Jo Frost's Confident Baby Care

Loved it. I think the book would be a perfect guide for first time parents! I will be reading again before we have our kids.

My niece just loves this book.

Helpful information with all aspects of caring for a baby. Although, nothing ground-breaking. It does not delve too deeply into any baby issues one might encounter

This was definitely the UK version with terms like: "nappy" = diaper. It was fine once you get over the lost in translation terminology.

Jo thinks if you breastfeed, you’ll have the extra inconvenience of needing to buy ‘stuff’. Contrary to fact, my husband used to laugh when he would see the formula prices... We saved so much money by breastfeeding ..than when we found out we were having our third child.. We knew what our decision was. Not only for saving money but or better nutrition, non GMO infested formula.. Jo asserts that you don’t escape from having to buy equipment just because you’re breastfeeding. In her list of ‘essential equipment for breastfeeding’ Jo includes a nursing pillow (since when was that essential) I have yet to ever need one. But I digress, Jo’s message continues (warning: if you are one of those moms that has the audacity to feed your baby all by yourself, the following sermon may sting a little):... Which is on page 76. Woman make breastmilk for one purpose only..to feed the baby. There are many ways for the father to bond.. Feeding is not the sole one.. And there is milk expressing for those who choose that option. In my opinion i would this could be good for both parents... As for the feeding schedule I do agree to keep track of when you feed and how Long. Eventually you will see your baby develop a pattern... Which you can use to know what times your baby will be hungry. As for introducing foods early... Jo states in the book..“Whether you breastfeed or not, breast milk or formula is all your baby needs for the first three months” (p96). Three months?? Yup, this is yet another book that’s big on premature solids introduction: six months if that...Delaying solids gives baby’s digestive system time to mature..... If solids are started before a baby’s system is ready to handle them, they are poorly digested and may cause unpleasant reactions like digestive upset, gas, constipation, etc. Protein digestion is incomplete in infancy. Gastric acid and pepsin are secreted at birth and increase toward adult values over the following 3 to 4 months. The pancreatic enzyme amylase does not reach adequate levels for digestion of starches until around 6 months, and carbohydrate enzymes such as maltase, isomaltase, and sucrase do not reach adult levels until around 7 months. Young infants also have low levels of lipase and bile salts, so fat digestion does not reach adult levels until 6-9 months. All known by recent studies... According to Jo... supposed breastfeeding code of conduct – the eating, the sleeping, the drinking, the meditating, the vitamin consuming, the ice-packing, the pumping, the nursing pillow propping – all of this is Jo creating a catalogue of unnecessary hurdles and hardships. Trying to adhere to these requirements is likely to leave you emotionally and physically exhausted. But fear not, if you’re that emotionally and physically exhausted mom, Jo has advice for you: “If you find it too emotionally or physically exhausting, remember, bottle-feeding isn’t the end of the world” (p98). While bottle feeding can be done its always best to breastfeed. After all With formula the use of GMOs is of particular concern for infants and young children. GMOs in baby foods are not adequately tested for safety and should not be used in baby foods as artificially ( non breastfeed) fed infants are dependent on formula as their sole source of food for month on end. Infant formula is already a inferior food for babies, putting them at greater risk for variety of illnesses including ear and upper respiratory infections, asthma, diabetes and cancer. These risks may be increased when infant formula is genetically engineered. GMO ingredients can alter the nutritional value of baby foods, increase exposure to toxins, and elevate the risk of developing allergies and resistance to antibiotics. Unlike the contents of breastmilk that vary with the diet of the mother and stage of infancy, the composition of formula remains constant. Since food sensitivities increase with exposure, repeated feedings with the same formula further increases the risk of allergies. All in all a 1.5 if possible.. Only because of the unreliable advise.

This book was a waste of time. People think she's the expert but in actuality she's just parroting every other child raiser. She's a total Hack.

Für Eltern, die noch keine Bücher über den Umgang mit Babys gelesen haben, ist das Buch sehr informativ. Da ich vorher schon andere Bücher gelesen hatte, gab es für mich wenig Neues.

If you’re struggling with the newborn/infant stage please read this book! There are some expert pieces of advice and it really helped me to understand my child more and how to manage their routines.

I had read the positive as well as the negative reviews here. I have to say that this is the only book I have read so far that has answered my doubts about what I can and cannot expect from my baby. Contrary to some of the negative reviews here, I think that everything is very clear and that Jo's recommendations for establishing routines are stated well: you need patience and perseverance. The routine schedules are just a suggestion I believe, so it doesn't make much sense to say that "they are all over the place" She clearly says that you need to observe your baby's habits and be flexible. Also I appreciate the stance about immunization. I think that if some parents can afford the luxury not to vaccinate is because the vast majority of us takes the risks to vaccinate, scared as we are. Also, I kept reading that you should impose a sleeping routine but nowhere had I read when. Now I know that I am not doing anything wrong if I rock my son to sleep and if he alternates night when he sleeps through the night and days when he wakes up for a feed. I am not sure I will be able to make him cry himself to sleep, but all in all, I love the sensible style Jo advocates.

Very good book.bought it to feel confident being a first time parent.Jo has given suggestions in this book.most of us do these things anyway but hearing from a pro like her just gives you the confidence that you are doing the right thing.just wish there was a seperate section for reflux and gassy baby and also for what to expect and how to deal with baby's immunisation time...but overall easy to read,jargon free and practical book.As i was getting so many pushy suggestions from alot of people on how to do things so I only bought this book as a validation for own self about the way I was doing things,has served the purpose for me,a first time parent.thanks Jo.

I bought this book 2 years ago when I had my first son and it was a huge help. Really easy to read and you can almost hear Jo's voice as you read the advice she gives. She suggests feeding plans and also things to stimulate your baby. There is all the usual advice in here that you would expect from a baby book, about sleeping, feeding, bathing etc.. however the way she has written this book is so friendly and non condescending that you dont feel embarrassed at having to look at a book for baby advice when you read it. I now have a second baby and I have dusted off the book and am referring to it again for advice when I need it. A very good book. My sister in law is now expecting and I bought her a copy of this book and she loves its.