I could spend a lot of time talking about the Ezzos: How they've been kicked out of at least two churches, how babies have ended up in the hospital after using their methods, how everyone from Focus on the Family to Christianity Today to he American Pediatrics Association has said negative things about them.

But let's cut right to the chase, shall we? Here are some things this book suggests for ages five through fifteen months:


1) Once your baby turns six months old, do not let them suck their thumb unless they're sleeping. Gently move their thumb out of their mouth. If they put it back in, flick them on the cheek hard enough to hurt. If they still put it back in, put them in their crib. Leave them there until they stop crying and stop sucking their thumb.

2) When your baby begins to eat solids and sits in a high chair, there is a list of nine violations of "high chair manners." These include such horrible things as screaming, running their hand through their hair, or playing with their food in any way. If your baby dares to do these, flick them on the cheek. If they do it again, the meal ends and they go in their crib.

3) Teach your baby sign language. Don't begin with useful signs like "pain" or "eat," but with "please" and "thank you." If you know your baby wants something (like, say, more food), don't give it to them unless they use the proper sign. If they get more upset (what the book calls a "power struggle") -- you guessed it! Put them in their crib.

4) Make sure your baby has playpen time every day for about 45 minutes. If not, it will stunt their learning and development. What this strong statement is based on, they never tell us.

5) When a baby goes to touch something they shouldn't, slap their hand. Make sure it's hard enough to hurt. After two or three times of this, put them in their crib to avoid a "power struggle."


I honestly cannot understand why so mamy people swear by this book. Do people really do these things?? The book strongly implies that there are two choices -- either follow the book, or have an unhappy, unhealthy, spoiled brat of a kid. Do people follow these books out of fear that they may be so? If someone would like to explain the appeal to me, I seriously would love to hear it.

I can think of no value at all in this book. If you want to teach your baby sign language, there are much, much better resources, including "Sign With Your Baby" and "Baby Signs." If you want books that talk about feeding patterns, starting solids, etc, there are much better books that are actually written by medical professionals.

Fans of the book will say things like, "Well, we don't follow it exactly." But then, what is the point? What exactly are they getting out of this book?

It breaks me heart that people could actually be following the advice I listed above. Please think long and hard before listening to anything this book says.

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IMPORTANT: Please note that this book is sold under a "secular label" under the title "Babywise II."

Recommended: No