Advantages: some useful advice
Disadvantages: detached from reality

...Before I bought this book, I had heard many people talk about it, some were very against Gina Ford’s parenting methods, some the very opposite. After the first read, I absolutely hated the Little Contented Baby Book, not so much because of the sleep training stuff etc. but because it was like reading a maths book; devoid of all emotion involved with bringing up children. I’m not talking about pampering (although I do feel you cannot pamper an infant anyway, as they do not know what it means) or anything like that, rather than the actual feeling of LOVING your child. However, I thought I would try the routines out just to see for myself what 'the fuss' (about her methods) was all about. Very quickly I realised it wasn’t going to work for our family, because following the routines AND enjoying the early stages... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap and cute
Disadvantages: Trivialises a useful and complex tool

...Feng Shui (or ‘foong schway’ for those in the know) is the ancient Chinese practice of improving good fortune and keeping bad luck at bay. This practice has been refined over many hundreds of years from a careful blend of aesthetics and detailed analysis. Understandably, it is probably realistic not to expect a great deal of this fine tradition to be captured in Lillian Too’s Little Book of Feng Shui. What I thought I'd get was a short introduction to the history, basic techniques and some beginner’s tips that were easy to put into action. I was primed to perk up my fame, wealth, love and happiness by improving the harmony of my external environment. The good This is a classic stocking stuffer or a small thank you gift. True to the title, it’s little (about 4 inches or 9.5 cms square) and fits easily... Read review

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Advantages: Very funny, easy to read
Disadvantages: leaves you wanting more

...Little Sod’s next step, subtitled - How to be a little Sod, book 2 is author Simon Brett’s second volume in this series of three comical books about the baby from hell. The baby in question is supposedly the author of this regular diary and so everything is recorded from the baby’s point of view. That is not only part of the joke but adds immensely to the appeal and novelty of the idea of the book. The books are written in a diary entry format having twelve chapters, one for each month. Each month has numerous entries according to when something happened i.e. Day 2, Day 4, Day 7 etc. These entries are devoted to events in the baby’s day, a new ability mastered or a running commentary on this tiny megalomaniac’s increasing hold over its hopeless parents while en route to surely world domination. The first book in this series, How... Read review

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Advantages: Good price, Nice Books
Disadvantages: Not stories just character facts

...Little Library- In The Night Garden Board Books In The Night Garden is a children's programme shown on the cBeebies twice daily. It is becoming increasingly popular and just like the Teletubbies before this the goods that go along with the programme are becoming increasing varied and for the delight of the makers, increasing popular also. This small book set is no different. As one of my books in the 3 for 2 offer at my local bookstore I picked up a bargain as these retail for £3.99pence but with the special offer on, one book or in this case six small books cost me just £2.66p per book. Now as I have said this small set of books comes in a packet of six. Each book is made from board and they are all housed neatly in a small sleeve like box, with an open front. Each book is relating to a different character from... Read review

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Advantages: You will get your baby sleeping through the night and it does what it says.
Disadvantages: If you are not into routines then this won't be for you.

...** This was one of my first ops and I have decided to rewrite it. The rewrite is very long. Be warned** As I used to be a nanny I am aware of how important routines are for children. If they have a routine they feel safe and secure. I have used the routine in this book in some of my past jobs and it worked very well then. I was very keen to try it when I had my first baby, but also a little dubious about whether it would work for us when we were the ones doing the night as well as the day. What can I expect. Gina Ford has been a maternity nurse for more than 300 babies. For those that don't know a maternity nurse is hired by some families for the first few weeks to help them settle into a routine. They aren't cheap but they do work very long hours and they will often do the night feeds. The first few chapters of the book... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic to get some structure back in your day and some sleep at night
Disadvantages: Very Few!

...All I can say is that this book was my salvation. I was recommended it by a friend whom I called in desparation as my 3 week old was screaming to be fed most of the day and night and I was fast running out of fuel. At the time we had absolutely no routine, baby was feeding on demand, and doing even the most basic things such as eating and sleeping were near impossible, a simple trip to the supermarket felt like a big excursion that took absolutely hours to organise! So, when I started reading this book the routines Gina was suggesting seemed extemely strict and I doubted that I would be able to impose them, sure enough it took a good fortnight for the baby to slip into them happily during which time I very nearly gave up as the baby was refusing to sleep at the times suggested and it was emotionally difficult not to feed her outside... Read review

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Advantages: Bright & fun
Disadvantages: Poorly made outer box/slip cov