Maybe we should all put in a complaint to the NSPCC about her - Oftcom just deal with the TV stuff - NSPCC may be able to deal with her?

never been on a forum before but am not at all surprised at the outspilling of disgust and outrage at that evil woman, i am all for routine and have a fab one with both of my children who are both very secure and comfortable with both me their dad and each other.
The woman is an idiot and would have been thrown out of my house by the scruff of her neck i hope those kids she is experimenting on arent too damaged by her limited thinking. my hubby would have gone mental at her.

I don't know if attacking the mothers that hire her is fair. Maybe they just don't know any better?

In my field (dog behaviour) there are lots of 'experts' who use methods I consider to be abusive, (one in particular who has his on tv show) and people accept and use them because they don't know any better and are being taught them by very domineering characters who are hard to stand up to.

I imagine harsh dog training methods have a similar result to this womans baby rearing advice. Dogs shut down and become depressed, learned helplessness kicks in, but people think it's been successful because the dog is quieter. The same reasons those babies sleep through the night, because they've learned there is no point trying to get their needs met.

I don't think she is the way she is because she doesn't have children, and I'm uncomfortable with the way people use the fact she's childless as a stick to beat her with. Some people who don't have children are loving and compassionate, and some women who do have children are cold and unfeeling.

There are certainly some parallels between her and some well known dog trainers, who seem hell bent on being in control and not inconveniencing themselves in teh slightest. I'm not quite sure why they share their lives with living creatures who have needs (human or canine) unless it's purely so they can feel important.

Those people have bigger issues than whether their child sleeps through the night or whether their dog pulls on the lead!

it is totally pathetic leaving any child screaming especially when the mum was in the state she was in over it!!!

I actually cried with the mum who wanted to attend to her baby and laughed out loud at 50's woman's comment that her method had been around since the 1800's how long had the continuum method been around "well its an anthropological study"
claire verity needs to get with the real world and learn some compassion for another not teach neglect in her matronly bolshy manner.
It was maddening to watch maddening i loved the 60's approach and so do all my other like minded friends and family and about 98% of the posters on this forum by the looks of it.

Claire Verity is a menace and I am sorry for the babies born to parents who seek her help.
I am a mum of three children, now adults, who were all breastfed, on demand, and are content, satisfied with their lives, partners, careers, are hugely independent and I am very proud of what we achieved as a family!
On top of that I am a mental health professional ( medically qualified ) and cannot endorse the rubbish she prescribes! Get rid of this anomaly!

quote:

Originally posted by sylvg:

For the health of our children we need people like her and Gina Ford to be challenged by the scientific experts and shown to the country through the media. Welldone for showing this programme though, it demonstrated the current debate on child rearing

Yes I appeared on the Gina Ford documentary on Five Life recently. I'm hoping the discussion brought up by this show will help parents question any kind of approach that fails to respect the physiological needs of children. Some good has to come of, shame they had to actually put babies and their families through the ordeal to bring the subject to the media.

What really does bug me is this "it works" argument. What were they trying to achieve in the first place? Just because baby isn't crying (as you say they learn to stop because nobody comes, have to conserve energy when you have no concept of time and when you'll be fed again. Reminds me of an NSPCC advert) doesn't mean it's happy or healthy. I know they have done research and just being separated from mum and not even crying at the time raisies cortisol levels in the baby which in turn will have influence on the brain. Not a good one either.
I know the distress I am feeling as a human watching that show, I don't even want to think about how the baby feels. It's too painful.

I can't help suspecting that Claire Verity herself was subjected to very insensitive parenting as a young baby, and I do think it reasonable to note that she herself is childless. Is there actually any accredited training to be a Maternity Nurse, and if so, what is the name of the accrediting body? She appears to have almost no capacity for empathy and to be totally ignorant about early emotional development.I understand she only works with babies under a year old so she will never see the emotional damage her methods are doing.

What I really felt was genuine sadness that this woman was treating human beings in this way. Our instincts as mothers must be valued. I am a mother and when i really searched deep within myself after giving birth to my now toddler my instincts were something i could fully rely on. I am all for the continuum concept, I was practising this before I knew there was a name and a theory 'out there'. It was very reassuring once I learned of this study to find that there are other mothers who also believe in parenting children this way.

