Hi Sue,

As you may have read on this thread, there are lots of strong opinions about CLB. It is written in a very curt tone, but nothing is to be taken from that except that Ford can be a little clinical. Having said that, she talks about decades of experience in nannying and developing the routines based on much research.

In my experience, and that of my sisters, friends and mothers' group friends, it is a sucess. However, I would say that for me it was most sucessful when I followed as much as possible of the routines. My daughter (now 9 months and still perfect!) slept more than the routines allowed, but I still woke her up on time, it just meant she went to sleep earlier than stated when she needed. I never had a problem with her hunger, the routines preempted her hunger, and she has never cried for food and when she's full she stops. She was in fact better at feeding than the routines suggest and started dropping feeds earlier than the book suggests.

I didn't need to express as much as the book suggests as I had a great supply, but I'm sure my supply was a result of starting off 3 hourly as she suggests. My body worked like clockwork. I expressed if I had too much, particularly at the 10pm feed, but not every night.

So the book is rigid and perhaps clinical, but it does work and it does give you a contented little baby. I found that the routines enabled me to have quality play and cuddle time with her, as we were both always rested and happy. One of my three sisters who didn't follow CLB unfortunately has not had such an experience with hers. Everyone is different though.

Good luck, any day now!