Babywise is the popular name for the book On Becoming Babywise, which is a parenting regime authored by Gary Ezzo that teaches parents to “guide their baby’s day rather than be guided or enslaved to the infant’s unknown needs.” The book was self-published in 1993, as the secular counterpart to Ezzo’s religious materials for infants, Preparation for Parenting. Babywise was picked up by Multnomah Publishing in the mid-1990s, but then dropped in 2001, after publishers investigated medical issues related to the book and character concerns about Ezzo. Babywise is the first parenting guide that the American Academy of Pediatrics has publicly recommended against.
So yes, there is a lot to be concerned about. Let’s start with the author. Gary Ezzo has no medical background. He has no professional training in child development, medicine, or breastfeeding support. Ezzo, Growing Families International (of whom he is the executive director) and his publisher have attributed to him three different academic degrees that he does not have. Ezzo even stated in writing that he had an associate’s degree in business from Mohawk Community College in Utica, New York, even specifying a major and a grade-point average. He never graduated from that school, officials say (source).
Questions about Ezzo’s qualifications are relevant for two reasons. First, his lack of integrity should be a huge concern for the Christian community. 1 Timothy 4:16 says, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” Proverbs 10:9 says, “He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.” David said in 1 Chronicles 29:17, “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.” And Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the falseness of the treacherous will destroy them.” As Christians, we must be committed to integrity!
Second, Ezzo’s infant feeding advice is inconsistent with standard medical recommendations. Both Babywise and Preparation for Parenting tell parents that not following his principles is a potential health concern and that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports Ezzo’s recommended number of feeding times. On the contrary, the AAP does not support scheduled feedings and has issued an AAP Media Alert about the poor weight gain and dehydration that may result. The AAP stated that Ezzo’s program “outlines an infant feeding schedule inconsistent with AAP recommendations.”
What about the co-author Dr. Bucknam, you might ask. Well, Babywise is the secularized version of Ezzo’s Christian Preparation for Parenting material (now retitled Along the Infant Way). This was in its third edition before the first edition of Babywise was published and the medical content is the same. So, it seems as though Dr. Bucknam was simply added to give credibility to the program.
In addition to a lack of credentials, John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church, where the programs got their start, affirms in a public statement that the Ezzos’ teachings demonstrate “a lack of clarity on certain fundamental doctrinal issues,” “confusion between biblical standards and matters of personal preference,” and “insufficient attention to the child’s need for regeneration,” as well as a “tendency to isolationism.” Numerous Christian groups have expressed concern over Babywise and the Ezzos in particular because they consistently exhibited a pattern of cultic behavior, including Scripture twisting, authoritarianism, isolationism, and physical and emotional endangerment (source).
Aside from a lack of credentials and integrity, Ezzo’s materials are dangerous for babies. The following is from an AAP News article in 1998:
“Expectant parents often fear the changes a new baby will bring, especially sleepless nights. What new parent wouldn’t want a how-to book that promises their baby will be sleeping through the night by three to eight weeks? One such book, On Becoming Babywise, has raised concern among pediatricians because it outlines an infant feeding program that has been associated with failure to thrive (FTT), poor milk supply failure, and involuntary early weaning. A Forsyth Medical Hospital Review Committee, in Winston-Salem N.C., has listed 11 areas in which the program is inadequately supported by conventional medical practice. The Child Abuse Prevention Council of Orange County, Calif., stated its concern after physicians called them with reports of dehydration, slow growth and development, and FTT associated with the program. And on Feb. 8, AAP District IV passed a resolution asking the Academy to investigate “Babywise,” determine the extent of its effects on infant health and alert its members, other organizations and parents of its findings.”
There are so many resources out there on Babywise and the Ezzos. A few are included as links within the text and here are a few more:
Christian Research Institute article
Evaluating Ezzo Programs – extremely helpful site with tons of info including theological concerns of Babywise, statements by organizations such as AAP and Focus on the Family, as well as alternatives to Babywise; great resource!
Blog of former Ezzo Contact Mom
New Challenges Facing Gary Ezzo…
In conclusion, I found the summarizing thoughts made by the Christian Research Institute perfectly stated, “parents and church leaders…need to be aware of the risks associated with a teaching environment where Scripture is used out of context, questioning is actively discouraged, rules and schedules become part of one’s ‘testimony,’ even other Christians are considered ‘humanistic,’ division results, and the leaders do not seem to be receptive to constructive criticism.” Beware parents!