I have wondered about her own issues too. She doesn't seem be the most sociable or empathetic of people to adults nor children.

i wanted to post a reply to everyone who is ranting about claire verity i am a very close friend of vicky and matt who followed clairs routine and i can assure you all that baby Mia is very much a loved and well cared for baby if you give the show a chance and watch the future episodes yoou will see how well mia develops why disturbe a child who is sleeping just to satisfiy your need of a cuddle in the 1st 3 months of a child life there main priority is to grow and develop and the best way to do this is in there sleep mia was well fed and very raily cried for food and vicky and matt had llots of contact with her through feeding changing bath times and mia is now a very happy baby who is developing at amazing rates and she still loves noting more than being outside in fact on rainy days she can get very grumpy if not outside as vicky is a very capable childminder all her children have time outside in the fresh air and for the person who said they wouldnt leave her son with vicky what would you prefer a childminder who has had no sleep and cant consentrate properly to look after your child or a childminder who has had a full nites sleep and is refreshed and able to care for you child properly claires method worked for vicky and matt and they would back her all the way they aso understand that it wouldnt suit everbody but who has the right to judge any parent who is doing there best to bring up a child the best way thay can vicky and matt have done a fantastic job with both ashton and mia just give the series a chance

I do not doubt that Mia is loved that was never my point. As parents we always do what we think is best for our child. My concern is the long term effects on children mothered in this way. We may not recognise as adults that the habits and 'issues' we have may stem from babyhood and childhood. I truly believe they play a huge factor. It is a shame that CH4 are not following this study up when the children are adults to see just that. Or maybe they are?

To Breheny53 and all the other new mums who have posted, absolutely horrified.
Your babies will thank you long term and will show you someday themselves what you have given in loving them and cuddling them. I have a 14 year old and an 11 year old now who both cuddle me back - the eldest is a boy who is now towering above me at almost 6 feet tall and he regularly comes and within the confines our home (not to be uncool) he will give me a hug. When I ask what it is for he tells me he just wants to give me a hug. He shouts 'love you' everyday right before he gets out of the car to walk to school. My daughter is similar in her approach but cuddlier again. The bond you foster now will stay with you, thankfully. Echoing some of the other posts, maybe what Claire needs is a hug......

quote:

Originally posted by minni78:
i wanted to post a reply to everyone who is ranting about claire verity i am a very close friend of vicky and matt who followed clairs routine and i can assure you all that baby Mia is very much a loved and well cared for baby if you give the show a chance and watch the future episodes yoou will see how well mia develops why disturbe a child who is sleeping just to satisfiy your need of a cuddle in the 1st 3 months of a child life there main priority is to grow and develop and the best way to do this is in there sleep mia was well fed and very raily cried for food and vicky and matt had llots of contact with her through feeding changing bath times and mia is now a very happy baby who is developing at amazing rates and she still loves noting more than being outside in fact on rainy days she can get very grumpy if not outside as vicky is a very capable childminder all her children have time outside in the fresh air and for the person who said they wouldnt leave her son with vicky what would you prefer a childminder who has had no sleep and cant consentrate properly to look after your child or a childminder who has had a full nites sleep and is refreshed and able to care for you child properly claires method worked for vicky and matt and they would back her all the way they aso understand that it wouldnt suit everbody but who has the right to judge any parent who is doing there best to bring up a child the best way thay can vicky and matt have done a fantastic job with both ashton and mia just give the series a chance

Last nights episode showed her making them leave Mai at one day old alone crying..now Im sorry but it is not right to force a newborn into a military life like that, that is neglect. Why have the baby in the first place? Everyone could see how disturbing that was last night, and as little Mai may be a well behaved baby now, she was forced to be.

