Baby Wise Book

I read the book after my son was born and started following it when he was about 8 weeks old. It was a night and day difference - he was so much more content and well rested after following the book's general guidelines. It is irritating that a lactation consultant, or anyone else for that matter, can act so matter-of-fact about it - I don't think it was her place to do so. Every baby is different and parents will often have to try various methods in order to determine what works best for them. I personally think the book was a life-saver. Lactation lady needs to simmer down.

I use Babywise also, but I also use my brain and it sounds like you did too. Babywise is full of great guidlines and principles to use, but they also expect you to evaluate each situation. I've heard negative stuff about Babywise, but usually it has to do with strict schedules and malnutrition which wouldn't happen if people would think a little too. I also personally know people who love the priniciples of the book! I wouldn't feel bad at all about recommending the book because it helped you. Each parent will have to determine for themselves what type of feeding/parenting works for them. Some are into demand and other like a flexible schedule. I love having some predictability to my day so schedules are nice.

99% of people who hate this book have never read it. It in no way suggests you let your crying baby go hungry or feed them on a schedule, which you know since you followed it!

The concern about malnourishment- that is a mom's doing, not a book's. I followed the program with my son and he was 95%ile for weight!! You have to use your common sense. You can't blame a book.

Don't feel bad for suggesting it to your friend. It worked for you, it worked for me, and countless other moms I am in contact with alone. We did it as a class through CHURCH for heaven's sake! (no pun intended). :D

I think a lot of criticisms about this book are really misguided. You don't follow it exactly, you use the principles behind it to help figure out what works for your particular baby. We used a varation of this book for my son, who was exclusively breastfed, and it really helped him get onto a great nap schedule that made him a much happier baby. Before I got him on a schedule he would not nap and was always over tired. I still fed him on demand, but used the schedule principles for sleeping. Just tell her to use the ideas in it to find a system that works well for her little one!

I haven't read all the responses yet, but I used Babywise and Babywise II for toddlers and my children have always been good sleepers. Take out of it what works for you and discard the rest. My children have always gone to bed the moment they were put down and could sleep 6 hours at night within the first 6 weeks. Trust your "mom" instinct and you and your child will be fine. Best of luck!

"Attachment parenting" is what lactation consultants, La Leche League, and breastfeeding advocates encourage...Babywise discourages attachment parenting. You read the book, you know that it isn't to discourage breastfeeding at all. It is to help them develop healthy sleep cycles which is not a priority in the eyes of lactation consultants... but they aren't the ones who will suffer from sleep deprivation either.
There are a lot of mixed reviews about Babywise, but moms who have read it and used it swear by it. Don't be offended if your SIL doesn't use it... not everyone can handle it. I highly recommend the book to every new mother, but I also give them a little disclaimer that "there is some mixed feelings out there about this book", but it works and my baby is proof. By 12 weeks she slept through the night and had a predictable daytime routine of feeding time, wake time, sleep time.

Everyone has different opinions on how to raise children... so don't let it bother you.

My brother recommended Babywise to me and before I went out and got it, I did a little research on the web. I found the negative and the positive reviews and decided to judge for myself.
I found the book to be very helpful, but was it something you should take word for word, no. My son did exceptionally well with the Babywise method. He is a child that loves structure. My daughter on the other hand is more free willing and she does better on a more loose schedule.
People who discredit the book usually don't understand that the advice is just that...advice. Take it or leave it, if it doesn't work for you move on. But I have never met anyone who tried the Babywise method and actually caused harm to their child.

I heard lots of negative about it, but the good far outweighed the bad. If you use the book as a guideline, it's great.

I is all a matter of opinion. 99% of lactation consultants will tell you to feed on demand (let the baby tell you when it is time to eat). They have a hard time with this book because it tells you to try to take note of the length of time between feedings so you can feed on more of a schedule. That is their only reason for discreaditing the book.

My first lesson in parenting was on day one. A nurse told me I couldn't give tylenol to my baby who was circumsised just moments before. The mommy instinct in me hit the roof. I told her, "He is my baby I can make that choice on his bahalf, because you don't think it is a good idea does not mean I don't have the final say."

Let her read the book, talk to others who have read the book and followed it and allow her to decide for herself.

I followed the ideas in Baby Wise but not to a tee. It did help me set a guideline for what I should look for and I will tell you it did bring peace and order to our home!

Since then I have read Toddler Wise (reading it again now), Preschool wise and Child Wise (this is the best one- you will definately re-read this one).

Hear what others say but you be the final judge!

Thumbs up for Baby Wise!

I, personally, had a very negative experience with a lactation consultant (she insisted on forcing my daughter onto me - against my wishes - while my daughter was screaming her head off and she ended up biting me so hard that it nearly drew blood) so my view is a little bit skewed... But in all honesty, you simply recommended the book because it worked well for you. And there's NOTHING wrong with that! I come from the school of parenting that you should never judge another parent's techniques if it seems to work for them (as long as a baby isn't being physically harmed). I personally believe that it's great if you can get your child on a schedule that works for your life. But, again, it's a personal choice. Many mothers choose to let their kids dictate a schedule which I believe is fine as long as it works for them. Just because you chose something different doesn't mean it's wrong... I think the lactation consultant should have let your sister in law make her own decision... And you shouldn't feel bad whatsoever for letting your sister in law in on a technique that worked well for you!

Its like training your baby as a pet. No human is on such a timed schedule.

Baby Wise, along with any other specific "method" parenting book, should not be taken TOO seriously by itself. What I mean, is I've found most of the time, the best way to deal with a problem is to read MANY books on the subject and take little things from each method and develop your own way of doing things that is specific to your life and the child's personality.

I read Baby Wise. It did help me a little bit, but I did think the method was quite harsh if you followed it to the "T". It was nice information to have though.

