On Becoming Babywise

Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep

By: Gary Ezzo, Robert Bucknam M.D.

Narrated by: Anne Marie Ezzo

Length: 5 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Distinguished pediatrician Dr. Robert Bucknam, MD, and coauthor Gary Ezzo are two of the world's leading experts on infant management concepts. In this revised fifth edition, they have updated their groundbreaking approach, which has found favor with over six million parents in all 50 states and has been translated into 16 languages around the world. For over 20 years, On Becoming Babywise has been the de facto newborn parenting manual for naturally synchronizing your baby's feeding time, wake time, and nighttime sleep cycles, so the whole family can sleep through the night.

In his 26th year as a licensed pediatrician, Dr. Robert Bucknam, MD, along with coauthor Gary Ezzo, demonstrates how order and stability are mutual allies of every newborn's metabolism and how parents can take advantage of these biological propensities. In particular, they note how an infant's body responds to the influences of parental routine or the lack thereof. Early chapters start with explorations of everyday aspects of infant management, such as the three basic elements of daytime activities for newborns: feeding time, wake time, and naptime.

Practical discussions then focus on broad and niche topics including feeding philosophies, baby sleep problems, baby scheduling challenges, nap routines, sleep training multiples, baby sleeping props, colic and reflux and many other dimensions that impact breast feeding schedules, bottle feeding tips, and baby sleep training. Five resource appendices provide additional reference material:

• Taking Care of Baby and Mom
• A Timeline of What to Expect and When
• Baby Sleep Training Problems and Solutions
• Monitoring Your Baby's Growth
• Healthy Baby Growth Charts

On Becoming Babywise is more than an infant-management concept. It is a mind-set for successful parenthood. It can help any parent develop a plan that meets the needs of both a new baby and the entire family. These principles have worked for millions of parents and, when applied with common sense to your unique situation, can work wonderfully for you, too! Recommended by doctors across the country.

©2017 Hawksflight & Associates, Inc (P)2017 Hawksflight & Associates, Inc

Critic reviews

"As a mom, I parented both ways. As a certified lactation educator, I know how discouraging it is to feed a baby around the clock with no apparent advantage and how fatigue will affect her milk supply. I also know how discouraging the first eighteen months of parenting can be without a plan. I know, because with my first child, I did everything the opposite of what is taught in this book. Before my second baby was born, I was introduced to the Babywise concepts. Applying these principles revolutionized my thinking. Instead of being in baby bondage, I was liberated to be the mother God wanted me to be. I have consistently used this series with the women I counsel. These mothers have met with tremendous success, whether bottle or breastfeeding." (Barbara Philips, RN, CLE, Los Angeles, California)

Just Wonderful

I used this method for my first born (nearly 9 years ago) and 100% love the results and support this book. My daughter was very independent and is still a great sleeper to this day. Little to no troubles with bedtime and sleeping on her own. Now preparing for my second child and trying to re familiarize myself. I’m looking forward to having this guidance and structure again and the results of healthy habits and a great eat, wake time and sleeping schedule.

Not impressed

I am not a baby expert
I'm a first time mom in fact
But, I am not impressed with this book - it just doesn't work for us but maybe for you it could? I'm going to try others since I've learned the baby really made his own schedule and I'm happy with it - I'm also happy with the term "4th trimester" and feeding on demand and comforting my baby when he needs it

Great book!

Very well written book about how to care for your baby. Also includes insight on twins. Re-caps at the end of each chapter helps. Highly recommend this book.

Good info but some redundant topics

There was so good things taken from this book. Probably requires reading as baby progresses. There was Alot of redundant topics and the book could have been shorter. Overall l'll be using some techniques suggested. Fingers crossed it works

Invaluable

This book makes so much sense, balanced and thoughtful principles. Have several friends that had success after listening to this book.

doesn't explain what method is

I listened to 90% of the book and I still don't really understand what parent directed feeding means

AMAZING for 1st Time Moms!

This is a great book! I'm an expecting 1st time mom and also a college student studying human development that works in a research lab studying interactions between parents and children. This book has been SO informative and completely in tune with the current research on what approaches are most effective with babies. Additionally the narrator's voice is very soothing and enjoyable to listen to. I cant wait to start implementing the strategies I learned in this book on my soon to be born baby girl. After reading I feel so much more prepared! Would definitely reccommend for any 1st time mom!

Changed our lives in less than 3 days

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have recommended this book to every new parent I know

What was one of the most memorable moments of On Becoming Babywise?

The way it changed our lives so quickly. The entire book was eye opening, seems like "common sense" and well-researched.

What did you learn from On Becoming Babywise that you would use in your daily life?

This book gave me so much more confidence as a new mother, and very specific instructions on how to implement these techniques when I was past the brink of exhaustion.
This was the miracle we needed and I'm so blown away this isn't handed out as a manual to every parent. It changed our family life so quickly. It's improved the lives of myself, my husband and most especially our baby, who is so much more well-rested and contented - as long as she's on schedule:) There's a lot less "figuring out" and guess work, it's helped us really get to know her and her needs better.

Any additional comments?

I could go on and on. I can't rave about this book enough. I highly recommend it (understatement).

Great for first time mom

This book provides a simple, logical plan & confidence for first time parents. Wish I had it for the first few weeks, but better late than never.

A must read for every expecting parent!

I read this originally before I had my first, and it was invaluable. I just had my third baby, and realized I felt out of practice (five years after reading the book the first time). I “re-read” the book on Audible, and am so grateful I did. My one week old is already in a predictable feed, wake, sleep pattern every three hours during the day, and every four hours at night. With no pacifier this time! The first night she was very fussy (feeding every two hours), but after that, she was great! Stay strong! I also owe this to the SwaddleMe swaddle. I tend to be more natural-minded (I don’t take the advice on infant cereal or vaccines), but everything about the feed, wake, sleep cycle works!