Sleep Routine - Gina Ford Book?

[rizzolena]

Hi,
Okay so I maybe total out of line here but I have a question.
I am 28 weeks preg with number 1 and am trying to prepare for life with bub.
Has anyone here tried the suggestions made by Gina Ford in her book 'The contented little baby book' :confused:
If so did it work for you? If not was there any other resources you found useful? I realise every bub is different and everyones situation is different, but I would like some advise before bub turns up.
Thanks:baby:

[LilMissnBoo]

Hello! I haven't read the book, so I really can't comment on how helpful it is.
To be honest, a book can't help you prepare with life with a baby. Nothing can. I would just wait until you baby arrives and enjoy the final stages of your pregnancy. :yes:

[mumkc]

Hi Rizzolena. i have a 2 week old and am basing my baby's routine on this book. I do not stick to it to the letter, but in general it is working for me. My baby sleeps and feeds beautifully and rarely cries. Not sure if this is due to the routine or due to his nature, but I have definitely found the book helpful.

Good luck! Motherhood is the most wonderful experience in the world (as far as I am concerned, and so far!)

[SydDi]

Hi! I'm 28 weeks with my first baby as well! I've bought this book on a recommendation from 2 friends. Like you I realise that all babies are different, but I'm going to give it a shot. If it doesn't work, I figure it will at least give us some good tips on how to establish a routine that suits our families. Especially as we haven't done it before! Good Luck! :)

[gizmoduckus]

I found the book useful. I didn't go by everything in there, just the information that I thought was good. It was good to give me an idea about how much sleep a baby needs and how to space out meals when DS finally started solids.

With babies you will find that a lot has to do with trial and error. Just find what works for you and stick with it. What is right for one baby, isn't going to be right with them all.

Just know that everyone was in the same position as you and we all managed to get through it. You will learn what to do just as we have.

[monkeytoes]

Reading books is a great way to get an idea of what life will be like with a new baby, but the best way to get into a routine is to watch your baby and get to know their signals.

As a general guide a newborn up until about 12 weeks should only be awake for a maximum of 1.5hrs at a time. And when a baby needs to go to sleep they need it NOW not in 5 minutes time. It's amazing how quickly they can get over-tired. What I have always done is when the baby has been awake for about 1hr 20mins I start looking for tired signs. Yawn, rubbing eyes, red eyebrows, getting restless etc. I then do a quick nappy change, wrap, then give bubs the dummy and put her in the cot.
Then from around 12weeks it changes to about 2hrs awake time.

But the best thing is to watch your own bub and look for the signals.:thumbsup:

Good luck

[michelleB]

i read this book when i was preg, then when i tried to follow the routines when bubs came i found it extremely stressful. she makes it sound so easy- like anyone can do it. not all babies will want to be in a routine, especiall not one this strict. my maternal health nurse says gina ford is the devil and that the book should be banned cos she has seen so many new mums despairing over it. a more relaxed one to try is The Baby Whisperer, this has some great tips on sleep strategies. i wish i had read it before i had my baby, then i could have stopped myself from teaching her bad sleep habits, like falling asleep in my arms, on the boob etc.

[JosieMonkey]

Hi,
Gina Ford is seen as one of the more strict feed/sleep people out there...and apparently she doesn't have kids of her own! I have read the book but my bub could never have followed her routines, she was too unsettled. You never know what sort of bub you will have so I wouldn't get too set on any routine yet.

If you are planning on breastfeeding, i wouldn't get too much into books that tell you to express milk every day (as Gina does) as breastfeeding can take a while to get the hang of and expressing can be both ineffective and time-consuming. The little bit of time you will have for yourself is better spent on other things than expressing (unless you can do it quickly as i assume some can).

There are a range of different strategies out there in books including: Tizzie Hall - Save our Sleep; Elizabeth Pantley - No cry sleep solutions; Dr Sears - the baby book; your local sleep centre probably has a publication also or there is info on the karitane website.

All the best!

[kkaz]

Hi there,

I really don't want to hijack this thread, but I was wondering, MichelleB, what is the name of the author for that book,"the Baby Whisperer"? There seems to be a lot of books with that descriptor in the title. Is there a particular one you are talking about?

Also, I couldn't agree more with monkeytoes. My DD is only 3 weeks old, but if I JUST miss putting her to bed when she starts yawning and showing tired signs, she takes so long to settle because of overtiredness. If I catch it (and sometimes in my case it can be at just 45 mins after waking - she must love her sleep! ;)) then she settles much more easily.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy, and the birth of your beautiful bub!!

[michelleB]

the author is Tracy Hogg. She has a few different books out, it would be good to start her techniques early before you get too sleep deprived and you dont have any patience- like me!