GFI/Ezzo Rant from a Christian

[fishmom]

For some reason I receive newsletters from Growing Families International- the Ezzo/Babywise organization. I just opened one I received today instead of throwing it in the trash.

Here's the description of their newly revised "Preparation for the Toddler Years (Twelve to Eighteen Months)":

"The next six months is season of exchange: baby food is exchanged for table food; formula for whole milk; bottle for sippy cup; the highchair for booster seat; feeding himself with his fingers replaced by a spoon and fork...."

I usually ignore this stuff, but I met a mom a few moths ago in the church "mother/baby" room where I go to nurse my noisy baby during service. I'm fine with NIP- he's just noisy. :-) This young mom (she's 21- I'm 37 with 4 kids nursed into toddlerhood) uses formula and has justified it with some pretty ignorant excuses. Come to find out last week- she and her husband attended "Growing Kids God's Way" classes. Argh!!! No wonder! Why won't this "Christian" organization promote God's chosen way of nourishing our babies????

I suppose I need to compose an email to them now. Dirty dishes and laundry piled high; this is not what I have time for today, but it needs to be done. Anyone else care to join me?

[minkajane]

Since Babywise/GKGW advocates strict feeding schedules and insists that if a mother nurses "too often" she will make LESS milk since her breasts won't have time to "fill up," I'm not surprised that they assume formula feeding. Moms following their recommendations will find themselves with no milk pretty quickly and be forced to go to the bottle.

[Bokonon]

There are many parents and health care professionals concerned with the garbage that Ezzo sells:

http://www.ezzo.info

[LemonDrop]

I was out yesterday with the mom's and tots group from our church and all the kidlets were having a great time.  I still nurse my 2 yo DD but those times now are becoming fewer and fewer as she has decided she doesn't need "boobies" any more (I still could kill my DH for teaching her that word!).  I am 27 weeks pregnant with our second baby and my pastor's wife was recommending that I read a book call Babywise (she has 16 month old twin boys).  I had never heard of this before but I am familiar with Ezzo (I discovered very quickly that Ezzo=Babywise).  I was so offended that she even recommend this to me.  She knows that we practice a more natural style of parenting (co-sleeping, cding, extending BFing, nursing on demand and lots of babywearing) so I don't know why she would have recommended it to me.  She also said that if I ever wanted to get any sleep I needed to teach this baby at 2 weeks to sleep through the night.  This upset me greatly, I had such a hard time with my milk coming in with the first one and keeping up a supply that we almost gave up BF with my DD (I am very happy we stuck it out).

I am just so offended at the moment because it was just me that she was spouting off all the information to, there is another mom who is also pregnant who was just it eating up.  I said that that method wouldn't work my milk would dry up and I don't agree with CIO or scheduling.  She said oh no your milk will adjust you and the baby just have to get use to it.  I left pretty angry but I didn't say anything, maybe I should have.

I am in a little bit of the same situation as you OP but I don't know where to go because this is coming from someone who everyone really respects and admires in our church.  There is no one in the area who offers any seminars on this so it just seems to be passed along from person to person.

[rachieface]

Unfortunately, there are a number of people at my church that also highly recommend Babywise or GKGW.  It makes me really sad.  When I am asked what I do with my baby or what my opinion of Babywise is (and I've read it), I usually let people know that it can be detrimental to successful breastfeeding, and then I recommend some good EVIDENCE based breastfeeding/baby care books.  I find that people are more receptive to what I have to say if I can give them another suggested "guide" for baby care. 

And OP, good for you for writing a letter!  I will be surprised if it changes anything, as there is a lot of backlash out there already that the Ezzo's seem to ignore, but I might have to join you just for the sake of doing it. 

[LemonDrop]

Originally Posted by rachieface 

Unfortunately, there are a number of people at my church that also highly recommend Babywise or GKGW.  It makes me really sad.  When I am asked what I do with my baby or what my opinion of Babywise is (and I've read it), I usually let people know that it can be detrimental to successful breastfeeding, and then I recommend some good EVIDENCE based breastfeeding/baby care books.  I find that people are more receptive to what I have to say if I can give them another suggested "guide" for baby care. 

And OP, good for you for writing a letter!  I will be surprised if it changes anything, as there is a lot of backlash out there already that the Ezzo's seem to ignore, but I might have to join you just for the sake of doing it. 

What books do you recommend? I would like to be a bit more informed the next time the topic comes up.

OP good for you for writing an email to them. I wouldn't know where to begin.