Gina Ford Mum's in Old Town

Hi, I also live in the Old Town and have just strated following the gina ford routine and it works so well with my DS. He is 6 weeks old. Unfortunately I am leaving for Europe next wednesday, but happy to meetup anyday between 2 and 5 pm if you are keen!!! [email protected]

Oh and if there is something you REALLY want to go to but it clashes with a nap, I have found the best thing to do is have an early rather than a late nap. Once a child gets over-tired it is really difficult for them to sleep well for the rest of the day, plus you have to deal with a grumpy baby for the whole event. We go to a music class once a week which clashes with my wee guy's 9 am nap, so I put him down at 8 am instead, he sleeps well and then I try and keep him as close as possible to his next nap without letting him get really tired, he might go down a little early if he looks like he needs to. This has worked fine for me but if it starts messing with your baby's night sleep then don't feel pressured to divert from a routine that has worked well for you, sleep is far too precious, both yours and your baby's. :)

Hi i have a 5 month old and am currently in old town. I love Gina Ford and have DD on a routine also. Although i do have a toddler who is 3 in August too. How old is your little one? How are you coping? Here is my email if you want to chat. Shell @ l e d g dot n e t :)

You'll find loads of GF'rs or at least people whose babies are on similar routines, I don't follow GF but my baby does have set sleep times, hardly a crime :). Try having a playgroup at your house at a time that is convenient for you and you'll find the people that turn up are those on a similar schedule. Worked for me (but sorry I'm not in Dubai).

Boy o boy, sorry for babbling on - I never reply to anything about GF, but I felt you needed some much needed support as by the sounds of how this thread may head, it seemed lacking. Hope for your sake it doesn't turn into a notorious 'Thursday thread'. A little support for a Mum who is calling out for some help/advice/anything, ladies? Not too much to ask?

Nugget, as KarenBlixen said, congrats on your new baby! ;) First piece of advice I can give you is try not to listen to all the Gina Ford Haters out there. And yes, there seem to be heaps! You have found something you believe in and have chosen to follow for whatever reason. People may hate Gina Ford with a passion, but we are all Mums and at the end of the day our baby's are our 1st priority and we want to do the very best for them. A little support from some on EW could and would go a long way!!! Right, second piece of advice I can give you is, try not to stress too much about it. Easier said than done. Please don't let your routine come in the way of meeting other mums and bubs because its those women and babies who can be a great support network (provided they support you even of they are 'non believers') and will become great friends. I'll proudly raise my hand and admit I am a GF follower (ooooh the horror!!!). Am I a stressed out mum with lack of sleep? Nope! I am the complete opposite, and those who know me would agree that my baby is one happy, chilled, CONTENTED baby, and so am I, happy, chilled and contented, far from stressed (although this weaning business is confusing at times! LOL). I am not going to go on and brag about how GF has been successful for me, those friends of mine who hate GF all know how successful its gone for me and my baby. It was something myself and my husband believed in and followed. Loads of my friend hate GF with a passion, and thats ok, we all have different beliefs but it doesn't come between our friendship because we all have the same goal... our baby's health and well being. Get out there, even if it doesn't fit the routine. If you are consistent enough on the other days then it will all fall into place. Stay positive and be confident. I am out and about all the time, regardless of how it fits into the routine, and if DD doesn't sleep when she's used to, thats OK! She is well established in her routine that if I'm out and she doesn't nap properly then I can correct it by bed time. Just get out there and do the best you can. Good luck and I hope you are able to meet some lovely mums and babes who will be of great support to you and not rubbish GF to you at every opportunity they get.

Ha ha...now here's a thread to keep us busy on a Thursday!! Out of my NCT group of 6 five slavishly followed the GF method and ended up very stressed. I was older and had a baby 12 years previously before GF method was invented and when the trend was go with the flow and breastfeeding on demand, a method I followed with the second. We used to meet up (always as per GF timetable!), I'd arrive chilled and well slept (baby slept 12-14 hours a night from 10 weeks), with a very chlled baby. They were always asking what my routine was and to be honest, couldn't really tell them as i didn't have one!

Hi Nugget Congrats on your new baby. Glad to hear you found an approach to parenting which suits you :-) Personally I am definitely *not* into GF but I have a copy of LCB which I am willing to give away for free. All it did for me was stress me out and that was even before the baby was born. Btw I don't mean to sound negative, but have you considered 'going with the flow' a bit more? That might make life easier and free you up to meet up with other mums outside of such a rigid schedule. KB x