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Anyone managed Gina Ford successfully and did your baby sleep?

Last post 03/02/12 at 06:41 by seriouslikecrazy, 18 replies
Post started by seriouslikecrazy on 11/01/12 at 09:58

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  • seriouslikecrazy avatar
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    Posted by: seriouslikecrazy 11/01/2012 at 09:58
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     Hello

    I had a read of Gina Fords Contented little baby when PG and felt it was more a book to read, get hints from but not stick to it religously as it seems very constricting. 

    Anyway had baby and was in hospital for 5 days and whilst there she slept all day and was awake all night. Midwifes told me to demand feed only and not to wake her when she was sleeping. Couldn't cope with that when I got home so I started waking her for feeds and demand fed if she wanted feeding sooner, it was a very very loose take on the book timings etc.

    Baby is now 5 weeks and I have no real routine. She is fab and sleeps most nights from 11-4am and then until 7 after a feed. This is excellent and I'm so grateful for a good baby. The only problem I have is a lack of routine in the day and evening. I don't seem to be able to get dressed before lunch and then she is bathed around 6pm fed and then she will not settle at all until 9 when she stays downstairs with us. She is then fed at 10.30pm regardless of when she last fed and she generally sleeps until 4.06am (very exact lol).

    Today I'm doing Gina Ford religously. I've just put her down for a sleep now and I am going to prepare tea and tidy a bit (boy my house is a mess). Has anyone else done Gina Ford and how did you manage to have a life. I want to go to mum and baby groups and baby massage but the times don't fit with her routines. How have other people coped or is this book just too strict if you want to actually leave the house other than a walk at 4pm? 

    Thanks.

     
  • lilypot avatar
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    Posted by: lilypot 11/01/2012 at 10:33
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     I guess it's one of things where you either love it or hate it.

    I know people who have stuck to the Gina Ford routine and it has worked so that's one success story.

    However, I took one look at the routine and for the very reason you said (about timings not fitting with mum and baby groups) I knew it jsut wasn't for me.  I personally didn't like the idea that I was told when to eat, shower, sit down and when baby was meant to sleep and eat etc - I also got paranoid about the scenario of when baby didn't go to sleep when she was meant to, what happens if she doesn't sleep as long as Gina Ford stated, what happens if baby's not hungry when she;s meant to be eating........  I got myself into so many scenarios that I didn't even start the routine!

    However, I am also of the opinion that some babies are just not meant to be in a routine and when they do go to a routine, it's because they've established it.  I know this leaves mum in a bit of limbo as I tried to muddle through each day but believe it or not, my LO did eventually go into a routine.

    OK, so I encouraged it eventually - feeding every 3 hours and waking for a feed if need be (I demand bfed for first 8 weeks then switched to ff) but that was at about 10-12 weeks.

    I don't know if this made any difference either but my baby was 5 weeks prem.

    I'm sure you've had many people say but 5 weeks is still very young and believe me, you've done well to get your baby to sleep from 10.30-4am!  Wow!  We were still on every 2 hours at that point!

    As for the day time activities, I roughly did things in a cycle - play, feed, sleep, play, feed, sleep (and sometimes play would only last 10 mins!).  And for getting dressed - I tended to put clothes out to wear before I went to bed and then grab them with me to get dressed when LO was 'playing'!

     
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    Posted by: kittenjames 11/01/2012 at 10:36
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    had a read of the book out of interest, tried doing a kind of routine but ended up feeling upset and frustrated as LO didn't realise he was supposed to sleep and feed to a schedule!!

    we did not have any kind of routine until LO was at least 4 months and that was just following his cues when he was tired for naps, feeding on demand and bath and bed routine from 7pm. in my honest opinion, 5 weeks is very, very early days. spend this time enjoying your LO, so what if you don't get dressed before midday?! if you feel ready to go to groups, then go. LO will sleep in the pram/sling (if you have one) on the way there and even remain asleep at the group which often happened to us but i still got out the house and had a natter.

    when i look back at LO's early days i wish i'd not put so much pressure on myself to stick to a routine or do things a certain way. i wish i'd spent more time just holding him and lazing around together! the lack of routine in the early days has not impacted us negatively, he is in a lovely routine (where i have taken his lead) now and is a very happy chappy indeed!

    good luck, kj

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    Posted by: ladymarm 11/01/2012 at 11:21
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    Well done and congratulations xxx

    Please don't worry if you don't have a 'routine'. Still v eearly. it will come but not necess for a while yet. The sleeping sounds fab, like Lily we were feeding every two hours at this stage.

