Customer Reviews
Great ideas! 
2008-10-06
This is my favorite Ezzo book by far - plenty of good ideas about how to deal with your toddler, from potty training to temper tantrums. PLUS some much needed information and explanation of the toddler mind. LOVED it!
good stuff 
2008-10-01
About what we expected. We were already doing a lot of the ideas. Take the best parts and ignore the stuff you dont like.
Informative 
2008-08-11
I got toddler wise because I have had 3 children, and the toddler phase has always been the MOST difficult for me. Since I got baby-wise for my 3rd baby girl, and it helped so much, I decided to give this book a shot.
The book has a lot of information on what a toddler needs and how to use discipline, even though it seems they don't understand. I felt the information was very helpful. Although, I guess as all good parenting books should be, it didn't lay out a formula to fix everything. He gave you the factors for the formula, and leaves the details up to you. So if you're ready to sit down and really think about your toddler, your life, and how you want your family to be raised, this is an incredible book, worth picking up.
My only negative croutique would be the fact that, just like in the baby-wise book, there were a couple of theories or suggestions by the author that I found a little extreme. So, I just use my best judgement, and my Mothering instinct and said, "that is nice, but completely impossible." Ex. The child should stay in bed until Mom comes to get them out of bed. This way Mom sets the schedule and is in charge. hmmmmmmm, if it was up to me, my kids would stay in bed until they were 18 years old, then I would send them off to college. So the likely-hood of my going and getting my child up out of bed at 7 a.m. every day is just not going to happen.
Overall it is a good book and one every parent should at least take a look at if they have a toddler or are about to have a toddler.
Structure and routine does not equate abuse and lack of love 2008-03-26
Most of the 1-star reviewers feels that the methods of this book is abusive and restricting - I think that's complete rubbish.
Having a routine and structure with your kids does not mean you are loving them less, abusing their creativity/freedom, and abusing them in the name of discipline. In fact, the book advocates different types of playtime: roomtime being an independent playtime in a room, free time being a time where the child gets to choose what he wants to do, structured playtime being a time when a parents chooses the activity, and playtimes with family members. Which one of these sound abusive or restrictive? When the child grows old enough to go to school, what do parents think happen? The teachers choose the activities and there will be a disciplinary guideline that your children will follow, so how is this book anything different?
Also, when it comes to handling curious toddlers who get into everything, the book suggests substitution over restriction and distraction. Substitution as defined in the book is to offer an equally desirable experience similar to the original one that caught the toddler's attention, but the location and time will be decided by mom. An example in the book, a child gets into the dog bowl and splashes the water. The alternate substitution for this behavior would be to give the toddler a clean bowl of water on the patio and let the child have at it. Again, what about this is abusive or restrictive?
I also see one reviewer comment on the sample schedule in the book (she gives a paraphrased version in her review). The problem with this reader is that she is not keeping in mind that this is an example routine that ONE mom used for her kids. That doesn't meant the book is saying every single family should follow this schedule where the kids play in half-hour increments using different play techniques. It's taking the book quite too literally.
Anyone who watches Super Nanny or Nanny 911 will know that basically all the families that have problems with their children lack a stable and predictable routine for their kids, and proper discipline techniques. Which led to the parents being burnt out to the point they no long enjoy being parents.
I think people who rated the book poorly have problems with responsible parenting. The Webster Dictionary definition of "nurture" is this: 1. to feed and protect, 2. to support and encourage, 3. to bring up, train, educate. To be nurturing means to parent in a way that meets the above definition. It is the responsibility of parents to love AND educate AND train their kids into responsible and morally upright people. If we raise our children in a way that allows them to have no respect for us, not obeying our guidelines/boundaries, and letting them do whatever the heck they want, then who's to say that they will not do the same to other adult for the rest of their lives.
I can't think of anything less nurturing. 
2008-03-04
With this book, your toddler is sure to be independent enough to live in his own apartment by the age of 3. However, where's the love? There's little to no nurturing in Ezzo's ways. It's completely un-intuitive as a mother. I would never recommend this book or this parenting philosophy.
kids 2008-01-23
From First Steps to Potty Training There is no greater fulfillment a parent can receive than the upturned face of a toddler, eyes speaking wonders and a face of confidence in discovering a brand new world with Mom and Dad. In just over a year, the helpless infant emerges as a little moving, talking, walking, exploratory person marked by keen senses, clear memory, quick perceptions and unlimited energy. He emerges into a period of life know affectionately as the Toddler Years. How ready are you for this new experience?The toddler years are the learning fields and you need a trustworthy guide to take you through the unfolding maze of your child's developing world. On Becoming Toddlerwise is a tool chest of workable strategies and ideas that multiplies your child's learning opportunities in a loving and nurturing way. This resource is as practical as it is informative.With over two million homes to their credit, trusted parenting authors Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam bring their collective wisdom, experience, and insights to bear on this critical phase of growth and development. From first steps to potty training made easy and everything in between, it is all here for you.
Not as good as the first one... 2007-12-06
This book is good, don't get me wrong. It has valuable points in it, but still it just is not as helpful as Baby Wise by Ezzo.
This book is AWFUL! I threw mine away! 2007-09-22
Toddler Wise was awful. I am an educator with a masters degree in Education, Counseling and Guidance and Educational Leadership! No wonder why our kids are out of control. This book in not in the best interest of the child and the book Baby Wise is WORSE!! I do not recommend this book to anyone.
