It is just my OPINION, but I find any program that does not involve Lots and lots and lots and little bit more of parent interaction will not be as successful.  A baby/child needs to feel the parents love and enjoyment of reading.

I also found that a variety of reading activities are better than just one method.  YBCR is good, it has the DVD's and books.  The program will be more successful if you also use flashcards.  Little Reader is great, but using LR with flashcards or Readeez or Wink will increase the chances of reading sooner.   My DD could read basic words at 2 and now that she is 31/2 she can read almost anything - although she still prefers a larger font size.  To teach her to read I used flashcards, YBCR, LR, Readeez, Starfall, Right Brain Kids programs, some Montessori games, and I read (and still read to her) over an hour every day.  Plus she sees me reading all the time.

It is just my opinion but I would caution thinking that any one program will Teach a Child to read, especially if the child is sitting by themselves to watch the t.v. or computer.  A wide variety of reading activities that include the parents/primary care giver is bound to more enjoyable for that baby, and in the end result in a happier life long reader.

Amazing stuff Parents!  Cassidy, Your son is reading and I can see that you want him to read more.  My dd also went through a stage that sounds similar to this.  She wouldn't read on her own and she would push my hand away from the pages if I tried to track the words.  I agree with the idea of getting very simple books with larger print to help with confidence.  I know that my dd liked when I would read a sentence but leave out the last word for her to read, eventually we worked up to her reading a sentence, me reading a sentence, then page, then book - it just all takes time.  You are one the correct track, you just need to have patience, because the magic is within him and he will get there on his own schedule - you have done an amazing job getting him this far.  If he prefers the computer have you checked out readeez?  They are video clips with words and songs, very catchy and slightly more interesting than straight flashcards.  Or the reading library on starfall.com is also a good idea. My dd still loves starfall.

I think the # One item that has helped my children is choosing to stay home with them, and interact with them in all those little ways all day and night long.  I make my children my first priority and interest.  That has given me the freedom to do and try all those other items such as extended breastfeeding, EC, Doman, Montessori stuff, and all those other little home crafts, projects, and daily living activities.

[Yes, somedays I struggle and want just a few minute break from them, but overall I LOVE staying home]

I know, crawling is good for development and my son spent a lot of time working in his crawling track.  I encouraged him to crawl and for the most part followed Doman's physical program schedule.  However, now that he is crawling at 5 1/2 months, I am sad.  What happened to my newborn baby???  The grow so quickly it is difficult to keep up and I am sad to see him grow so quickly.  Anyone else feel the same?

You are not alone!  My baby is 5 months and I haven't really done any real exercise yet.  Walking when I can and a few stretches.  I have checked this book out, but have yet to actually follow any of the program

http://www.befitmom.com/abdominal_separation.html

I do let my child jump on our springless trampoline.  With close supervision I think the benefit of the exercise/balance is worth the small risk of injury.

I have you tried 'swimming' in the bathtub with your baby?  My 5 month old son loves when we put our swim suits and both get into the tub.  I have been using the ideas from Doman's Teach Your Baby to Swim book.  He cuddles, back floats, submerges (3-5 seconds) and jumps off the edge of the tub.  It is also a great place to practice grasping/beginning brachiation.  When we are done the swim stuff then we sing some songs and splash.  If needed then I actually soap and clean him.  I usually follow this up with a nice long baby massage.  The swim/bath takes about 30-40 minutes and the massage and dressing takes 10-20 minutes.  The process from start to finish usually takes me an hour.  I sometimes do this in the morning or middle of the afternoon, I don't just reserve it for night time.  That way if I swim/bath in the morning, I can do other activities at night and keep my baby guessing/entertained.

Sometimes I do a basic baby massage, other days I alternate between soft and hard items to help him with tactile sensations.

Good luck.

Anyone use Black and White Gestalt images for visual stimulation for infants?  I had a thought that it might help with the right brain and encourage divergent thinking?  I can't find any research on this idea, it is just my idea.  What are your thoughts?

I can relate, and in my opinion it is a phase.  I had been doing Doman/flashcards/YBCR, etc. for about a year.  I didn't start until my DD was 1, so it was a few months before her 2nd birthday when she could read a few baby books and a few words per sentence while I read the other words.  About that time and for the next 6 months or so, we read about 50 books a day.  Some books we read over and over again.  And yes, we would read in the morning, read at breakfast, I would try to get her to do something else, but she wanted to read. Then we would go to the library in the afternoon and get more books and read, and read, and have a bath and read and then read before bedtime, and sometimes she would wake up in the middle of the night and read.  At the time I thought it was out of control, I was at the library almost every day getting 50 new books and we were reading them all before the next day.  I was also getting concerned that she didn't seem interested in anything else.  She would play with a puzzle or game for a few minutes and then back to books.  Whenever I suggested something else, she would cry.  I decided to just go with it, books are good thing.  After about 6 months of this, she could read almost everything we brought home and then she started to read less.  It didn`t happen over night, but slowly over the next few months, she became interested in other items and read less.  Now at 3 and half years old she is well rounded, enjoys the outdoors, games, toys, puzzles, etc.  She still loves books, and spends about an hour a day reading to herself.  I still read to hear for about an hour every night before bed.

So, while it is important for them to be rounded, I think sometimes kids like to do mass practice until they feel confident with a skill before moving on.  I think you are doing the right thing, reading to your son while also trying to engage him in toys and other activities.  If you both feel happy reading all the time, then continue, happiness is a wonderful thing.

I think it is amazing your 1 year old son can read!  Enjoy!  The grow up so quickly.

What are your plans to celebrate Mother's Day?

Today, as in many days, I feel alone in my desire to teach my baby.  In my local community there is NO ONE who does this, understands it, or even supports it.  I usually avoid discussing the topic with anyone.  Today, I caved and talked to my best friend about it.  In the end, I spent the rest of the conversation defending my choice and reasons.  That has me feeling even more alone and isolated than normal.

Now she has me worried that I am hurting my children.  She has heard that Doman causes Autism, Eye problems, early Dementia, and a few other things.  I don't have the energy to do the research on any of that right now.  I'm just feeling hurt and confused.  Even my best friend doesn't understand me, and hey, I really only have one friend in this small community.  Just needing support and I can usually count on this online forum to keep my motivation up.  Thanks in advance.  Khatty.

Skylark, I agree, sometimes breastfeeding for comfort just isn't an option ALL the time, and thumb sucking is much better than a soother.  Do you at all worry about trying to break the thumb sucking habit when he gets older?

Excellent info, appears well researched.  Do you have any information on the Asics Crawling Track that Doman/Gentle Revolution sells?  What is the material, is it safe, and what is the environmental impact?

My almost 4 month likes to suck his thumb.  I breastfeed on demand, co-sleep, and wear him a lot.  I comfort him within a minute of him fussing.  However, he still sucks his thumb.  I have been gently removing his thumb and asking him not to suck it, but of course, he is 4 months old and just goes back to sucking it.

I'm not exactly sure why I don't want him to suck his thumb, I just feel he shouldn't suck his thumb.  Should I even be trying to discourage it?  And if so, how what can I do that respects him, and yet is effective?

After 2 births I am finally starting to realize how important the 9 months in womb and the birth experience is for the Baby.  In that regard, I noticed a new organization in Canada that is trying to promote evidence based maternity care, Mothers of Change.  Their website is www.mothersofchange.com and they are also on facebook.

It is making sense to me that a natural birth helps a baby learn in those crucial first few weeks.  As Doman says, it is never too early to start!