I read a number of books on bringing up baby - but I didn't approach any of them as 'this is what you must do'. Gina provides some good advice and I'm sure that her routines have worked for plenty of people. For that reason her book is useful. Every baby is different - all I wanted was a book to provide reassurance when I felt out of my depth and Gina Ford does that. Would an alternative baby guide? Probably yes, but that doesn't detract from confidence I derived as a first time Mum from this book.
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This book is excellent. Parents, who want lasting discipline, in the true sense of the word [teaching], look no further. As other reviewers have said, there is no quick fix. If that's what you are after, God help your kids!
As an author, I also found the techniques and suggestions easy to pick up and assimilate.
It is relevant for school, home and life in general.
We can't get enough of this kind of material.
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This book is a must for all parents. It has so much information packed into it. It has answered nearly every question I've had on bringing up my child so far! Its very easy to dip in and out of, and you can see easily what to expect in future months!
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i found this book a huge help. my son only had acsident on the 1st two day. i know this was down to my son not the book but it helped my make a start.
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Just as all other Gina books this one follows on fantastically from the Contented Baby book. Just as you start to worry about the toddler years here is the book with all the answers to keep you calm and confident. Very helpful book that Im constantly referring to for different stages of my sons development, filled with loads of advise and tips. My son is a happy confident toddler with a happy contented family around him, what more could you ask for!
I found the chatty style just too long winded when what I am after is to the point advice. But for me it wasn't the rope trick (tying the child's door so they can't open it at night) but suggesting that after the toddler comes into the parent's bedroom for the third time at night, that was the time to use a smack if you chose to smack! And this is the "world's best selling parent guide" - god help us and our children!
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I felt completely depressed when pregnant with my second son when I read this book! Mr Biddulph basically tells you that, as a mother, you are important to your sons till they reach five, then you can basically forget it, as you will always be of secondary importance to them compared to their fathers and you should just get on with doing their laundry and cooking them the odd meal or two!
I'm sure he is right to a certain degree but, after speaking to many people after reading this, it is a huge generalisation to say that most men worship their fathers and take their mothers for granted.
Also, he could really have written one chapter instead of a whole book as the central message is repeated again and again: "Male children need strong male role models"
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Elizabeth Pantley's book is especially great for those parents co-sleeping and breastfeeding. It fills in the gaps where the Sears Attachment Parenting and Baby Sleep books fail on this angle. It mentions the co-dependancy of daytime naps and night-time sleeping.
BUT having specifically mentioned two mothers with lap-napping babies that were cured of this sleeping preference, guidance on how to achieve success was not supplied. Another mother was cured of taking bedtime with her baby due to separation issues but again this was frustratingly not addressed.
A major factor in Elizabeth's advice is the emphasis on placing your baby down to sleep when still awake but without satisfactory guidance on how to manage non-conformity. Placing baby down when 'almost ... Read More:
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This is a book to turn to for help on every aspect of parenting small children. It's well laid out, easy to find specific information, and concise without being dry. It covers everything from developmental stages, to healthy eating (including recipe ideas), childhood diseases, immunisation and first aid, helping your child develop ethics and good values. It's a hefty tome, reflecting a vast amount of knowledge gathered by the two authors over many years, and it was my crutch!
You may want to buy additional guides to parenting if you are struggling with a particular aspect of parenting, particularly the emotional and behavioural aspects, but this may be the one book that you turn to constantly until your child is 3.
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