Gina Ford
{{Short description|British author}}
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| birth_date = {{circa}} {{Birth year and age|1960}}
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| occupation = Author, former maternity nurse
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| genre = Childcare
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| notableworks = The Contented Little Baby Book
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Gina Ford (born {{circa}} 1960) is a British author of childcare books in the United Kingdom and a former maternity nurse who has cared for over 300 babies during her career.[http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article6586335.ece Mother knows best — but does Gina Ford know better?]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, The Times, June 29, 2009 Ford's 1999 book The Contented Little Baby Book advocates a daily routine for both the baby and the parents, with the day divided up into very precise slots.
Praise and criticism
Criticism of Ford's approach has included that her methods are like "training animals".{{cite news| url = http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2026185,00.html|work=The Guardian|date=4 March 2007|last=Asthana|first=Anushka|author-link=Anushka Asthana|title=Baby guru's method 'like dog training'|location=London}} Some criticism centres around the fact that she herself has no children and however much she learns about and cares for the children of others, having never experienced this as a parent means she lacks some fundamental first-hand experience of maternal brain chemistry changes. The maternal brain chemistry changes involve hormones that allow the mother to be more sensitive to her own infant's wants.{{cite journal|last=Kim|first=Pilyoung|author2=Leckman, James F. |author3=Mayes, Linda C. |author4=Newman, Michal-Ann |author5=Feldman, Ruth |author6= Swain, James E. |title=Perceived quality of maternal care in childhood and structure and function of mothers' brain|journal=Developmental Science|date=30 September 2009|volume=13|issue=4|pages=662–673|doi=10.1111/j.1467-7687.2009.00923.x|pmid=20590729|pmc=3974609}}
In answer to criticism about her methods she writes, "I would never advise that young babies should be left to cry for lengthy periods of time to get themselves to sleep. I do stress that some overtired babies will fight sleep and they should be allowed 5-10 minutes' 'crying down' period." Ford writes further on this subject in her book.
Critics of her methods include Penelope Leach, Miriam Stoppard and Nick Clegg.[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6982398.ece Daddy knows best, Nick Clegg tells Gina Ford]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, The Sunday Times, January 10, 2010
In response to criticism levied against her, Ford suggests that the 25% market share of parenting books that her publications enjoy is proof that her methods do not harm children.[http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2021458,00.html Queen of Routine lashes out at her liberal childcare critics], The Guardian, February 26, 2007
Projects
In 2004, the BBC commissioned a series from Outline Productions called Gina Ford's Baby School, using Big Brother-style methods to oversee the progress of newborn babies. In January 2005, Ford had a meeting with BBC and Outline Productions, and refused to agree to certain reality-style aspects of the format. With only a few weeks before filming, Ford pulled out and was replaced by Dr Tanya Byron.[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_200502/ai_n9532804 BBC's "Big Brother" show for babies ends in tears], Independent on Sunday, February 13, 2005
Five Life commissioned a programme called Gina Ford: Who Are You To Tell Us?, which aired on 4 March 2007.[http://www.easier.com/view/Lifestyle/Entertainment/Staying_In/article-98926.htm Five Life Commissions Gina Ford Documentary] Easier.com
Mumsnet libel
Ford has threatened legal action against online child and parenting forum mumsnet.com, claiming that users have made "defamatory" comments about her, and has demanded that the whole site be taken down.[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/09/gina_ford/ Babycare guru demands closure of 'defamatory' site], The Register, 9 August 2006 In May 2007, this dispute was resolved with Mumsnet paying some of Ford's legal costs, but Mumsnet remaining open.[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/11/ford_mumsnet Mumsnet settles with Gina Ford over defamation claims]
In 2007, she wrote to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and accused child-care expert Claire Verity of “child abuse” for methods used in a Channel 4 series called Bringing Up Baby.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1565432/TV-nanny-Claire-Verity-criticised-by-rival.html TV nanny Claire Verity criticised by rival], The Daily Telegraph, 08 Oct 2007
References
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External links
- [http://www.contentedbaby.com/index.htm Gina Ford's website]
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