in a bad way)! Such a hissy fit for someone who is apparently a 'professional'
She is far too strict, and although both my two love a routine, I would never dream of taking anything she says and putting it into practice. I have let my kids find their own routines, and yeah sometimes its been difficult (CC with them both) but its what has made them the happiest - not what I /her thinks they *should* be doing!
xx
I did the complete opposite of what she says- cuddled him ALL the time including to sleep, breastfed him on demand for as long as he wanted, picked him up as soon as he cried, NEVER woke him (and still don't 8mth on!) and I have one incredibly happy, well rounded baby who is a dream!
We kind of have our own routine, and I was getting a bit worried that Hannah sleeps longer than Gina Ford says to, and that she eats more.
I eat my meals at different times, and I go to bed at different times, so why should Hannah be any different? I just would like her to know what comes next i.e. bath before bed.
Interesting read, but I shall stick to my own routines I think. Feel much better doing that after reading all these replies!
Cate
Have you read the Baby Whisperer - I love the way she works (worked, actually as she is dead)
May be worth a look if you are looking for some guidance...
C xx
I guess the routine we have is probably closer to the BW than GF but it's our own, devised based on what works for the girls. I think the key is to read the books you're interested in, digest the info and work out something that works for you and your LO.
I have to say though, I do get them up at 7-7.30am for a feed, even when they were feeding in the night. If they want to go back to sleep then that's fine but it means our feeds throughout the day are always on track and therefore bedtime always falls at the same time. Just what works for us but may not work for others xx
Its worked really well for us, he doesnt have a routine with daytime sleeps, just sleeps when he likes really but goes to bed at 8:30pm and sleeps through and has done since he was about 9 weeks old.
The 7am start has worked for us and him but I couldnt be doing with the rest of Gina Fords sugestions though, its a bit too strict for me!