On Becoming Babywise: Parenting Your Pre-Toddler 5 to 12 Months

This book did make a wonderful difference for us. My first baby slept through the night at 7 weeks. She is now 4 years old and a happy, sweet, well behaved little girl. The basic ideas of the book about setting up routine and schedule for babies worked really well for us. Whenever she cried or fussed, we knew exactly what she needed. No guessing. We are now taking the same ideas we used on our first daughter and applying them to our 3 week old. I don't care about the religion of the author or the controversy about his credentials. The principles of the book are solid and make sense. Of course, as with everything else having to do with babies, you should pick and choose the information that works for your family. We didn't agree with everything in the book, in fact there were quite a few ideas in the book that we felt strongly were NOT right for us, but agreed that a routine would be good for our babies since it set a pattern of predictability that I think is very good and healthy for them and us.

People that haven't read or tried this book will tell you not to use it... but ask anyone that has used it on their own children, and i bet they will tell you differently!This is an excellent book for people who want their children to be well-behaved,happy, adjusted, well-rounded people. It provides guidelines for discipline and structure that too many people do not include in their parenting these days- thus the society we currently have! It is strictly a guide, but is very common sense information. I have used it with both of my children, and can't count the number of times I have been told how "lucky" i am to have such well behaved, smart and happy children!!! I can't say enough good things about this book. YOU won't have to recommend it to ANYONE- your kids will. People will look at your children and say "HOW DID YOU DO THAT??"... then you can tell them about the book.

My grandchildren are being raised by these methods and are very well-adjusted children. They love to play, laugh and know what the rules are: very consistent rules! Their parents are intelligent, God-loving people, and teach their children to love God and others.

It's about time parents took responsibility for teaching their children the correct way to express themselves, established guidelines for their growth and development and helped them develop moral character. This book provides such valuable tools for helping your baby grow into a responsible, self-disciplined, happy child. Just looking at the sad state most children are in these days, and the horrific acts being played out by our society's children, should be enough of a sign to parents all over that a return to the basics of self control, discipline and moral character development are in great need. I encourage you to explore the Ezzo's suggestions and really think about the kind of adult you would like your baby to become.

As a breastfeeding mother of two toddlers and former schoolteacher, I have read a lot of info (books and articles) on parenting over the past three years and have talked personally with over 100 parents trying to find out what works and what doesn't, etc. The Ezzo's practical advice is some of the best I've encountered. No, their advice is not for the fainthearted, nor is it for anyone wanting easy, quick, "warm-fuzzy" parenting tips that will make them feel better about not disciplining their child. As the authors emphasize in this hard-line but very rewarding approach, you want to make your child know that the world does not revolve around him or her (starting from day one, not when they are out-of-control three year olds), but that they are a MUCH LOVED, welcomed addition to your family. I have spent time working with literally hundreds of children and young adults (from infants to college students), and have had the opportunity to speak with many parents. In asking parents who had well-adjusted, well-behaved, mature, and caring children how their kids turned out so well, EVERY one of them mentioned that they consistently used disciplining principles, the same kind of principles discussed in Babywise (many younger parents actually said they used the Ezzo's Growing Families program and the Babywise books). I even know some people who have tried several child-rearing philosophies (including Sears') who said that the Babywise principles were by far the best. As for critics of the feeding program, many don't read the entire book or they get defensive and think, "How can these people be telling me what to do?" The authors give very specific guidelines (much more specific than La Leche) for discerning if your baby is being fed enough--use them!! A baby can be underfed no matter what feeding philosophy you use. I've known Sears' and La Leche babies who were severely underfed, and the mothers were so worn out from sleep deprivation they could barely concentrate on the needs of their child. Read the book, but realize you can still be flexible; they address this issue as well. As the book points out (hard as this is for us to realize or admit), babies can learn to manipulate after only a few days in this world--talk to neonatal nurses if you don't believe it! You can spoil your child--the question is, do you want to? I believe parents owe it to their children and their families' state of mind (and their future teachers!)to at least read the advice in the book given and look into implementing some of it, if not all. Happy parenting!