This is a book where you either like it and follow what it says or you hate it and do not. Personally, I did not follow the recommendations in the book. I do not believe we should try and mould our babies into a schedule WE think they should be on. Yes, my daughter was on a schedule, but it was a schedule set by her. I breastfed on demand, watched for her signs of sleepiness and she napped and went to bed when those signs appeared. It emerged into a very consistent schedule, but again, it was one set by HER.

People who are believers in attachment parenting will never have much good to say about BabyWise. But there are many who follow the book and love it. It's a difference in parenting techniques.

I have that many lactation professionals will discredit it most because they have not read it or just do not understand it-because they do not take the time too in addition it supports breast and formula feeding (which of course is taboo to a lacation consultant who by the way does not know this new mom's lifestyle and therefor has no right to discredit a way to feed your child). Like some who have read it do not understand it. However, repeatedly in the book it does say use common sense and not to starve your baby as you adapt the child to your schedule. It is all a matter of understanding the system and unfortunately not all so called professionals do. However, it is a wonderful program if you do it just like you said adapt the parts of it that make sense to you and your family needs.

Don't feel too bad there are even churches offering classes to their parishioners and still standing behind this book. I think it is still pretty popular.

Basically the biggest problem with baby wise is that the author wants you to put baby on a schedule and all the latest information proves, if you're breastfeeding, baby and moms milk supply need on demand feeding to be successful.

I know about 4 or 5 years ago there was a big scandal about moms following the authors instructions and they're babies becoming really sick and malnourished. It was on one of the investigative news shows.

So please don't get to upset, there are so many different opinions out there, that all we can do is look at it all and decide what is best for us and our babies :)

God Bless
K. SAHM of 3

you know everyone has there own opinion. Just because she doesn't like it meaNING THE Lactation consultant doesn't mean its a bad book. I wouldn't worry about it and recommend it to whoever. If your sister in law didn't like it she would have told you right? And if she didn't so what that her personal opinion. We all can have opinions. I wouldn't get sentimental about it. You follow your gut. Do what you think is right!!!

This book has a strong following but I find it very upsetting, as many people do, even tho' it's not totally wrong. Dr. Wm. Sears did a "rebuttal" to it in his Christian Parenting book a few years ago that addresses the points that are problemmatic. I never advise anyone to follow their advice. Those of us who are dedicated to letting babies set the pace with breastfeeding could never endorse it, though I have personal friends who think it's wonderful.

I also read the baby wise book before my baby was born and when I was at the hospital the lactation consultant HATED the book. Her reasoning is because they believe babies should be breastfed by demand and not every 3 hours and on a strict schedule like the book suggests. I would try not to feel guilty about advising your sister n law to read that book. There will be many times when one way may work for one person and not for another. Anyone can give their opinion on something but that doesn't mean they need to listen! Just let her know that some of the suggestions in that book worked for you but they may not work for her.

First of all, I sure hope you don't feel one bit guilty over this. You recommended something, you didn't call it "the" book - heck, only the Bible is "the" book anyway!

One practicioner may discount it, another will rave over it, each one will likely say something different. What I am trying to get at is that there are really no wrong or right answers, only answers that work for each person individually. What my MIL recommended, didn't work for me, but when my best friend who didn't have children recommended something she had heard her mom and sister talking about - it worked! LOL

Instructions don't come for raising kids - no matter what stage they may be in. I think that practioner has forgotten that golden rule!

I breastfed as well and the "lactation" expert at Borgess certainly did not hit the mark for recommendations for me and my daughter.....

I have read baby wise and when my first child was born my doctor told me to feed on demand. It work great for me he said baby will create there own schedule and that parents should not try to develop one for them. All my children slept through the night before they were three months all and they are all great sleepers. I also breastfeed. If I recall its been over 10 yrs since I read the book baby wise has you have the child cry it out at a very young book. When I children cry at a young age it is for a reason. Hungry, wet, cold, lonely, or they need love. It is imperative that these needs are met and let a child cry it out at a young age is not meeting the child needs.

For some reason (lack of info??) lactation consultants are against routines for babies. I used babywise, too and like you didn't follow it exactly but used it as a guide to determine a predictable routine that has made a world of difference btwn my first baby and my last two. I recommend it to everybody but I tell them that the number one key to success is that they be sure baby is full. The book even says a hungry baby is ALWAYS a reason to feed. Some moms have followed the book SO closely that they underfeed their babies which is absolutely absurd! The book was never intended to be a strict manual...just a proactive approach. Don't feel bad...the LC is only concerned about baby getting enough in the first few weeks while feeding gets established and the book doesn't even encourage following the method from day one. Share with your SIL that you and many others have found it valuable as a guide after breastfeeding gets underway. The books main concern is that baby gets full feedings every feeding...who wouldn't agree that is what every mom wants?

~L.

Every parent has thier own parenting style, and there are many books out there that support and contradict each of them. I've heard of the book, but I'm not sure exactly what it says. I know that many breastfeeding moms (myself included) are opposed to schedules, so if the book advises that, that may be why the lactation sonsultant told her not to follow it's teachings.
As parents, we have a lot of decisions to make though, and what advice to follow (or not follow) is one of them. Do what you feel is right for your family, and your friend will do the same, even if it's not the same thing.

I bought the book and read some of it. The part of the book that really seemed to work was laying the baby down 45 min-1hr after eating and they will go to sleep. Well, I didnt know about the book until my son was 4 months old and let me tell you for a child that only took 20 min naps they turned into 1.5-2hr naps 2-3 times a day and he always took great naps and slept great at night. That is the only thing I took from the book and it worked for me/us.. Do what works for you..the book wont work for everyone bc we are all so different..hope this helps..