A good guide to behavior and expectations 2007-07-18
The "Babywise" series has truly helped me understand what to expect and how to deal with different issues that come up with raising a baby. I love the authors' philophies that a happy and healthy child comes from a strong and loving marriage. They also believe that we, as parents, are training our children to be positive members of society with self-control and ethics. Their parenting style isn't for everybody, but it has worked nicely for us so far, and so I expected the guidelines to follow suit in this book. "Toddlerwise" didn't disappoint, but the one thing it lacked was a section explaining how to achieve certain behaviors. For example, they believe in training your child to play independently, which I think is a very important skill. However, when they say to train your child to play in one place by themselves by laying out a blanket and having them play in that space for a certain number of minutes, I was left with the question, "What if they crawl/walk away?!" I guess you just try, try again, but I honestly was left asking the questions, "How" or "What if..." more so than I was with the first two books. Still, if you are a "Babywise" parent, you will get something out of "Toddlerwise."
BEWARE of Gary Ezzo! 2007-07-07
Before buying this book do your research. Why choose a parenting book that is highly controversial when you could choose one of the many that is backed and endorsed by the medical and child development community without hesitation?
Gary Ezzo and his wife have no formal medical, theological or child development training. Gary Ezzo isn't even a real minister and does not have a theological degree. In fact, the Ezzo's own children and their spouses have formally and publicly severed ties with Gary and his wife. His books and his character have drawn wide concern and criticism. Ezzo claims his wife has pediatric nursing experience, however these claims have never been proven through her very limited and brief work history. Even reading his own website you will find absolutely no qualifications mentioned. These people have none. What business do they have writing parenting books?
You may or may not know that his books are the secular version of the religious parenting books he originally published called "Growing Kids God's Way" which have been rejected and raised alarm by many Christian organizations including Focus on the Family. Ezzo was excommunicated from 2 former churches and forced to leave a third. Christian and Secular experts alike have raised the alarm no Gary's philosophies. His "Babywise" books are self-published because his publisher, Multnomah, stopped publication and returned the rights to Gary due to the fact that they received much criticism from hundreds of pediatrician's, developmental specialists and lactation experts on the safety of the practices recommended in this book. The publisher was highly criticized due to the fact that there was no medical editor who reviewed the book and no peer or medical review of any of the supposed "research" Ezzo claims to have done, as most parenting and child development books have. Normally parenting books should also have extensive and varied works cited to support the recommendations. Babywise has two! Even those two have been shown to be misrepresented and misinterpreted. The parenting strategies described in Babywise and many statements and claims given are not backed up by medically proven facts or knowledge. In truth, many of his supposed facts are considered false by the medical community and have caused harm to innocent children when parents believe them to be true. When Ezzo himself has been asked to show research or medical data that supports his statements he informed his interviewer and the book's critics "...you will need to take the time to pull it together, if you are really interested."
Multnomah had to halt publication for fear they would be held liable for the harm done to the many children suffering from dehydration, failure to thrive and more as a result of reading "Babywise". It is almost unheard of for a book like this to be dropped by the publisher. Some parents may be confused by the fact that the newest edition of this book has a medical doctor's name, Robert Bucknam, attached to it. That is all it is. The text of the book is almost 100% identical to the previous editions and the basic PDF recommendations remain the same. Although Gary Ezzo has a habit of easily dismissing any criticism against him as false and untrue, he has been described by many who have known him as manipulative, dis-honest and egotistical. He is known in the Christian community for spreading false and hurtful rumors to harm the reputations of those who criticize him. He has had to change churches and business relationships many times and has obviously left many hurt people in his wake. Check out www.Ezzo.info, http://www.rickross.com/reference/gfi/gfi5.html and www.nospank.net/ezzo3.htm among other's for more information. I have been unable to find any expert who recommends or defends Ezzo and the only articles I've found that support him and Babywise are written by Gary Ezzo himself! Most interesting to me are the sad stories from parents who tried, even taught, Ezzo's methods and very much regret it now.
I have personally seen one of my friend's children become unhealthy and emotionally damaged from using this program. Not only that, but my friend was anything but peaceful and relaxed as a result of this parenting style. She was consumed by the constant schedule and worry to stay on schedule and go "by the book". I watched as her child cried and was ignored due to the child not following the schedule. I was also very sad to see her mother discourage everyone, even her grandparents, from holding her. She was visibly irritated when people wanted to hold the baby and the child was constantly in a carrier on the floor. By the age of one, her daughter already appeared to be lonely and have little bond with her mother. I've never seen such a young child look at her mother with clear disdain and anger. It was frightening. She rejected her mother's breast at an early age, which her mother was very sad about. I was quite shocked and confused at how my friend was raising her child. I knew her to be a loving, bright, educated, fun and highly capable person before having children. I knew this bizarre behavior was all stemming from this book. A few years later when I had my own children and was looking at parenting styles and books I did a little research on Babywise and was astounded at what I found. I was up all night in surprise and horror at the depth of harm this book has caused, and surprise at how many people have fallen under Ezzo's "spell". I have mentioned just a small portion of what I read and learned above. Please do your own research, too, before buying and following this book.
Thanks,
A Concerned Parent
