Gina Ford - Angel or Demon?

And so the debate continues.  Does this woman give new mothers all of the advice that they need when caring for their babies, or do her suggestions set them on the fast track route to post natal depression?

For those of you who don't know the name, Gina Ford is supposedly Britain's number one baby care guru.  At this point I will add that she has no children of her own but rather used her extensive experience as a maternity nurse to come up with her infamous routines.

Since publishing her now notorious book in 1999 (now even more notorious following Nick Clegg's very public slating a couple of weeks back) desperate first time mothers have flocked to the bookshops in their droves.  Undoubtedly her methods have made her millions, although perhaps many have felt that they have subcontracted out the first few months of caring for their baby.  Critics say that they are so focused on following the routines that they feel that they cannot enjoy the precious first few months as the clock determines all.

When I was expecting Nico, a very good friend of mine offered me one piece of advice.  She said, "whatever you do, do not buy that god damn Gina Ford book".  She holds it entirely responsible for her feelings of failure and subsequent post natal depression which lasted for two years following the birth of her son.  So I took her advice; I didn't buy the book. 

But two weeks ago, after reading the papers and listening to long discussions on radio about the validity of her methods I decided to buy the book.  On a trip into the city last week I read it from cover to cover and it seems as if we have been making many mistakes (or at least in Miss Ford's eyes).

There is much that flies in the face of the current guidelines from bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and current medical advice.  No wonder mothers are confused.

Gina advocates giving your baby a daily bottle of cool boiled water.  The WHO specifies that breastmilk alone provides all of the nutrients and fluids that a baby needs for the first six months - ok a little lacking in Vitamin D perhaps, but a few minutes in daylight each day sorts that.

Gina insists that the baby must sleep in his own room from Day 1.  The NCT advises that for the first six months that baby should be in the same room as his parents.

Gina pertains that allowing your baby to cry himself to sleep for every nap and nighttime is natural and necessary from Day 1.  Leading pediatricians warn of the long term damage that can be done to a baby left to cry.

Baby slings are not allowed, naps in the pram are forbidden.

And Gina's trump card is a strict feeding schedule.  My pediatrician has told me to feed on demand except for the first week where I was advised to wake the baby every two hours during the day and every three at night to make sure he was sucking enough to stimulate the milk.

I didn't follow her schedules as I took the advice of my good friend not to go down that road so I can't comment on their effectiveness.  But what I can see if the conflicting advice offered at every turn. 

Gina reckons that of all 300 babies that she's dealt with that not one has suffered from colic, or at least if they have she's been able to cure it within 24 hours.  Given the colic hell that we've had for the last 10 weeks I'm sure that if I'd got hold of her book a couple of months ago I'd have tried her suggested routines to see if they offered the magic colic cure that everyone is looking for.  I'd be interested to know for those of you that have followed her routines, have your babies had colic?