    Personally getting out the house every day even if just round the block kept me sane so would be reluctant to follow routine which didn't allow you to go out when the sun suddenly comes out for an hour!

     
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    Posted by: all_heart 11/01/2012 at 14:32
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    I found it easier to make my own routine (reflux baby couldn't do an activity after eating, had to sit up for 30 min!) I spent a week watching her and what she hinted she wanted to to. I discovered she rubs her eyes when tired, likes a sleep 2 hours after waking up and roughly every 2 to 3 hours after that. She liked to feed every 3 hours give or take, which she moved to 4 hours on her own. Having a pattern is good (a course I went on called it a pattern, as routine sounded too much like keeping to times, I like the sound of pattern!) That time of watching and not trying or worrying was the most valuable to be and I learned so much from it. I just need to remember to do it every so often as patterns change quickly in babies. Your's in still young and working out the world and what they want and need. good luck
  • seriouslikecrazy avatar
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    Posted by: seriouslikecrazy 11/01/2012 at 16:54
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     I like the pattern idea. I had a pattern it just needed sorting out a little bit so I have some time to cook tea and eat it. I had a pattern and I think that is what I'll stick to. I think that Gina Ford wants babies to sleep less in the day and so sleep at night.

     I stuck to Gina ford all day (even going back a routine so it isn't too advanced for her) I'm shattered and feeling stressed a she is over tired and won't feed so won't sleep when she is meant to. Also when Iput her to sleep for 2 hrs earlier she only wanted one and then was hungry but wasn't meant to feed for another hour. I haven't leaft the house as people popped round at pram walk time so boring day and my house is still a tip because she didn't sleep at the alloctaed times.

     Back to my pattern tmr with a more fixed bedtime routine. Thank you ladies for your input. My official conclusion is that it is a pants routine and impossible to impiment as babies don't like time tables.

    Oh and Lady marm thanks for the congrats. Labour was a doddle compared to what I thought.I was 6cm before the midwife realised I was in labour (I went in to be induced andshe checked me earlier than she should because I'd moaned I was having some pain lol). Thanks for all your advice. How is your LO now?

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    Posted by: bunique 12/01/2012 at 07:38
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    5 weeks is so, so teeny - give yourself the first 12 weeks at least to a) recover from the shock of becoming a parent! and b) get to know your baby. 5 weeks! Awwwww. Notbroodynotbroodynotbroody.
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    Posted by: spiderkin 12/01/2012 at 07:48
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    congratulations x

    babies don't really do our normal social routines and there is psychological research that suggests that a Gina Ford routine could harm your child as your child learns that it's needs will not be met when it has needs. try googling to read about the research yourself and make your own mind up about it. i had no routine until 6 months - it was very hard and for a control freak like me it was quite frustrating, but forget the housework, forget the cooking, forget the ironing - focus on the little miracle you have in your arms, learn about who this little person is, listen to them, find out what they need and when they need it. if people offer to help (which normally means "cuddle the baby"!) ask them to wash dishes or do laundry or cook a meal. that's the help you need now, your baby needs you!

    good luck x
  • seriouslikecrazy avatar
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    Posted by: seriouslikecrazy 12/01/2012 at 10:12
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     Yeah it is impossible. I'm back to my "pattern" today and much happier. I woke at 7.15, I woke baby at 7.45 she fed we played, she vomitted really badly (so now I'm watching her like a hawk to make sure she isn't ill and I'm taking her temp etc), wanted a little feed as I'm guessing she was hungry after vomiting. Woke up we had some cuddles andplay and she wanted her next feed and now she is asleep.

    i THINK i'M COMPARING MYSELF TO OTHER PEOPLE AND i REALLY SHOULDN'T. Opps sorry for shouting. My baby is an individual and we will do things our own way. If she won't go to sleep until 9pm so what? She is super happy (got my first smile today yay) and that is all that matters. 

  • all_heart avatar
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    Posted by: all_heart 12/01/2012 at 19:54
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    seriouslikecrazy:
    She is super happy (got my first smile today yay) and that is all that matters
    That smile says it all! You are being an excellent Mummy and doing everything you LO needs and wants.
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