Here we go!
Firstly, we've read the book. There is no doubt that there is a lot of good stuff in the book however we found it far too tightly bound up in routine. Sure, there is talk of using the routine as a guide line but I suspect many people treat it as a literal gospel.
We've watched the Channel 5 program about Gina Ford and the analogy made with recipes was interesting. Some experts were saying that the recipes should be taken and adapted to particular circumstances. This is all good and proper but how many people are confident enough to change a recipe? My fear is that many people don't have that confidence and so follow the recipe exactly.
There are undoubtedly parent/baby combinations for whom the strict routines work. Having found something that worked very well, the parents can verge on the evangelical. Parents and babies are not 'one size fits all'. What can work for one family could be a disaster for another.
It's a same that legal action is pending (taking place) between Mumsnet and Gina Ford as it prevents a proper discussion of the merits and dis-merits of the book and method. While that may not be the intention of the legal action - I understand it to be about offensive personal attacks - the effect has been to stifle comment. Every method that is being promoted, including attachment theory, needs to be examined and tested to see if it's valid or found wanting.
Firstly, we've read the book. There is no doubt that there is a lot of good stuff in the book however we found it far too tightly bound up in routine. Sure, there is talk of using the routine as a guide line but I suspect many people treat it as a literal gospel.
We've watched the Channel 5 program about Gina Ford and the analogy made with recipes was interesting. Some experts were saying that the recipes should be taken and adapted to particular circumstances. This is all good and proper but how many people are confident enough to change a recipe? My fear is that many people don't have that confidence and so follow the recipe exactly.
There are undoubtedly parent/baby combinations for whom the strict routines work. Having found something that worked very well, the parents can verge on the evangelical. Parents and babies are not 'one size fits all'. What can work for one family could be a disaster for another.
It's a same that legal action is pending (taking place) between Mumsnet and Gina Ford as it prevents a proper discussion of the merits and dis-merits of the book and method. While that may not be the intention of the legal action - I understand it to be about offensive personal attacks - the effect has been to stifle comment. Every method that is being promoted, including attachment theory, needs to be examined and tested to see if it's valid or found wanting.
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