Parents mag's "Baby Sleep from A to Zzzz"

[Ilaria]

In the latest issue of Parents (I received the subscription as a gift) there's the ABC of baby sleep. Here are some of the tips:

break the sleep-nursing association
do not rock to sleep
C is for cry-it-out (of course!)
"Don't be surprised if baby cries for over an hour"
F is for Family bed...the AAP recommends putting baby in the crib, FB is dangerous
Don't get too cuddly


If you have a second, please drop a line the idiotic editors of this magazine. [e-mail]

I did and i am cancelling my subscription

[Delilah]

Wasn't it disgusting?

These people are sending me a free sub. I have no idea why. I check out the news (takes about 15 minutes) for product recalls and formula recalls (out of curiosity) then toss it.

Thanks for the link. I just emailed a criticism of the "Crying it out" recommendation. Maybe an email/ letter response covering different points will have them reconsidering their harmful advice.

[mirlee]

Yup, read this too and was totally disgusted.

Our copy was used in a project, so it no longer exists.

I have tried to cancel this at least twice, but still, it comes. We never subscribed and do not want it.

I usually only read it just to know what is being said. A kind of know your enemy aproach.

[Pigpen]

mirlee, could you shred the next magazine you get and mail it back to them? I'm disgusted!! I wasn't aware that they were still spewing such crap, and so many people are reading it.

[Ilaria]

Please, please send them an email! If we flood them with them, they might start rethinking their position!

Here's the link:
http://www.parents.com/articles/ages...tages/5317.jsp

Thanks!

[owensmom]

I wrote them a letter - a pretty sarcastic one, but dotted with facts. I feel better, anyway!

[somemama]

I hated this article, too! Let's come up with better ABCs.

A= Attachment Parenting
B=Breastfeed
C=Cuddle

[JessicaS]

I think it is especially stupid they mention that the AAP recommends cribs but gloss over the fact that they not only DO NOT recommend CIO but strongly advise against it.

[chicklet]

I also get a free subscription, I don't know why.

My impression of the article brought to mind V- for vomit!!
Just the thought of some poor baby having to endure the whole alphabet's worth of stupid ideas - makes me so mad

[somemama]

My letter to Parents

Dear Parents magazine,
A few minutes ago, I breastfed my son, letting him fall asleep in my arms. What a wonderful feeling--the warm weight of a sleeping baby. However, this is an experience of which I would be robbing myself if I followed your advice in your recent article, "Baby Sleep from A to Z."
Babies are happier, and mothers are more content, when they follow the dictates of nature. Babies are lulled to sleep by their mothers in the womb; breaking that connection just because the baby is outside the womb is both illogical and traumatic. My son will sleep on his own when he is ready, leaving me with plenty of time to get a good-night's sleep once he is grown and no longer needs me. In fact, I'm sure the years will fly by, and I will find myself wishing I could recapture his time as a baby. Why not enjoy every moment of his babyhood now, including nursing him to sleep?
Moreover, your May issue discusses what mothers most want for Mothers' Day. Personally, I want to see the U.S. circumcision rates drop even further. Thus, my husband doesn't need to bother with candy and flowers (those gifts are fleeting, anyway); to truly honor me on Mothers' Day, he could make a donation to nocirc.org.
If I behaved like the typical mother described in your May issue, I'd be whining because I didn't get the "right" present and listening to my son cry himself to sleep. Thank goodness I'm not "typical."
Sincerely, (mamajulie)


Chicklet, you should write them and tell them just that-- "V is for vomit after reading your article!"

[LavenderMae]

mamajulie, your letter is great. I luckly don't get that piece of ____ mag, so I haven't read the article. I think I might just write them anyway, I can not believe the crap they are putting out.
Ugh, I just read it.
D= is for dancing babies love to dance
E= is for eating and babes love to eat at mom's on cue
F= is for family bed it is the safest place for babe to be

[Jennifer Z]

G=Gentle Discipline and treating our babies with respect
H=Holding, Holding, and Holding our babies some more.
I=Instinctual parenting...listen to your heart, not the mainstream.

[mamacrab]

J is for Just pick them up!
K is for Kisses whenever they need them
L is for Love- its always okay to hold and love your baby!!

[daylily]

That is a great letter, mamajulie. I love your point about what you want for mother's day. Maybe I'll ask for the same thing from my dh.

I've written several angry letters to Parents in the past, but they've never been printed.

[Quirky]

M is for mama's milk!
N is for nursing to sleep
O is for their little round mouths when they are deeply asleep
P is for papa snuggling with baby in the family bed
Q is for questioning mainstream "wisdom" :

[chicklet]

mamajulie - that is a great letter, it expresses my beliefs to a tee!

R is for responding to baby's cries
S is for sharing the family bed
T is for trusting your natural instincts
U is for unconditional love and patience

[owensmom]

V is for :Puke




(btw - this is what happens if you dont' capitalize the p in puke... uke)

[Ilaria]

Sheacoby, you can read the article online, I put the link up.

Thanks mamas, for caring enough to let them how you feel!

[gossamer]

W is for waking up with a beautiful baby face next to yours
X is for xamining little toes while breast feeding
Y is for yawning together in the family bed
Z is for the zen of cloth diapering

Those were hard letters. If anyone can do better, please feel free to improve upon mine.

Gossamer

[mamaley]

Great letter MamaJulie. A friend gave me a copy of BabyTalk for a circ article (she doesn't circ) but let's just say that I don't think she read it! I was surprised to see that Dr. Sears contributes to that magazine too. Maybe they need it... :
Still doesn't sound as bad as Parents! But still won't be reading it.
Oh yeah, my mom gave me two copies of Parents last weekend, maybe I should just burn them now.

Translation of all this rambling=mainstream parenting magazines really piss me off.