The New Contented Little Baby Book

By Gina Ford

Gina Ford.... many people say you either love her or hate her. A strict regiment and scheduling for your newborn baby sends many new parents into a tailspin. But, as I pointed out before if you take a little from each book Gina Fords-The New Contented Little Baby Book can give some very helpful advice.

From setting up the baby's nursery to buying the correct equipment from breastfeeding and bottlefeeding, to what clothes will be needed for your newborn baby. Her Preparation for the birth can be very helpful to new parents who have no idea what items are needed for a newborn baby.

Her section on routines talks about why she feels a schedule is important, the differences between demand feeding and a strict routine and the benefits for you and your baby. She talks about feeding in the first year. The schedule she sets out is strict,some find it too strict, this is where reading other books will help you determine what type of routine you and your baby will follow or if any.

Gina Ford gives detailed charts on feed times for each age group, from a newborn up to 9-10mnths of age. Her schedule is strict, telling parents when to wake the child in the morning, when to feed, change and put to bed. What I found helpful with this book is that you can adapt it to suit your schedule, just because Gina says get your baby up at 7am every day you really don't have to. If you are a person that likes to get up later, adapt the schedule around your's. Put your baby to bed later change all the times and the schedule will fit in with you and your family.

One point that she does make that I find extremely useful is that if you and your baby have a very bad night, always start the day anew. Wake your baby up each and every day at the same time and put your baby to bed each and every night at the same time. Even if you are just doing those two things you have a routine starting and you can work from there. The idea of using blackout blinds to get your baby to sleep, for me is a little extreme. Some however find this helpful and swear by it. It is worth a read just to give yourself some idea's of routines and introducing solid foods in the first year.

Along with her section on Common problems in the first year, covering items such as Burping, Colic, Crying, Dummies and Reflux issues. If following the Gina Ford schedule it is important to remember that if your baby does not follow it to the book it does not mean that you and your baby are failing. Start each and every day anew and begin again. Gina Ford makes some very good points but due to her very strict and regimented schedule it is dificult to stick to and can become very stressful for new mothers.

We all have to remember that all newborns and baby's are individuals, not all will switch schedules at the drop of a hat and may need time to adjust. Some flexibility is always a good thing.

www.randomhouse.co.uk

www.contentedbaby.com

Not sold in Canada or US, purchase from Amazon, Ebay or direct from supplier.

What To Expect The First Year

By Eisenberg, Murkoff and Hathaway

What to expect the first year is a month by month guide to helping you care for your newborn baby. I find this book helpfulas a reference, more than a cover to cover read, as it covers just about everything you will need to know in the first year of your baby's birth. Tons of medical information on diseases and ailments to how to stop the grandparents spoiling your child/children. It gives you facts on breastfeeding along with facts on bottlefeeding. From dad taking time off to help with the birth to hiring a Maternity Nurse/Nanny. It even gives advice on how to prepare your family pet.

It's hard to find a topic that this book doesn't cover which is why it's so great, and nearly every parent I have met owns this book.

This isn't a book on routines, in fact there isnt much mention of what you should do on a day to day basis to get your baby into a routine. But it has just about every other piece of information you will need. It has a small section on putting your baby to bed and not sleeping through the night but this book is aimed more at the medical issues, along with decisions on hiring a Nanny vs Daycare when you return to work.

It covers household pesticides and what harm these can do, to food hazards for your baby. Along with issues such as head banging, grinding teeth and such for the older baby.

I believe this is a fantastic book its chock full of helpful information and not overpriced. In Canada it sells for $23.95 and can often be found in second hand bookstores at a very low price. At the back of the book it has detailed charts on illness's, symptons and preventions. As well as excersises for the new mother and some recipes. It really is hard to find fault with this book, I think this is one that all new parents should have. This book is sold in Canada and the US along with the UK.