Amber said
Thank you, Lisa! I cringe every time I hear a new parent talking about Babywise. Your post has great clarity and information.
Yellow Rose Mom said
I would also encourage Christians who are considering Ezzo classes – be it “preparation for parenting” or the “Growing Kid’s Gods Way” series to go to http://www.awareparent.net/smf – this is a great discussion board with Christians who have researched the Ezzo programs.
Charity said
Thank you Lisa! Very well researched and thought out. I now have much more evidence to support my opinion of Babywise. I am interested to see what other comments will say.
TulipGirl said
You’ve done a good job summarizing the key concerns. I still find a lot of mothers state, “Well, it worked for me. . .” and so extrapolate that it will “work” for all moms. That sadly isn’t the case. And if we consider the “it worked for me” stories, it’s a good idea to consider the situations in which it doesn’t “work”:
http://ezzo.info/voices.htm
What I’ve observed over the years is that there are a lot of parents (like me) that would have said the Ezzo ideas worked great when they first started with them–but down the road, they realize they weren’t “working” as well as they thought they were. Time and experience are sometimes the only things that really help us look clearly at our experiences.
nc division of child development said
[...] and then I decided that I should write about it?? Babywise is the popular name for the book On Behttp://naturalchristianparenting.com/2008/03/08/beware-of-babywise/News briefs Smoky Mountain NewsHaywood Community College will host a Sustainable development Expo on [...]
Sharlene said
Its so annoying when someone reads a few things about something and calls it that minor amount of information “research.” If people use the basic principles laid out by the Ezzos, and combine it with some sense, it is a Fabulous program. The issues addressed above do not correlate in any way with the Babywise program. If the program is followed consistently, then there is no way that their would be any problems with failure to thrive, poor milk supply failure, and involuntary early weaning. This program takes out the guesswork of parenting and equips parents with tools so that they can be raising their children consciously rather than like little servants trying to find whatever will work to appease their new little prince/ss. I have worked this program for over 20 years with about 30 families. The only people that have problems with it is the ones that are not consistent or are too rigid. The whole point of the program is to allow you to meet your child’s needs. Without a schedule, there is no way to be able to anticipate needs and the child will always develop behavioral issues later. I can tell which children have been raised by boundaries and consistency, such as Babywise, and which ones were demand fed and raised inconsistently after being with them for just a few minutes. If you really want to know if something works or not, look at the behavioral issues and concerns of the children. Babywise and GKGW are excellent programs and people need to set aside their judgments (based on faulty followers) long enough to see that the program teaches parents how to enjoy their children and therefore raise happier, well-adjusted, resilient, confident children that will become responsible, independent adults!
Anonymous said
i am shocked and truley grieved that you are a mother
Racheal said
How can you take the guess work out of raising a person you just met? This statement seems extremely arrogant to me, like you know how to raise every other persons child out there just by thinking like a book told you to think.
I listen to God in every step of my life, including my children’s upbringing. Only HE has all the answers… and as far a feeding on a scheldule making morally fit people?? I don’t know about you but I’m not hungry at the same time every day, why would my children be any different? If I’d had a big breakfast… I don’t have a big lunch, sometimes I might even skip lunch depending on my health and other things I’ve eaten in the course of the day.
I think if you make a child eat when he’s not hungary you’re telling him that it’s okay to eat when your not really hungry…. and we wonder where America’s obesity problem came from? Hello!
Lisa said
Sharlene,
We at NCP appreciate comments left by our readers, including those that disagree with a stance we have taken. I welcome a response to the following questions:
1. Can you refute any of the above mentioned concerns (AAP stance, Ezzo’s integrity, history of the program, etc.)?
2. Pages 65-67 of the book address milk supply. How do you reconcile Ezzo’s idea of scheduled feeding with the size of a newborn’s stomach capacity?
3. What does demand feeding mean to Babywise followers or to you? In particular, why do you assume that parents who demand feed their babies raise their children inconsistently and therefore churn out misbehaved children?
Sincerely,
Lisa
Kathy said
Sharlene’s comment makes me so sad, because the arguments she put forth illustrate remarkably well the divisive, arrogant and my-way-or-the-highway rhetoric and reasoning that critics warned of ten years ago, particularly in the Christian Research Journal’s 1998 feature-length article “More than a Parenting Ministry” which warned that Gary Ezzo’s organization was cult-like. I’m sad because I had hopes that by 2008, we might be beyond that.