I am disgusted and appalled at last nights programme. As for Mia's parents, I don't know them or their life experiences therefore I can't comment on their choice. I will however say that I hope that they have been made aware of the long term emotional damage Mia might suffer due to the childcare programme they were following . Regular oppurtunities to express love, natural bonding and emotional learning cannot occur when a schedule like the one shown in the programme, is used . Babies of 3 months old already demonstrate an understanding of basic facial expressions, used by their family. This undersatanding is core to developing socially. What will happen in 10 years time to those babies folliwing the 50's method ? I suspect they will experience more difficulties in finding and keeping friends, feeling good about themselves and many other important aspects of their emotional life.These babies are never going to get that time back.
What's channel 4's view about the number of complaints ?
Have a large number of complaints been put to them, and what happens in response [ aside form the useless letter] ?
What can people like me who feel disgusted and angered do ,to show social experimentation which has methods that will damage babies pyschologically, are unacceptable tv viewing?

have just read minni78's post.
I appreciate that all this may be difficult to hear, however, if you agree to participate in a televised social experiment, you should be aware that you will receive comment.
I really don't see this as criticism of the parents per se, merely the method and I think the attitude of the person delivering it.
I agree with the notion of following this up long term. I do believe that the regime from the 50's may have an effect in the future, research has shown that so much of what we are is set in our childhood. We need to be careful that we make informed decisions where we can, bearing in mind the long term effects.

Like oh so many others I am a newbie to this forum business and have registered on here today just to have somewhere to vent my feelings about this woman who in my opinion - or rather the method she is advocating - is pure evil. I missed the first 20 mins, (as my life involves 'Bringing up teenagers' who you have to wait to get out of work an hour late before you can get home to watch tv!) but I was completely traumatised by that evil woman, or her views/opinions on the 1950s child rearing, aka, "don't pick up baby or cuddle baby".
This woman is pure evil! -ok the ideas she is so passionate about are just CRUEL!
Now don't misunderstand me, a routine if that's what you want is fine - but this is extreme!
When exactly are you 'allowed' to touch your baby? When they are 5 and you send them off to boarding school with a handshake??!
Even when feeding she said don't hold them against your body…
And then when talking to the other two 'experts' said something like 'why would you want to pick up your baby?' in the voice of someone who's talking about picking up dog-poo!
My teenage step-daughter even she said she thought it was unethical to perform such 'experiments' on babies, which is something other people have raised.
And then finally you had the mother of that baby crying saying "it's really hard (to listen to your baby cry for several hours 'cos you're not allowed to go and pick it up between the 4 hourly feeds) but I know it's best for Mia" (baby), NO, I don't think so! It's best for you, or parents like you, (and the purposes of making tv!!) The irony was that this mum wanted to get back to work a.s.a.p. so wanted her baby in a routine, and what was the woman's job?
Yes, she's a child minder! OMG! I wouldn't leave this woman in charge of my child!
I have seen there is a friend of this couple postuing on this site and all I can say is that is as a womans hormones are all over the place after giving birth that perhaps she'll look back on this and accept some of the criticism about this method, but seriously having seen how she would willingly subject her own child to such a regime, I would not want her taking care of my child.
And as for the expect saying she's paid £1000 a day by people to get their baby into a routine - 'people who don't want a baby to interfere with their lives', why exactly did they have a baby???!!!!

God had to get that rant off my chest!

quote:

Originally posted by pixie wings fairy dust:

quote:

Originally posted by minni78:
i wanted to post a reply to everyone who is ranting about claire verity i am a very close friend of vicky and matt who followed clairs routine and i can assure you all that baby Mia is very much a loved and well cared for baby if you give the show a chance and watch the future episodes yoou will see how well mia develops why disturbe a child who is sleeping just to satisfiy your need of a cuddle in the 1st 3 months of a child life there main priority is to grow and develop and the best way to do this is in there sleep mia was well fed and very raily cried for food and vicky and matt had llots of contact with her through feeding changing bath times and mia is now a very happy baby who is developing at amazing rates and she still loves noting more than being outside in fact on rainy days she can get very grumpy if not outside as vicky is a very capable childminder all her children have time outside in the fresh air and for the person who said they wouldnt leave her son with vicky what would you prefer a childminder who has had no sleep and cant consentrate properly to look after your child or a childminder who has had a full nites sleep and is refreshed and able to care for you child properly claires method worked for vicky and matt and they would back her all the way they aso understand that it wouldnt suit everbody but who has the right to judge any parent who is doing there best to bring up a child the best way thay can vicky and matt have done a fantastic job with both ashton and mia just give the series a chance

Last nights episode showed her making them leave Mai at one day old alone crying..now Im sorry but it is not right to force a newborn into a military life like that, that is neglect. Why have the baby in the first place? Everyone could see how disturbing that was last night, and as little Mai may be a well behaved baby now, she was forced to be.

