From Contented Baby to Confident Child

If you are looking for answers, they are here. The specific, firm, detailed structure Gina Ford offers to parents at sea in The Contented Little Baby Book is to be found in reassuring measure in her latest book, From Contented Baby to Confident Child, a veritable handbook of concrete suggestions, case studies and advice.

Without wasting time on peripherals and philosophies, she dives straight into her subject matter, giving the parent who has specific concerns down-to-earth directives. Her routines are carefully planned and inspire confidence. Based on her 20 years' experience as a maternity nurse, these are practical routines that work.

She addresses most, if not all, of the issues that confront parents in the early years and is definite in her advice. Her style is authoritative yet helpful: for example, "Your baby is not a toy. Do not feel guilty about restricting the handling in the early weeks, especially prior to sleep time"; or, on restoring routines after illness, "Once I was convinced he was totally recovered, I would get tough and leave him to settle himself". And yet, for all the firmness and discipline, one senses Gina's babies like knowing where they are--and frazzled parents won't say no to a good night's sleep either.

The section on toddlers deals with walking, talking, feeding, dressing, tantrums, sibling jealousy and aggressive behaviour and includes helpful scenarios, replaying them with suggestions of how a tantrum could have been averted. In one scenario she describes how Thomas, aged 15 months, is allowed to play a Sunday morning game in bed, throwing a ball very gently. Six months later, with a new baby also in the bed, Thomas throws better and harder, and despite many entreaties to be gentle the baby is hit, resulting in screams all round. Gina comments on the parents (who lose their temper with Thomas) "It was ridiculous ever to expect the child to be satisfied with throwing the ball gently--balls are not designed for gentle play, the parents' expectation of Thomas playing gently with the ball in the bedroom was unrealistic".

Other topics covered are: how to potty-train your child in less than one week; how to cope with second babies; building your child's self-esteem; separation anxiety; and teaching discipline and good manners. (For more on toddlers, see Steve Chalke's Parentalk: the Toddler Years.)

Gina Ford challenges the received wisdom concerning demand feeding with delicious irreverence. Whatever your own views on the subject, this alone makes it a fun read. --Rebecca Pickering