Sharlene has indicated that feeding a baby on a schedule produces morally and behaviorally superior children, and stands ready to judge your baby’s upbringing within moments of being acquainted with him or her.
On a practical note, when Sharlene states that following Babywise takes the guesswork out of caring for the baby, she must not have looked at the many questions Babywise followers typically have about when to do what.
However, I have a higher view of what Sharlene calls guesswork in parenting. When we make educated guesses about what the people around us need and want, we are building on our knowledge of them as individuals, and we are learning more about them as individuals as we observe their responses to our ministrations. This is all part of being in relationship with anyone. Being in a relationship with a baby who cannot tell us with words what she is feeling in terms of hunger pangs, fatigue, overstimulation, boredom, uncomfortable gums, restlessness, etc, does require a mother to tune in personally to that baby: to use all her powers of observation (and most women are gifted with good observational abilities when it comes to sensing the needs, pain and moods of others), to use all her powers of intuition, and yes, oftentimes to guess at what the baby needs. Babywise or no Babywise, all mothers must at times guess what their baby needs.
But these are usually educated guesses, built on prior experience and observation and as time goes by and you know your own individual baby better and better, you become a better guesser. So while we may all have times of wishing someone would just publish a book telling us what to do, real caregiving relationships are not built that way.
Andea said
While I know nothing of an Ezzo cult or doctrine. I do caution to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. The basic ideas in BabyWise of how to get the child to sleep through the night have worked for MANY people; myself included and many other Christian moms I know. Taken as a simple sleeping method, incorporating your own intuition as the one who knows your child best, it is great. As always, with anything we must be careful, but not be over reactionary. Christians have become too well known for what we are against and the lost seem to have no idea any what we are for.
Sarah said
I completely agree with Andea. I have used the Babywise method loosely with both my boys. Both boys were sleeping through the night at 8 and 10 weeks. Also both my boys have been in the 85 to 95 percentile for the ages. I always get comments about how happy and content my kids are. I do understand it may not work for everyone and it is a little commitment, but I will stand by the method. I may not adopt all that is in the book, just because I do not believe everything I read. For instance I do not implement babywise until they are about 6 weeks old. I do so because I feel as though they need time to adapt to life outside the womb and sleep. I do work to get the wake, feed and sleep routine down, but if I feel they need to eat long after they awake I will feed them. I think it is funny that just because the AAP advises against this we take it to heart. Don’t they also say to not spank or say “no” to your child? Yet the Bible clearly states a different opinion on both issues. So I agree do not throw the baby out with the bath water. I think many parents could benefit from the basic principles of this book. Who cares to a certain point what his credentials are, most of still believe old wives tales that have been disproved by many clinical trials.
Sarah said
loosely but consistently
Whitney said
I am so glad to have found this information. I am 20 weeks along in m y first pregnancy and have been reading Baby Wise as so many at my church recommended it. However, there was something about the tone, the repetition, and the legalism that caused me to take a deeper look into Ezzo. I think much of the information is generally helpful, but if it really is a method that works so well, why is the book written the way that it is? If you have un-refutable facts to stand on there is no need to be repetitious or authoritarian in your tone – people will follow because it is the right thing to do. I kept thinking, “what does the M.A. after his name mean? He seems to have ‘little man’ syndrome as he constantly repeats every scary fact if we don’t believe him in this chapter.” My opinion is to read the Bible, the whole Bible, and apply all the truth to raising your child. We are all made differently and as long as you seek God’s guidance each day, you won’t go wrong – no matter how often you feed or not!
Thank you for giving me resources to look further into this plan so I and my baby can, by God’s grace, survive and thrive through the first year.
Lisa said
Whitney, I am so glad that you found this information helpful. Thanks for letting us know. I just breathed a prayer for wisdom for you as you begin the journey or motherhood. Enjoy that first year.
Anita said
When his books first came out I knew so many people who raved about it and yet most of them had babies that were fussy, not gaining weight, cried all the time and had to be put on formula. Yet, they would insist on this horrible routine. It is so very sad.
If only mothers and fathers would follow the parenting heart that God has given them and meet their baby’s needs physically, emotionally and nutritionally. Breast-feeding is not only for physical nourishment, but for comfort as well. I do hope young mothers will stay away from this book and instead read the Bible and how God, our heavenly Father responds to our cries and meets our needs.