Thats the problem, quick fix methods appeal to tv and selfish parents who demand their lives back, who wrongly believe (can't blame them I suppose when you don't know the ins and outs of how the brain works) babies are manipulative. Baby may seem fine now, but you need foresight when you are a parent. Problems arising from such treatment may not be apparent for years yet. The brain is forming in those early years, how that baby is "cared" for will determine her wellbeing for the rest of her life. The impact of the stress caused by this neglect could arise as a tendency to have a drug addcition or serious depression etc.
You can't just say they look fine now. I believe they call that denial. When you are a mum you cannot put yourselves first, what may be good for you isn't good for them. If you can't care for your child in the best way possible to the best of your knowledge, or don't want to, don't have them.

see my complaint to channel 4 'Complaint goes nowhere!' with more help on this , perhaps they will do something! It's insane! Even Huggies should be appraoched about the sponsorship!

I am absolutely horrified of the "50's method" shown last night. It is described as one of three "valid methods" to raise up a child but this IS NOT acceptable. What Claire Verity shows is an example of child torture and that is UNACCEPTABLE. Channel 4 should not put her in charge of such a program. I do understand that some parents can decide to have their babies in a routine but a human one, not this horrific abuse. The dangerous thing is that people with not much education can take her advise and follow her rules which will have extremely dangerous consequences in other babies.
I find unbelievable that parents accept her advice, even animals show much more affection for their babies. Her method is not humanly acceptable.
I firmly think that Social Services should ban her from giving her advice to anybody else. She is an evil and extremely dangerous person.
Channel 4 should leave clear in all his programs about babies that this is a NON ACCEPTABLE METHOD
I am the mother of a healthy, happy and content 9 months old baby, which doesn't sleep all night through yet, but who cares ! He has loads and loads of love and that is why people should have kids for - to love them and not to get them to sleep all night through (that is not the aim).

I also joined this forum to sound off about the way this so-called expert treated the poor babies she was responsible for. Dr Truby King died in 1938 and his theories came from his experience as a soldier. He thought that children should be brought up 'tough' so they would become good soldiers - no whining, put up with difficult circumstances, help build the empire..... Fine for his age but not what we need now. These views are so out of tune with all the research that has been done. For a good analysis of why Claire Verity's approach goes completely against what psychological research has proved, see an article by Dr Pat Spungin psychologist on raisingkids.co.uk She points out that all the research on emotional and psychological well-being goes right against what CV says. CV is also completely wrong about sleeping and eating, factually wrong about everything in fact!

Blimey, that's mad. See my posts on complaining. Something needs to be done!

I posted 'Compalint to Channel 4 goes nowhere' and i also joined this site purely for concentrating on this disgusting programme ( which wouldbe ok without verity)

Mia may be loved, but research since Truby King's day has showed that some of his ideas were misguided. Mr King believed that children were 'controlling' and should be shown that 'crying won't get them anywhere'. Sadly we now know that this isn't the case: newborn babies are incapable of being 'controlling' since the neurons in their brains are only about 15% connected, and preventing effective bonding with the mother or other carer results in psychological problems at worst, and less well-adjusted adults at best.

Hopefully Mia will turn out well, but she is more likely to turn out better with a more sensitive start to life.

What upsets me about Ms Verity is that she seems to have made no attempt to update Mr King's ideas (formed from observing cattle) with the knowledge from the huge quantity of research on babies that has taken place since his time.

Previously I thought that Gina Ford represented one end of the scale, but she is a pussycat in comparison. She advocates feeding a young baby if it cries, since hunger is probably the cause. She also knows that four hours between feeds is probably too long for a new-born baby with the stomach the size of a walnut, not to mention a breastfeeding mother establishing her supply. She