Parenting Books to Avoid
Submitted by APMom on Wed, 08/24/2005 - 03:45
Tags:
- On Becoming Baby Wise by Gary Ezzo
- See http://ezzo.info
- Growing Kids God's Way: Biblical Ethics for Parenting by Gary Ezzo
- Preparation for Parenting: A Biblical Perspective: A Study in the Philosophy, Psychology & Practice of Nurturing a Newborn by Gary Ezzo
- Don't be fooled; this book is neither Biblical nor nurturing. Nurturing a newborn involves responding to his method of communication, his cries, and meeting all of his needs, including those of food and comfort.
- Let the Children Come - Along the Infant Way by Gary Ezzo
- Problems with attachment, breastfeeding, and Failure to Thrive (FTT) spoken about by former Ezzo supporters: http://www.ezzo.info/voices.htm
- Sleeping Through the Night, Revised Edition: How Infants, Toddlers, and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night's Sleep by Jodi Mindell
- Her first edition (not sure about this one) advised one to let a baby cry until it vomits because throwing up can be fun for kids. 'Nough said.
- Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
- Babies don't need to and shouldn't have to be left in their crib to cry-it-out. Read Happiest Baby on the Block or The No-Cry Sleep Solution instead.
- The New Contented Little Baby Book by Gina Ford
- See comment for preceding book.
- Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems by Richard Ferber
- Some interesting sleep pattern info, bad advice.
- The New Dare to Discipline by James Dobson
- Spanking and control are unnecessary and detrimental discipline strategies. Read Biblical Discipline or Heartfelt Discipline instead.
- The New Strong-Willed Child: Birth Through Adolescence by James Dobson
- Read Raising Your Spirited Child instead.
- To Train Up a Child by Michael Pearl
- The worst of the worst. Tempting babies to do things that you hit them for?! A person following the Pearls' discipline methods is not offering children the grace we receive from the Lord. Children will obey out of fear and pain-avoidance rather than from the heart. Read Heartfelt Discipline: The Gentle Art of Training and Guiding Your Child by Clarkson instead.
- Child Training Tips: What I Wish I Knew When My Children Were Young by Reb Bradley
- Similar to above. This is not how God teaches us! He offers gentle guidance and grace, along with boundaries, not pain, punishment, and control.
- Creative Correction: Extraordinary Ideas for Everyday Discipline by Lisa Whelchel
- This type of discipline lacks respect for the child, and shames and humiliates him, teaching him nothing.
- Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp
- Shepherd with gentleness, like Jesus did.
- The Key to Your Child's Heart by Gary Smalley
- The key to your child's heart is in meeting their needs and showing them the strong but gentle love of God in Christ.
- What the Bible Says About Child Training by J. Richard Fugate
- The Bible does not command spanking. Read an original language word study on the "rod" of Proverbs: http://joanneaz_2.tripod.com/positivedisciplineresourcecenter/id4.html
- What the Bible Says About Parenting: Biblical Principals for Raising Godly Children by John MacArthur
- See preceding explanation.
I don't have a child, and still I caught myself reading this entire list.
As a teenager, I read a Dobson book written for teenagers and felt it was a huge waste of my time (and often silly or just plain bad). I find it interesting that you feel the same way about his books concerning younger folk.
Thanks!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Thanks for your comment. Dobson is too controlling and punitive in his parenting advice, in my opinion.
Seriously? Sleeping Through the Night really says that? Like, could you quote the part that says something like "throwing up is fun for kids"?
Kids think that throwing up is fun to talk about. It is not fun to do.
In the first edition of Sleeping Through the Night, author Jodi Mindell writes on page 112, "Vomiting is no big deal for infants and toddlers, although it can be quite upsetting for parents. For young children, vomiting can even be fun." She goes on to say that if a baby continues to vomit at night after extended periods of crying, it is a “behavioral problem.”
It's so sad that someone who cares so little for the emotional well-being of children is thought to be qualified to give parenting advice!
Being a new mom.....this list is scary. What are good parenting books for me to read for my little girl? Are there any?o