Anonymous said
i am the mother of 6 and ache at the idea of this suddle form of child neglect when a baby cries it is a way of telling us they have needs and they are met which promotes security and comfort babies have growth spirts arond 3weeks 6weeks and 3 months and requires more calories as well as knowing when they need to eat know one tells when to eat so to set this schedule is utterly wrong and we should be grateful for lisas article i believe the Lord help her in writing it and we who are passionate about it should call our local newspapersw and ask them to put this wonderful information in the ears and eyes of all they new moms or those who are or are considering this very unnatural and sad form of mothering and parenting
very sad said
A Christian Mother here who devotes her time to loving, nurturing and guiding her children. I was searching for helpful blogs as I face the day to day trials of mothering my children God’s way. This blog saddens me. To see women, Chrisitian women who love their children and God equally quarrel over such a topic. We are all different individuals and God leads us to parent in different and unique ways. You all condemning babywise and its methods and the mothers who have found it useful should seriously be ashamed to be representing Christ. Please go check yourself at the cross and find out who made you the queen of motherhood. You are wretched like all of us and fall short like all of us. Lets just be thankful there are mothers out there who take the time to read and research because they want to be the best possible mothers they can be. I know many women who think it all just comes NATURALLY> Oh naturally spaturally! We are NATURALLY sinful and ugly. So, let’s be very mindful when we think it all comes natural and be thankful there are women out there who are humble and know they might not have all the answers.
Racheal said
To our “Very Sad” reader,
I don’t see any quarreling here, disagreement is not quarreling. If God had meant us to never disagree he wouldn’t have made us all individuals. And I think you have hit on the very problem with Babywise with you statement on us all being individuals… I am not hungry at the same time of day you might be hungry… so how can scheduled (sp?) feeding be a good thing? Perhaps you would benefit from reading the innitial posting on the book again, this man isn’t even what he claims to be… and knowing that how can you trust anything he has to say?
Also, I don’t see where anyone here has claimed to be “queen of motherhood”, and I don’t believe calling names is a very good way to get your point across. Judgement is not your job… it’s God’s. Don’t do His job for him, he doesn’t like that. But remember, having an opinion is not a sin… but be mindful where the line is between opinions and judgement… it is a fine line. Don’t try to raise hairs either, you have never met a single person here… how do you know anything about their humbleness? Or their sin?
And a note on your natural comments? Have you forgotten that God also made nature? As a matter of fact, nature is where he had intended we live… I think that we all could benefit in getting a little closer to nature… from what I have found it is a very good place to find Him. It is where His voice is, try turning off the T.V or the radio sometime, those are manmade devices, and listen to God’s creation. When I did that I found him… from there I shot my T.V. It was just a distraction from God… he deserves more of my time than that contraption.
And research by the way… are you saying that mother’s had no way of researching how to be good mothers before the internet, books and librarys? Mary didn’t have any of these things…. in fact Mary probably couldn’t even read. I’m pretty sure she was a very good mother and all she had to go on was instinct and the instincts of those before her.
Well, I’m not trying to berate you though I know sometimes I come accross as so, I am just a blunt and honest person. I’m just trying to let you know that there are people out there who have different beliefs than what you have written… and if you are totally against Natural Christian Parenting perhaps you should look for a website that isn’t “Natural Christian Parenting”. I was once a member of Christian Parenting.com, but I left that due to the fact that I pretty much disageed with everything everyone wrote there, even though I am a Christian and everyone there was also. I do not hold that disagreement against them and I hope they don’t likewise, I simply didn’t find much fellowship there.
Anyhow… I hope and pray that you find a blogspot that is just right for you and your personal and religious beliefs.
racheal
Discipline | Pea In The Podcast said
[...] So that’s what’s on my mind today. It’s a lot more than I thought, actually! Just a note — and this is strictly my opinion — if someone gives you the book On Becoming Babywise, please don’t bother reading it. Recycle it. Don’t give it away, don’t sell it to Half Priced Books…recycle it. It is full of flawed information, written by people not trained in child development, as is detailed here. Some of the advice in the book can be harmful to the health and well-being of your child. Some of it is fine, but can be picked up elsewhere by reading more reliable sources. Those of you who might jump to the conclusion that child development experts don’t like this book because it claims to be teaching parenting from a religious perspective should note that many people who teach parenting from a religious perspective also denounce this book. [...]