Growing Kids God's Way and other parenting programs developed by Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo have been popularized in recent years through their religious organization, Growing Families International, and through their secular line of books including On Becoming Babywise. These programs have many ardent adherents, however, controversy has dogged the programs from the very beginning, much of it brought on by the alarm of concerned health-care professionals and Christian leaders.

This website exists to provide information and documentation to help parents, pastors, and other interested persons evaluate this program.
An index of critiques, evaluations and news articles linked or hosted by our site.

• Infant Feeding Concerns
  The American Academy of Pediatrics and breastfeeding professionals have raised many concerns about the Ezzos' infant feeding advice.
  
  
• Child Development Issues
  It is generally recognized that parents should balance requirements for obedience with age-appropriate expectations. Experienced parents as well as experts in child development find GFI's programs fall short in this area.
  
  
• Theological and Biblical Concerns
  GFI's programs are marketed to Christian churches. A wide range of critics say the material misuses Scriptures to make key points and elevates the authors' own applications of Scripture as if they were the Scriptural principles themselves.
  
  
• Concerns about Divisiveness
  Critics observe that aspects of the presentation are divisive and have caused disruption in churches, families, and friendships.
  
  
• Character Counts
  An author's integrity allows readers to trust his work. Christian leaders and others have reluctantly concluded that the Ezzos have exhibited character flaws that undermine this trust.
  
  
• Voices of Experience
  Ezzo claims millions of success stories but many families who initially considered their experience with Babywise and other Ezzo material a success--even to the point of recommending the books and classes to others--have reevaluated the value of what they learned when feeding problems, low weight gain, loss of breastfeeding, and adversarial relationships with their children developed.