Hi all. I am posting this for your information. Please respond as you see fit. Kathleen Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo, founders of Growing Families International, have written two parenting programs called "Preparation for Parenting" and "Babywise". ("Babywise" was co-authored by Dr. Robert Bucknam.) Increasingly of late, these programs are being engulfed in a swirl of controversy wherever they turn up. Even normally tranquil church congregations find themselves embroiled, with some leaders and parents embracing one side, some the other, and many left unsure as they examine fundamental questions regarding parental roles in a Biblical light. And while many are convinced that the Ezzos teach a truly Bible-based approach to parenting, others have voiced serious doubts and concerns. With the publication of "Babywise" (a nonsectarian version of "Preparation for Parenting") the controversy has moved outside the walls of the church. These programs advocate, among other things, "parent-controlled feeding" as opposed to demand feeding. The Ezzos and other spokespeople for GFI claim that a growing number of doctors, hospitals and lactation consultants are using, endorsing and distributing their materials. Other lactation consultants and health professionals, however, have done the opposite, sounding an alarm against the programs. We need your help: It is one thing to read the Ezzos' materials and to read the writings of their detractors. However, that only gives part of the picture. We have decided to turn to the real experts--the parents themselves and the lactation professionals who work with those parents. We are conducting a survey (actually two surveys) that are seeking experiences and opinions regarding "Preparation for Parenting" and "Babywise". Please indicate which survey you want, by indicating in the subject line Yes, I've followed the Ezzos' programs or No, but I've still got an opinion Request your survey via email from [log in to unmask] http://members.aol.com/prepsurvey/prepsurvey.html We would appreciate if lactation professionals who have worked with Prep/Babywise parents would indicate so in the comments portion of the survey. Who we are: We represent a parent-based research project conducting a survey of the Growing Families Int. curricula. At this point we do not wish to identify ourselves any further than that, lest we bias the survey in any way. Thank you for your understanding and your input. http://members.aol.com/prepsurvey/prepsurvey.html